Siu-Nim-Tau

The Little-Idea Form

Introduction | Section 1 | Drills & Applications | Concepts & Theories

Introduction

The first form of the Wing Chun system is called Siu-Nim-Tau. Meaning Little-Idea, this form demonstrates basic but efficient concepts that provide a logical method. Regardless of the style, all Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun methods will generally begin their teachings with the Siu-Nim-Tau.

Whereas many arts focus on an application, Wing Chun focuses on the concept of that application. A concept can adjust and respond to ever-changing situations, while focusing only on the application itself can see it defeated.

All Wing Chun empty-hand forms are taught in three sections to make for easier learning. For the Siu-Nim-Tau, however, its three sections have a specific purpose and stress a unique function:

  Section 1 teaches the correct biomechanics of arm movement and leg strength.

  Section 2 teaches how to develop relaxed power.

  Section 3 combines these elements in order to “release” that power.

Some will train the Siu-Nim-Tau as internal while others will train it as external. At the AWCA, we train Wing Chun solely from the mindset of fighting (what many denote as external). Elements of internal training will result, such as relaxation and smooth breathing, but we do not focus on the internal aspects as some others do.

Instead, our primary focus lies in the relaxed, physical aspects of response and engagement, learning to overcome an opponent swiftly and efficiently. Internal elements result over time, but they are not our primary concern; defeating the opponent as quickly as possible is the primary goal, and utilizing the concepts found in the Siu-Nim-Tau begins that process.

The interesting thing about Wing Chun is that you will find many variations. The families, lineages, and styles have particular ways to train, as well as specific modes of that training in order to cultivate what they feel are the essential elements to their preferred methods. Some are more effective than others, but on the whole, you will usually find more similarities than differences.

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Section 1

Section 1 begins by learning how to lower one’s center of gravity from the chest to the waist. Called Hoi-ma, or Opening the Stance, this basic but primary element is one of the reasons we can take an opponent head-on. Should too much force be encountered and we are overpowered by brute strength, the structure itself allows us to “borrow” that force and re-direct or deflect it.

When engaging force with your own force, the stronger of the two opponents has a better chance of success because the odds are more in their favor. Therefore, in order to overcome that, borrowing their force allows us to quickly change angles, respond faster, attack the exposed areas, and keeps it efficient without thinking about what to do.

Highlights of Siu-Nim-Tau Section 1

Siu-Nim-Tau Section 1 (HD video under production)

Hoi-ma
Opening the stance

Stand upright with the arms to your sides and the feet together. The head is level and the back is straight. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Pause for a few seconds and just relax, blanking out all thoughts around you.

Hoi-ma
(continued)

Bring the arms as far upward and backward as possible without hunching the shoulders.

Hoi-ma
(continued)

At the knees, drop the weight directly downward until the knees are at a 45-degree angle. Do not lean forward or backward.

Hoi-ma
(continued)

Place all of your weight on the heels and then pivot the toes outward to a 90-degree angle. During this pivot, do not raise the weight and do not lean forward or backward. Keep the back completely straight, keep your weight down, and keep your head looking forward.

Hoi-ma
(continued)

Now place your weight on the toes and pivot the heels outward to a 60-degree angle. Again, do not lean forward or backward, keep the back completely straight, keep your weight down, and keep your head looking forward.

When completed, you are now in Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma, or Character “Two” Adduction stance.

Gow-cha Tan-sau
Crossed Double Palm-Up arms

Bring the arms to the front of the body and on your centerline approximately one open-hand width distance from the chest. The left wrist is on top of the right and the elbows are approximately one fist-width distance from the sides.

Gow-cha Gaun-sau
Crossed Double Splitting Block-arms

Drives the arms directly downward along a straight line to full extension. The wrists are level with the waist and approximately one open-hand distance away.

Kwun-sau
Rotating-arms/Twisting-arms

Pull the left hand inward and twist the arms directly upward.

