Saam Sing Sa Baau Jong (三星沙包樁) and Sa Baau Jong (沙包樁)
“Stand stable as a mountain and spring like a rabbit.”
In the primary level learning of Choy Lee Fut kung fu, our Founder, Chan Heung (陳享公), included Shaolin wooden dummy training methods passed to him by the Shaolin monk, Choy Fook (蔡福禪師), and by his two previous teachers, Chan Yunwu (陳遠護) and Lee Yausaan (李友山). There are also two sandbag dummy sets in the primary level of Chan Family Choy Lee Fut, and their principal objective is to train and condition the body and mind with live fighting techniques against moving objects. The swinging bags force the practitioner to understand the importance of distance, timing, and positioning.
The Saam Sing Sa Baau Jong, Three Star Sandbag Dummy, is from the lineage of the Shaolin monk known as the “Crutcher Monk”, who was the teacher of Chan Heung’s uncle, Chan Yunwu. This apparatus uses three free-hanging sandbags in a triangle configuration to simulate combat against multiple opponents. Like shooting stars, as the name suggests, one must expect the unexpected and adjust continuously using speed, agility, forcing and yielding powers, and then exit the framework at the end of the set.
The Single Sandbag Dummy, Sa Baau Jong, created by Master Chan Yiuchi (陳耀墀) based on the set from his grandfather, Chan Heung, uses almost the same movements but is adapted to focus on a single sandbag, freely swinging in all directions. Master Chan Yiuchi created this single focus training apparatus to help all students understand the methods of attack and defense, regardless of their ability and physical condition.
Both sets contain the basic strikes, bridge blocks, and kicks from the beginner’s training syllabus. Through continuous forcing and yielding methods, the practitioner is introduced to using the four basic San Da fighting principles:
- “Tan tou bei sim” (吞吐避閃) – Retreat Attack Cover Evade.
- “Yan wan jeun han” (忍穩準狠) – Patience Stability Accuracy Conviction.
- “Saam dim yat sin” (三点一线) – Three points in one line positioning for attack and defence.
- “Ngoi saam gwaan” (外三關)– External three gates.
Over time, by repeatedly and continuously striking the bag, the practitioner achieves conditioning of the body, legs and arms. The practitioner learns the importance of speed and relaxed power, and also learns the application of continuous strikes and blocks driven from the waist, stance and shoulders as practiced in the earlier basic forms. These two sandbag apparatus are important training aids that assist the beginner practitioner to be conscious in combat of stability, of movement, of accurate striking, timing, body positioning, opposing a heavier or faster opponent, single and multiple attacks, and the need to commit to the attack, yield to defend, or attack to defend.
The bags can be set further apart to drill covering distance or placed closer together for basic in-close fighting skills. The practice of either form requires coordination of horse stance and hand techniques with a focused mind to strike and block a moving target. The stances are not rooted but use the cham ging (沈勁) – sinking power – in the advancing horse (吐馬 tou ma), and yielding horse (吞馬 tan ma) to maintain stability but allow agility. The importance of fast reactions, accuracy, use of left and right sides, and developing internal and external energy can be realised by the practitioner through continued practice.
While practicing on the sandbag apparatus, one should remember the principal teachings passed on from the Shaolin lineage to the monk, Choy Fook, to assist in the methods of training:
“Advance to live, retreat to die; you cannot show fear”.
“Hold the three gates and form a defensive line”.
“Seize the opportunity like a tiger, be careful to avoid losing your balance”.
