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Forms and Drills Chum-Kiu
Chum-Kiu
The "Arm-Seeking" Form of Wing Chun
Introduction | Section 1 | Drills and Applications | Concepts and Theories
Introduction
he second form of Wing Chun is called Chum-Kiu (pronounced chum-kyew). Meaning "Arm-Seeking," this curriculum teaches us how to "seek out" the arms of the opponent and to "connect a bridge." Once we connect to the opponent, we can immediately determine where the holes in his defense are.
Because we now know where he is, we can take advantage of it and enact our own attacks, i.e. taking the fight "to" him vs. waiting for him to come to us.
Using Chum-Kiu concepts, we pay particular attention to our turning and weight distribution. If we do not turn enough, we will be exposed to the attack, whereas too much turning will over-extend ourselves. We also learn the various ranges involved with fighting because you have to adjust your range according to what the opponent is doing.
For example, the Siu-Nim-Tau teaches basic attacks and defenses as they relate to the punch/ palm striking range. In Chum-Kiu, however, we have kicks, elbows, and even grappling and takedown range. Short of ground fighting, these are four complete ranges of fighting that are addressed in Chum-Kiu training.
Section 1
Section 1 of Chum-Kiu introduces a variety of interesting concepts that deal with trapping, changing angles, using elbow attacks, and also defending against multiple opponents.
One of the interesting elements of section 1 is that Chuen-Bong-sau (Turning-stance with Wing-arm) is the first of many Bong-sau actions we'll perform throughout the Chum-Kiu. It is said that approximately 70% of the Chum-Kiu is comprised of various Bong-sau actions, and the first of these is seen in section 1
Chum-Kiu: Section 1 (22.7 MB | 7 minutes 29 seconds | WMV format)
Chum-Kiu: Section 1 |
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Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma As learned during Siu-Nim-Tau Section 1, open the stance via Hoi-ma. Instead of the first action of Gow-cha-Tan-sau, though, it opens with Gow-cha-Gaun-sau, then to Kwun-sau and Gow-cha-Tan-sau. When completed, you will be in Yee-chim-kim-yeung-ma (figure 1). From there, proceed to figure 2 for the remainder of learning Chum-Kiu section 1. |
-1- |
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Chuen-kiu (Piercing-arm) Bring the hands to the front of the body. |
-2a- |
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Chuen-kiu (continued) Drive the fingers forward and upward. |
-2b- |
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Pie-jarn (Hacking-elbow) Turn to the left with the left arm on top of the right. |
-3a- |
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Pie-jarn (continued) Turn the head as far behind you as possible and then turn 180-degrees. |
-3b- |
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Pie-jarn (continued) Turn the head as far behind you as possible and then turn 180-degrees. |
-3c- |
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Fook-sau (Bridge-On arm) Swing the arms forcefully forward and side-by-side. |
-4- |
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Yan-cheung (Stamping-palm) Turn the left arm arm over to Tan-sau and "stamp" the right palm down as shown. |
-5a- |
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Yan-cheung (continued) Repeat the Tan-sau/ Yan-cheung action for other side. |
-5b- |
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Yan-cheung (continued) Repeat the Tan-sau/ Yan-cheung action for the third and final time on the other side. |
-5c- |
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Lin-wan-cheung (Alternate Thrusting-palms/ Chain-palming) Yan-cheung transitions to Jing-cheung while Tan-sau simultaneously transitions to Wu-sau. |
-6a- |
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Lin-wan-cheung (continued) Repeat on the other side. |
-6b- |
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Lin-wan-cheung (continued) Repeat for a third and final time. This time, though, the left arm withdraws to Hau-jarn. |
-6c- |
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Pie-jarn Turn 180-degrees. |
-7- |
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Gow-cha Tan-sau (Crossed Double Tan-sau) Assume the double crossed Tan-sau position with the left wrist on top of the right wrist. This and the next action (Juk-sun Bong-sau) will be performed three times. |
-8- |
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Juk-sun Bong-sau (Sideling Wing-arm) Look to the front and then turn the body to a Sideling Wing-arm position. |
-9- |
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Pie-jarn Forcefully drive Pie-jarn backwards while turning 90-degrees. |
-10- |
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Gow-cha Tan-sau Repeat Gow-cha Tan-sau. |
-11- |
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Juk-sun Bong-sau Repeat Juk-sun Bong-sau. |
-12- |
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Pie-jarn Repeat Pie-jarn. |
-13- |
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Gow-cha Tan-sau Repeat Gow-cha Tan-sau. |
-14- |
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Juk-sun Bong-sau Repeat Juk-sun Bong-sau. |
-15- |
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Pie-jarn The final Pie-jarn in this sequence. |
-16- |
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Til-kui-chung-kuen (Jump Thrusting-punch) Place the left hand behind the right (closest to your chest), and... |
-17a- |
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Til-kui-chung-kuen (continued) ... drive the fist while retracting the right arm. |
-17b- |