Gow-cha Tan-sau

From Kwun-sau, the arms stop when the wrists are on the centerline. The left wrist is still on top of the right.

Hau-jarn
Withdrawing-arm/Backward-elbow

Keeping the shoulders and arms relaxed, forcefully drive both arms backwards.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
Character “Sun” Thrusting punch

Bring the left hand to the centerline approximately one open-hand width distance from the chest. The elbow is one fist-width distance from the side. Do not tightly clinch the fist; instead, keep it loosely closed so as not to create tension or stiffness in the arm.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
(continued)

Drive the fist directly outward along the centerline to full elbow extension. Just as the arm reaches full extension, this is when you close the fist completely vs keeping it loose. Doing so will instill speed of the arm, and speed – not physical bulk – is what creates reliable hitting power.

Tan-sau
Palm-Up arm

With the arm fully locked out and the wrist on the centerline, turn the hand over so the palm is facing upward.

Huen-sau
Circling-hand/Wrist-circling

Circle the wrist up…

Huen-sau
(continued)

… to the inside, and…

Huen-sau
(continued)

… continue the wrist circling until the fingers are pointed directly downward. Throughout the circling, the arm remains fully locked out and wrist on the centerline.

Huen-sau
(continued)

Snap the hand closed as if catching a ball bouncing upward.

Hau-jarn

Keeping the shoulder relaxed, forcefully drive the elbow directly backward. We will now perform the same movements for the right side.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen

Bring the right hand to the centerline approximately one open-hand width distance from the chest. The elbow is one fist-width distance from the side. Do not tightly clinch the fist; instead, keep it loosely closed so as not to create tension or stiffness in the arm.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
(continued)

Drive the fist directly outward along the centerline to full elbow extension. Just as the arm reaches full extension, this is when you close the fist completely vs keeping it loose. Doing so will instill speed of the arm, and speed – not physical bulk – is what creates reliable hitting power.

Tan-sau

With the arm fully locked out and the wrist on the centerline, turn the hand over so the palm is facing upward.

Huen-sau

Circle the wrist up…

Huen-sau
(continued)

… to the inside, and…

Huen-sau
(continued)

… continue the wrist circling until the fingers are pointed directly downward. Throughout the circling, the arm remains fully locked out and wrist on the centerline.

Huen-sau
(continued)

Snap the hand closed as if catching a ball bouncing upward.

Hau-jarn

Keeping the shoulder relaxed, forcefully drive the elbow directly backward.

Slow Tan-sau

Open the left hand and begin moving it slowly to the centerline.

Slow Tan-sau
(continued)

Continue this slow movement forward. The goal of this slow motion is to teach the arm correct biomechanics of wrist and elbow position. A slow motion while remaining stationary also trains your Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma.

Slow Tan-sau
(continued)

Tan-sau continues forward very slowly along the centerline until your elbow is no more than one fist-width distance from the body.

Huen-sau

At a normal speed, begin Huen-sau. Note that the arm does not move; rather, only the wrist circles (for now).

Huen-sau
(continued)

Circle to the inside…

Huen-sau
(continued)

… and continue circling until the fingers are pointed directly downward. As you transition to Wu-sau (below), the elbow now starts to move slightly outward but the wrist remains on the centerline.

Wu-sau
Guard-arm/Protective-hand

As you assume Wu-sau, the elbow is now one fist-width distance from the body and the wrist remains on your centerline.

Wu-sau
(continued)

Wu-sau slowly moves backwards by drawing the elbow directly backwards vs bending it. The wrist never leaves the centerline and the arm stops moving backwards when the wrist is approximately one open-hand width distance from the chest.

Fook-sau
Bridge-On arm

Bend the wrist inward and pull the elbow as far towards your centerline as possible.

Fook-sau
(continued)

Very slowly, extend the arm outward along the centerline until your elbow is no more than one fist-width distance from the body.

