Wing Chun Tips 'n' Tricks - BAAT CHAM DAO PRINCIPLES

THE GOAL OF SELF-DEFENCE is for a practitioner to be fully in control of their own body, so they can position themselves where they must be to offer the optimum defence and counter-strike. This is difficult enough with your own body, but then positioning a pair of metal knives presents further challenges.

- Shaun Rawcliffe

The Baat Cham Dao (“Eight Slashing/ Chopping Knives”) evolved as a four-phase defensive/offensive weapon. Each phase was designed to “cover-and-attack” at a specific distance and range from extreme close quarters to “long-range” and would be utilised according to the scenario, the opponent and the weapon the opponent used. The design of the knife reflects this ability to use the blades at many ranges and therefore provides a comprehensive and effective weapon.

Cham Dao is the fundamental strike within the form and is the weapon equivalent to the Jic Kuen (“Straight Punch”), though when holding the knife, the wrist is structured slightly differently from Jic Kuen. When punching, the back of the hand is flush with the forearm, so the strike is made with the end of the three knuckles; alternatively, when holding the knife, the wrist should be slightly angled so the edge of the blade lines up with the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint at the centre of the wrist and the end of the clavicle joint on the shoulder. This alignment supports the blade and redirects any resultant force of impact through the wrist, elbow, and shoulder down to the stance, whilst the thumb is positioned alongside the handle to stabilise the knife.

Tip: When held vertically or approximately vertically, the blade should be allowed to “slide” down in the hand then be held firmly; to stabilise the knife and prevent it twisting in the hand, the bent thumb should be positioned along the top of the handle.