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Chuen-Fak-sau (Turning Whisking-arm) Turn back to the front while executing a simultaneous Fak-sau. |
-18- |
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Chuen-Fook-sau to Biu-Tze-sau (Turning Bridge-On arm to Thrusting-Fingers strike) Bring both arms to the front with the right hand on top of the left. |
-19a- |
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Chuen-Fook-sau to Biu-Tze-sau (continued) As you drive the right hand forward via Biu-Tze-sau, retract the left arm via Hau-jarn. |
-19b- |
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Tan-sau Turn the palm over. |
-20- |
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Huen-sau Keeping the arm locked out and the wrist on the centerline, initiate Huen-sau. |
-21a- |
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Huen-sau (continued) |
-21b- |
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Huen-sau (continued) |
-21c- |
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Huen-sau (continued) Finally, snap the fist closed. |
-21d- |
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Hau-jarn Drive the elbow backward. |
-22- |
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Repeat steps 2a through 22 for the other side. When finished, you have completed section 1 of the Chum-Kiu |
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Drills and Applications
Kicking
In addition to a wide variety of new actions (as well as enhancing previously-learned concepts during our Siu-Nim-Tau training), the Chum-Kiu also introduces the three primary kicking methods: Ching-sun-gerk (Front Thrusting-kick), Wang-chang-gerk (Side Thrusting-kick) and Che-chang-gerk (Slant Thrusting-kick).
The interesting element of Wing Chun kicks is that instead of chambering the leg and pivoting the knee like many other arts do, we thrust the foot by "pistoning" the knee. The elbow thrusts the fist, and the knee thrusts the foot.
Ching-sun-gerk |
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In the lead-leg position... |
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... keep 100% of the body's weight on the rear leg while raising the lead leg up to a kicking position. Ensure that as you raise the leg, you do not raise the body. This is paramount to effective kicking. |
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Thrust the leg fully outward to full leg extension. Do not let the body "follow" the kick, meaning that you should not fall forward. Our body does not fall forward when we punch, so we do not fall forward when we kick, either. |
Ching-sun-gerk can be employed at various heights, but its primary height is usually the waist. When you can kick with full power and at a parallel height (when your leg is parallel to the floor), then all kicks lower than that will generally see a great deal more power being released.
Lower-level kicks are usually "the norm" in Wing Chun, mainly because it is more difficult for the opponent to see. And if it is harder to see, then it is harder to defend against. The problem, however, is that many practitioners do not train their full power at a parallel level, which in turn sees a great deal of power lost that they "can" achieve.
Therefore, always train this kick in the forms to be full power and parallel to the floor.
In addition to single opponents, Wing Chun also includes kicking methods for dealing with multiple opponents. We do not get to "pick and choose" how many will attack us, so Wang-chang-gerk allows us to respond to opponents approaching from the side.
Wang-chang-gerk |
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The weight transfers to one side via pivoting at the foot. At this point, 100% of the body's weight is on one leg only. |
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Lift the kicking leg directly upward at the side. Do not bring the leg forward and do not raise the body. |
 -3- |
"Piston" the foot outward at 90-degrees from the body, directly to the side. Go to full leg extension and do not leave a bend in the knee. Also, do not let your body fall forward in the direction of the kick. |
Wang-chang-gerk, or "Side Thrusting-kick," is exactly as it sounds: a kick to the side, or 90-degrees from our present position. But like all Wing Chun kicks, there is no pivoting at the knee; instead, it is a true thrust of the knee to thrust the leg. We use the elbow to piston or "thrust" the fist, and we use the knee to piston or "thrust" the foot.
Of Wing Chun's kicking methods, the most commonly-used is called Jeet-gerk, or "Stop-kick/ Jamming-kick." This is a fast, powerful slamming action into the opponent's shin, knee or thigh to halt his actions, as well as disrupt his footwork
Jeet-gerk |
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From a lead-leg stance with Man-sau... |
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... bring the lead-leg's foot slightly upward and then lash out forcefully using the entire leg and striking the full flat of the foot. Some advocate striking with the heel because it is a harder target; however, this requires "precision" that is not always possible in real life. There is nothing wrong with using the entire flat of the foot, and it will usually be more effective than trying to use the heel alone.
In this example, I am also launching a simultaneous straight punch. |
 -3- |
Continuing the forward momentum, I am now using the rear leg to enact Jeet-gerk while punching with the other fist. |
The Chum-Kiu teaches a variety of elements that are applicable in today's society. It is interesting when someone says that Wing Chun lacks a particular fighting element for today's "flavor of the month" martial art, because there is nothing that Wing Chun does not have for realistic fighting.