Huen-sau

Circle the hand fully downward.

Wu-sau

Continue the circling until the arm is in the Wu-sau position.

Wu-sau
(continued)

As before, Wu-sau travels directly backwards very slowly until the wrist is one open-hand width distance from the chest.

Fook-sau

Bend the wrist inward and pull the elbow as far towards your centerline as possible.

Fook-sau
(continued)

Very slowly, extend the arm outward along the centerline until your elbow is no more than one fist-width distance from the body.

Huen-sau

Circle the hand fully downward.

Wu-sau

Continue the circling until the arm is in the Wu-sau position.

Wu-sau
(continued)

As before, Wu-sau travels directly backwards very slowly until the wrist is one open-hand width distance from the chest.

Fook-sau

Bend the wrist inward and pull the elbow as far towards your centerline as possible.

Fook-sau
(continued)

Very slowly, extend the arm outward along the centerline until your elbow is no more than one fist-width distance from the body.

Huen-sau

Circle the hand fully downward.

Wu-sau

Continue the circling until the arm is in the Wu-sau position.

Wu-sau
(continued)

As before, Wu-sau travels directly backwards very slowly until the wrist is one open-hand width distance from the chest.

Pak-sau
Slap-hand

Look to the right and slap the left palm to the right, stopping when it is at the same horizontal plane as the shoulder.

Jing-cheung
Erect-palm

Move the hand to the centerline and…

Jing-cheung
(continued)

… drive the palm fully forward to full extension. Do not leave a bend in the elbow.

Tan-sau

Keeping the arm fully locked out and the wrist on the centerline, turn the hand over to Tan-sau.

Huen-sau

Keeping the arm locked out and the wrist on the centerline, begin the Huen-sau circling by pulling the wrist upward.

Huen-sau
(continued)

Circle to the inside and…

Huen-sau
(continued)

… continue until the fingers are pointed directly downward. Remember that during the Huen-sau circling, the arm remains locked out and the wrist on the centerline.

Huen-sau
(continued)

Snap the hand closed as if catching a ball bouncing upward.

Hau-jarn

Drive the arm fully backward without hunching or tightening the shoulder.

Repeat steps 15a through 31 for the right arm.
When complete, you have completed Siu-Nim-Tau section 1.

The above illustrates the first of three sections that makes up the Siu-Nim-Tau form. In addition to opening the stance in order to lower our center of gravity and learning about adduction, section 1 also begins to strengthen the legs for creating a strong, solid foundation.

A simple task like opening the stance is not as basic as it might first appear. The body must correctly interpret weight distribution, and maintaining this weight distribution is paramount to effective fighting. Correctly is used here because the body can also interpret weight distribution incorrectly. To counter this, a Wing Chun student will spend quite a bit of time learning about the foundation and structure of their body, and how a correct or incorrect structure can make or break everything else that follows.

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Drills & Applications

A variety of drills can be created exclusively from section 1. To illustrate a bit about what the Siu-Nim-Tau teaches us, let’s explore a few drills that begins the foundation of Wing Chun.

Punching

There are three primary punches in Wing Chun, with Yat-chi-chung-kuen, or the Character “Sun” Thrusting punch (commonly called the Straightline punch), being the most prevalent. If you close your hand to make a vertical fist, and then look at the front of it in a mirror, it resembles the Chinese character for “sun”.

Hence, the Character “Sun” Thrusting punch.

Wing Chun punching differs from other arts in that instead of striking with a horizontal fist and using the first two knuckles, we use a vertical fist and strike with the bottom three knuckles. If you place your arm to your side, make a fist, then draw the arm up in front of you, you will see that the bottom three knuckles are in alignment with the arm. Upon impact, the entire arm acts as a shock absorber.

This is why Wing Chun punching can inflict so much damage to the opponent, and it is also why the punch can be so fast. It is biomechanically the correct way a punch should be enacted.

