Establishing Point of Contact & The Dialogue of Nature
Day 3 | GM Sam F.S. Chin Annual Intensive | Fishkill, NY
The Sunday morning session deepens the understanding of Point of Contact (POC), shifting from simple touch to a sophisticated sensory and mental dialogue.
The Six Senses of Touch
Point of Contact is not limited to physical skin contact. It is the gate through which the mind receives information and expresses action.
The 6 Senses: Contact occurs through the eyes, nose, mouth, hearing, body contact, and mind contact.
The Dialogue: Every interaction is a loop—receiving information and acting back. If the Point of Contact is not clear, the mind receives "wrong messages" and the subsequent action fails.
The Process of Flow and Stillness
Flow is the prerequisite for understanding the conditions of a moment. It is the act of coordinating the entire body—from the feet to the POC—to maintain constant pressure.
Stillness and Clarity: To see things clearly, the mind must be still. Stillness allows you to stay at the POC long enough to recognize relationships, cause, and effect.
Letting Nature Speak: When the practitioner is perfectly still and neutral, they become a "receiver." Instead of forcing an intellectual judgment, they allow the nature of the situation to reveal itself.
Wisdom vs. Intellectualism: Intellectual knowledge is powerful but often based on past experience. Wisdom is the ability to live with and understand nature as it manifests in the present.
The "Dumb-Dumb" State
Advancing in this martial art often involves a state Sifu calls "Dumb-Dumb." This is a positive, advanced stage of concentration where the practitioner is aware that something is happening but refuses to fall back on past cleverness or reflex. It is the process of dropping old habits to cross over into true clarity.
Refining the Approach: Flatness and the Sphere
To master the Flow, Fend, Roll, and Pivot sequence, practitioners must understand how to find and use the pivot point.
Tuning the Link: The Return Energy
Linking is compared to tuning a radio frequency. If your frequency doesn't match the opponent's, information cannot be exchanged.
90 Degrees: The most effective "frequency" for linking and receiving information is a direct 90° angle to the bone.
The Return: Energy must not be one-way. For every "send," there must be a "return" (feedback). This constant loop allows you to make adjustments and confirm the connection is still solid.
Depth of Linking: As awareness increases, the practitioner links beyond the surface touch, connecting to the opponent's deeper centers (elbow, shoulder, hip). The deeper the link, the more a small movement at the POC affects the opponent's entire structure.
