Next time you're flying in or out of Hong Kong, you may want to think twice about ordering that third G&T. Hong Kong Airlines has begun training its cabin crew in the ancient Chinese martial art of wing chun – a branch of kung fu – as a means of restraining unruly passengers.
According to the airline, wing chun – which may have its origins in the mythical tale of a young woman, Yim Wing Chun, who used the technique to defeat her warlord suitor in a boxing match – is ideal for in-flight combat, because it employs short, swift movements and can be practised in a confined space. Two weeks ago, a female crew member apparently put her wing chun training to the test, successfully subduing a difficult male passenger on a flight from Beijing.
"Normally, female cabin crew can't handle a fat guy, especially if he's drunk," Eva Chan, a spokeswoman for the airline, explained with admirable candour, "but because of the training, she can handle it quite easily." So which Bruce Lee-esque tactics might we see Hong Kong's cabin crew employing? Mark Phillips, director of the London Wing Chun Academy, guides us through some basic moves.
1 A flight attendant could use the chi sau ("sticky hands") technique to prevent a passenger from hitting him. "The idea," Phillips explains, "is to block and control a person's arms by linking your arms with theirs."
2 Next, split the assailant's arms. Here, the flight attendant raises his left arm, and makes contact with his opponent's chest, while holding back the arm with his right hand.
3 The flight attendant now traps the assailant's arms, leaving his right arm free to land a restraining punch. Though, as Phillips points out, "It wouldn't be a very good idea for a cabin crew member to hit a passenger."