 Yat-chi-chung-kuen, front view (16 sec | 2.77 MB | MP4 format)

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
Character “Sun” Thrusting punch

Begin in Man-sau and then close both fists.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
(continued)

As the rear first begins moving forward, the lead arm drops just enough to clear the path so thtat they do not collide.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
(continued)

The rear hand extends fully with no bend in the elbow, while the lead arm assumes Wu-sau.

 Yat-chi-chung-kuen, side view (16 sec | 3.2 MB | MP4 format)

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
Character “Sun” Thrusting punch

Begin in Man-sau and then close both fists.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
(continued)

As the rear first begins moving forward, the lead arm drops just enough to clear the path so that they do not collide.

Yat-chi-chung-kuen
(continued)

The rear hand extends fully with no bend in the elbow, while the lead arm assumes Wu-sau.

Lead-arm Defense Drill

After learning the first section of Siu-Nim-Tau and exploring the variety of concepts, we can take many of these movements and blend them together to create our own drills as necessary. This teaches us not to be stagnant or always training the same drills over and over.

To begin this process, we work what is called the Lead-arm Defense Drill. This drill is just one of many variations that “frees us up” by helping us to move from side-to-side while working the arms. We also learn more control of the lower body and how to pivot ourselves in order to “borrow” the force of the attacker.

Lead-arm Defense Drill (HD video under production)

Tan-dar
(Palm-Up arm with simultaneous attack)

Turn to Juk-sun-ma with Tan-sau/Yat-chi-chung-kuen. 100% of the body’s weight is on the rear leg.

Fook-dar
(Bridge-On arm with simultaneous attack)

Turn to Juk-sun-ma on the other side with Fook-sau/Yat-chi-chung-kuen. 100% of the body’s weight is on the rear leg.

Gaun-dar
(Splitting Block-arm with simultaneous attack)

Turn to the other side with Juk-sun-ma and Gaun-sau/Yat-chi-chung-kuen. 100% of the body’s weight is on the rear leg.

Pak-dar
(Slap-hand with simultaneous attack)

Assume Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma with simultaneous Pak-sau/Yat-chi-chung-kuen. Yat-chi-chung-kuen in the lead-arm defense goes over Pak-sau, whereas in rear-arm defense it goes under Pak-sau.

Kuen-siu-Kuen
(Punch-to-Punch)

Pak-sau slides under the arm and executes Yat-chi-chung-kuen while the previous punch assumes Wu-sau.

Even just a few of the drills learned from the Lead-arm Defense Drill can be immediately applied to our training.

Tan-dar (HD video under production)

Tan-dar
(Palm-Up arm with simultaneous attack)

As the opponent’s bridge arm meets the defender’s Man-sau…

Tan-dar
(continued)

… Man-sau feels the force coming in and begins to defend with Tan-sau while turning via Chuen-ma.

Tan-dar
(continued)

At completion, the defender is fully in Juk-sun-ma with Tan-dar.

 Fook-dar (14 sec | 2.8 MB | MP4 format)

Fook-dar
(Bridge-On arm with simultaneous attack)

As the opponents square up…

Fook-dar
(continued)

… the attacker launches a hook punch. The defender changes Man-sau to Fook-sau while beginning to turn in order to absorb the force.

Fook-dar
(continued)

At completion, the defender is in Juk-sun-ma with Fook-dar.

 Gaun-dar (14 sec | 2.8 MB | MP4 format)

Gaun-dar
(Splitting Block arm with simultaneous attack)

As the attacker approaches…

Gaun-dar
(continued)

… he begins to launch an uppercut under the lead arm to the defender’s stomach. The defender’s Man-sau explodes straight down while Wu-sau begins to launch Yat-chi-chung-kuen.

Gaun-dar
(continued)

Gaun-sau goes straight down to full extension (no bend in the elbow) while the punch lands squarely in the face or throat.

