Si-Hing Michael O'Leary gave a seminar in the Belfast school on Sunday 19th of June. The seminar was hosted by Si-Hing James Mc Quaid who is the head instructor for the Belfast school. The seminar started promptly at 12pm with Michael bringing the students through the Siu-Nim-Tau form. Following a quick Q&A, Michael taught the concept of the "universal solution" where the Wing Tsun practitioner will attack their opponent once the opponent steps into the defenders range with a front kick and chain punches. However it was explained to the students that while this approach works when you know that your opponent is going to attack you, the strategy works less well against an opponent who has talked themselves into striking range and who wants to deliver a surprise/sucker punch. Here the Blitz-Defence guard/stance is employed where the Wing Tsun guard is disguised using body language. From the Blitz-Defence guard, students practised defences against the most common attacks they are likely to fact in a real life self defence situation. The students initially learned specific, easy to learn techniques which were then pressure tested. The pressure testing involved one person attacking with random strikes which the defender would react to. The pressure is initially kept low and then gradually increased.

Following the break, Michael brought the students through some of the concepts behind chi-sau. Michael explained that the withdrawal of the Wu-Sau in the Siu-Nim-Tau is very important as it represents the withdrawal of a limb under pressure. If a student withdraws his/her hand to slowly, the pressure in the limb increases which the stronger person can make use of. If the student withdraws their hand too fast then their is no forward pressure to spring forward once a gap appears. The key is to withdraw the hand at the same rate as the opponent pushes and students practised pushing against each others Wu-Sau and letting go so that the Wu-Sau withdrew and sprang forwards with no hesitation or conscious thought.

Students also worked on the turning stance. The Wu-Sau can only be withdrawn so far before it touches the body. When the elbow of the Wu-Sau touches the ribs it cannot go any further unless the body is turned out of the way and this is the basis of the turning stance. However the same criteria which applies for the withdrawal of the Wu-Sau also applies for the turning stance. If the body turns too late then the pressure builds up and balance is lost. If the body turns too soon then there is no spring forward. Students again trained ways of passively turning the body and letting the body spring forward once pressure is released.

The seminar finished promptly at 4pm and Michael presented Stephen Holldren with his 1st and 2nd grade having tested him earlier. Congratulations to Stephen. Michael hopes to return to Belfast in the near future and would like to remind everyone that Dai-Sifu Rainer Tausend, the national instructor for Ireland, will return in the coming weeks for a series of student and instructor seminars.