Chum-Kiu Attributes |
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Ground Fighting While Wing Chun forms do not include ground fighting, the concepts themselves are applicable when on the ground. The overall protective postures and basic actions are just as effective on the ground as they are when standing up. Wing Chun is a "standing" method, for certain, and we do not want to go to the ground if we can help it. But if we do, Wing Chun's concepts are still practical and useful. |
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Locking Another element that some say Wing Chun lacks are locks; however, even a brief glimpse into its movements show otherwise. Originally learned in the Siu-Nim-Tau, these concepts are further expanded in Chum-Kiu training to make full use of what is happening. Remember that the concept is what is applied vs. a specific action. And when that is understood, a practitioner will readily see that what was once learned is useful for a wider range of scenarios. |
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Trapping Trapping and pinning, which is just momentarily impeding the actions of the opponent by pressing one arm on top of the other and pressing into him, can take a variety of shapes and positions. From in-close traps to long-range traps and pinning, a great deal of this learned in Chum-Kiu training because of the ranges. Chum-Kiu takes us a bit closer to the opponent, so we capitalize on the arm's positioning by learning to "wedge" into him. Driving him down only long enough to get in, we keep the attack going and force him to remain defensive. |
Fighting vs. "Exercising"
A variety of today's exercise routines include boxing, kickboxing, and other similar actions. These programs will usually tell you that in addition to improving your fitness, you are also creating a valuable self-defense skill set, something that you could use in real life for protection if you had to.
Well, I am not going to say that you are not learning something about self-defense, because clearly you are. The body is replicating the actions of movements you would use for defending yourself, and these "can" be valuable elements if you find yourself in a self-defense situation.
However, these are mechanical actions only that you are practicing in the air. And the goal you are focusing on is fitness, not hitting someone. Creating a skill set that you can actually rely on for defense is something entirely different, and without understanding that, it is a false sense of security to think that an exercise program is the same as learning self-defense.
Fighting and exercising are two different things. Yes, you are improving your fitness, and yes, you are learning the "mechanics" of basic self-defense actions. However, self-defense and exercise are not the same things. There is more to reliable self-defense than merely "going through the motions," and that is a primary concept we learn in the Chum-Kiu.
Please do not create a false sense of security by relying on your fitness program to teach you about real protection. I personally love fitness programs that include boxing and/or kickboxing because they generate more movement that relates better to overall conditioning. However, these fitness programs will not stop a 250-lb. enraged attacker bent on drilling you into the ground.
Wing Chun WILL.
Many have asked how Wing Chun might respond to other martial arts, so below is an example of this. Note, however, that all of this is "might," because in a real fight, anything can and usually does happen. I have a love of all martial arts, mind you, and this is not to degrade these other methods. Rather, it is merely to illustrate how a Wing Chun practitioner might respond to the more commonly-seen elements of various martial arts.
Concepts and Theories
The Chum-Kiu revolves around "seeking out" the opponent, and once found, we "sink" or "leak" through his/her defenses in order to attack. The most relevant areas of this training includes concepts for angling and turning in order to make the most of the space we have, which in turn allows us to address multiple opponents.
The Chum-Kiu is also where Wing Chun's three primary kicking methods - Ching-sun-gerk, Wang-chang-gerk and Che-chang-gerk - are introduced. With these three kicks, we now learn to respond to leg attacks with our own legs vs. using the arms. An interesting facet, however, is that even with the kicks, we also learn that in many cases, responding to the opponent's kick is sometimes not even necessary.
A common (but very effective) tactic is that when the opponent kicks, we "explode" forward into them in order to decrease the range. Not only can this jam the kick, but it can also decrease the power that the kick can produce by shortening the length it has to travel. And with a decreased distance, it cannot produce the same amount of power.
For More Information...
The "bridge" between the Siu-Nim-Tau and the Biu-Tze is the Chum-Kiu. It is here that we take our basic concepts learned during our Siu-Nim-Tau training and really make them mobile, efficient, fluid, and responsive. Not only do we learn kicking and elbow attacks/ defenses, but we also learn how to engage multiple opponents.
If you have completed the Siu-Nim-Tau curriculum and you are looking for the next phase of training, then I recommend investigating Volume 2: Chum-Kiu of the AWCA's eBook Training Series.
This video-illustrated in-depth workbook takes you through the complete Chum-Kiu curriculum, including the Chum-Kiu form, all drills and applications, and the concepts and theories in a concise, progressive manner. You will also be tested at the end of each section to ensure that you understand the material and truly know it for when you need it.
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Updated: 07.16.2010 5:09PM MST
