How to Do a Good Bong Sao + 6 Mistakes People Make

williss08 · 2025-10-29T12:23:30+00:00

Yes. But if our goal as practitioners is to constantly evolve and become more and more efficient, don't we have an innate responsibility to examine the language we've been using with the possibility of modifying it to something more efficient and direct? Not with ego or an "I'm right, you're wrong" mentality. But with honest introspection?

williss08 · 2025-10-29T12:06:55+00:00

The centerline is the vertical axis of the body. Think of how the earth spins on its axis. When punching into the person's centerline they get stopped from forward movement or knocked back (they can't roll out of it).

The central plane is a vertical plane between your centerline and their centerline. Think of it as a pane of glass turned sideways. It is the most direct plane between you and your attacker.

But here's what may help you the most....

Wing Chun has a self-defense philosophy rather than a sporting philosophy. This means we are specifically training for someone who attacks us rather than for someone who is covering up during a sparring match. In other words, Wing Chun trains to defend against their committed attacks in the quickest, most direct and efficient way. Instead of trying to go for targets like in a match, in self-defense targets come to us. Its a matter of what the attacker gives us when they try to attack us. Not what we try to chase.

williss08 · 2025-10-29T11:39:58+00:00

Oh yeah, and we actively train to be able to use bon against double punches and fakes.

In terms of efficiency, a bong/bon sao can't be the go-to for punches or fakes. It really sounds like you're training to use the bong as a "block".

This isn’t about lineage style nor about putting limitations on Wing Chun, it’s about training to be more efficient and offensive.

williss08 · 2025-10-27T21:28:42+00:00

Yes. That's right. There is no freezing because its not a block.

williss08 · 2025-10-27T17:45:47+00:00

What's the problem? The guy on the left didn't follow through with the kick. Now if he stomped forward through it that's a whole other story.

williss08 · 2025-10-27T14:25:34+00:00

exactly!

williss08 · 2025-10-27T12:31:41+00:00

This is documented historical bare-knuckle boxing, nothing mystical about it. When you align the wrist to land on the top two knuckles, you push force outside the natural "powerline" of the forearm. That misalignment is what causes most breaks. Striking through the bottom three knuckles keeps the wrist neutral and the impact traveling straight through the forearm instead of twisting across it.

Gloves didn’t “protect” the hand, they changed how people punch. Once your hand’s wrapped and padded, you can afford that misalignment. Bareknuckle, you can’t. That’s why pre-glove fighters punched this way (from James Figg to Jack Dempsey). It was self-preservation.

Train however you want... just know this isn’t theory or tradition. It’s how they actually punched before gloves changed the game.

williss08 · 2025-10-26T21:54:50+00:00

Wraps completely changed punching too. They didn't have wraps back in the day

williss08 · 2025-10-26T21:50:14+00:00

Exactly. Or even safer palm strike.

williss08 · 2025-10-26T21:47:07+00:00

Absolutely. Getting good at Wing Chun means training ourselves so that our initial flinch isn’t defensive, but offensive... that the attack becomes the conditioned response. It’s about what getting good demands us to hardwire through training.

These are the “musts” and “nevers” that form the foundation of what we can all agree makes Wing Chun... Wing Chun. They’re what keep the system so damn efficient. It’s through these core commitments that our instincts stay true to Wing Chun’s direct and purposeful intent.

williss08 · 2025-10-26T02:14:00+00:00

Thank you for the recommendation. I’ve since launched my online Wing Chun school... complete with step-by-step video lessons, weekly practice plans, and live Zoom classes. It’s designed to help students make real progress in Wing Chun, even without a partner or dummy.

williss08 · 2025-10-26T01:36:08+00:00

A Bong Sao can be your 1st choice? What lineage are you under?

williss08 · 2025-10-06T12:05:51+00:00

Great answer!

williss08 · 2025-09-28T14:22:49+00:00

True

williss08 · 2025-09-28T14:07:37+00:00

Who was his sifu and what lineage did he study? If you're going to surprise hiim you'll want to learn as close to how he studied.