Pak-sau Drill

An excellent real-world drill that you can work with your training partner right now is called the Pak-sau drill. This drill teaches coordination, learning to make contact, feeling what that pressure is about, and how to better protect your centerline. It also puts into motion the concept of working both hands at the same time so that you can enact simultaneous attack and defense.

 Pak-sau Drill (19 sec | 3.7 MB | MP4 format)

Pak-sau Drill
(Slap-hand)

Both practitioners begin in Man-sau and then one of them punches. The punch is defended with Pak-sau…

Pak-sau Drill
(continued)

… while a simultaneous punch is launched. This punch is defended with Pak-sau…

Pak-sau Drill
(continued)

… while the rear hand pulls up and…

Pak-sau Drill
(continued)

… launches a punch. As before, the punch is defended with Pak-sau…

Pak-sau Drill
(continued)

… followed with a simultaneous punch.

Pak-sau Drill
(continued)

The Pak-sau drill continues in an unending cycle to train the shoulders and the concept of simultaneous attack and defense.

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Concepts & Theories

Wing Chun is concept-based vs application-based, meaning that the movements themselves can only take you so far. They are excellent movements, for certain; however, they are still only mechanical actions. What really makes Wing Chun so effective is “how” and “why” the movements are applied.

For example, think about how many martial arts are in existence. Now, think about how many ways the human body can move. With the hundreds of systems and styles in the world, a person can still only do so many things.

When someone trains only for applications, what happens if they meet up with an opponent who is trained in movements that the defender did not train to respond to yet? If they follow a set pattern or routine in their daily training, then any deviation from that routine can be cause for defeat.

Wing Chun does not follow this premise; instead, the system applies concept – not movement – to the equation. Concepts such as learning about the centerline, straightline and vertical midline are essential to what we do. Understanding how the body responds to incoming force allows us to “borrow” that force and use it our advantage.

In combination, the centerline and straightline principles increase your reactions so much that our responses can become extremely fast. However, there is no mystery there. It is nothing more than simple body mechanics.

The vertical midline separates the left and right halves of the body so that we can analyze what limbs would be appropriate for various attacks. This is assisted by working the Six Gates principle, in which the body is broken down into six separate areas. For example, gates 1 and 2 are for the right and left sides of the head, gates 3 and 4 cover the right and left sides of the trunk, and gates 5 and 6 cover the right and left sides of the lower body. With these areas being analyzed, we can quickly see what limbs would be more efficient to address any kind of attack we might encounter.

The Siu-Nim-Tau is unique to the rest of Wing Chun in that while all forms are learned in sections for easier learning, the Siu-Nim-Tau’s sections each have a distinct purpose:

• Section 1 – Section 1 teaches the correct biomechanics of arm and hand positions, as well as strengthening the lower body. The structure of the stance from the ground to the top of the head is learned, and we take this structure to reinforce our arm mechanics.
• Section 2 – Section 2 teaches us how to develop relaxed force. Anyone can release force, but releasing the “proper” force is what this section focuses on. Here we learn about relaxing our actions in order to remove the stiffness and tension that goes with fighting, as well as how to develop a relaxed “whipping” type of force.
• Section 3 – Section 3 combines all of the lessons learned in sections 1 and 2, and teaches how to unite these concepts into a workable, efficient “explosion” into our target.

Like all things Wing Chun, though, not everyone trains the sections in that manner. Some apply different associations to it, such as learning double movements, focusing on gaining the inside line, etc.

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For More Information…

If you are ready to explore what Wing Chun is about, then there is no better starting point than Volume 1: Siu-Nim-Tau of the AWCA’s eBook Training Series.

This in-depth video-illustrated workbook takes you through the complete Siu-Nim-Tau curriculum from start to finish with nothing left out. This one-of-a-kind training platform was built with true distance learning in mind and has already helped thousands of practitioners all over the world actually learn Wing Chun.

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