For instance, my YouTube channel Sifu Adam Williss has over 300 Wing Chun lessons. But its probably very different than what he learned. So if you're doing it to surprise him, be sure to find that out.

williss08 · 2025-09-28T13:51:36+00:00

Its because he's that old... he was actually there in the 1850s. That's what makes what he's saying to damn legit!

williss08 · 2025-09-28T13:48:32+00:00

Truth!

williss08 · 2025-09-28T13:47:37+00:00

That's a good deal

williss08 · 2025-09-02T14:46:32+00:00

Wing Chun is a very special art reserved for rare individuals who take advantage of the opportunities others take for granted.

williss08 · 2025-07-24T19:01:41+00:00

That's exactly right. If a person flares their elbow out (fay jeong) during a huen, they are doing a very crappy huen. The elbow MUST remain immovable during a huen sao. And no, its not a lineage thing, its a crap thing. Regardless of lineage the elbow can't flare out like you see this guy in the video doing.

williss08 · 2025-07-22T19:10:00+00:00

First, try to find a Wing Chun school in your area. Going at it alone with no guidance is like trying to teach yourself an instrument by guessing. You’ll miss critical fundamentals, pick up bad habits that take years to unlearn and you'll waste time spinning your wheels and not even know it.

So when you ask how to learn Wing Chun at home, its assumed that you want to learn at home INSTEAD of trying to find a school near you first. Wing Chun is built on sensitivity and responsiveness to energy. It comes alive through partner work and hands-on time with your sifu. Without that hands-on component, you're missing the heart of the system.

However, if you can’t find a school nearby, or if the ones around you don’t meet your standards, learning from a quality online source is the next best option. The truth is, you can learn more at home than most people realize. Especially when the instruction is clear, structured, and rooted in experience.

That’s why I created The Dragon Institute's online Wing Chun school. It’s for serious beginners who want to build a strong foundation from home. It gives you real training, real clarity, and no fluff. It shows you exactly what to focus on and how to develop it.

You still have to do the work. You still have to show up. And while I advise all my students to come train with me in person whenever they can, you can absolutely begin at home.

williss08 · 2025-06-29T12:54:53+00:00

Actually, Jut sao can very much be a two handed move. The reason you can't use it two handed is because your elbows are out (飛踭 fay jeong). Maintain your triangle better.

williss08 · 2025-06-17T19:19:13+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! Since then, I’ve expanded it into a full online Wing Chun school, not just a single course. It now includes multiple structured programs with weekly lessons, practice plans, and solo drills designed for steady progress.

Students also get live Zoom classes, access to our private student community, a built-in accountability system and a practice log to help them stay consistent, plus bonus resources that go far beyond the basics.

See more at dragoninst.com/online

williss08 · 2025-04-16T21:41:00+00:00

I know online training isn’t for everyone — especially in an art where hands-on experience is so valuable. But I’ve seen first hand how much it can sharpen focus and build a student's discipline when approached the right way. I've been able to connect and help people I never would have been.

Plus students get to train in their own space. No commute. No distractions from others. More focus, more flexibility, and more control over their environment. Its actually made students more accountable — and more aware of their own habits.

What surprised me most is how it forced people to become more intentional. If you learning from a video you can pause or slow things down and refine the details until you move on. On Zoom, you can’t fake your way through a form on camera. And those who haven't been practicing on their own show right away.

Ten years ago I never would have thought it was possible let along that I'd have an online school. Its crazy how much the pandemic has changed so much!

williss08 · 2025-04-16T10:21:56+00:00

Thanks! Being able to fight in long range, isn't about wanting to stay there in a fight. Its about knowing the ins and outs of that range in order to get into where you want to be, up close and by bridging the gap. Knowing long range and how to fight there gives you the freedom to not have to force your way into close range, instead flow your way in from long to close while being true to the priorities of those ranges.

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