Siu Nim Tau ????/b>
Susana Ho (3/2003)
Siu Nim Tau is the first form of Wing Chun system. Throughout the whole form, it should be performed in a relaxed manner through proper STANCE together with a non-stop Focusing / Forwards Thinking / Mind Force / Nim Lik 念? at a stationary position. All movements of the hands are initiated by the relaxed shoulder joints together with the co-operation of the elbow joints, wrist at the centre and traveling to the desired positions. No movements are initiated by the forearms or the muscles. The form movements can be divided into three sections as follow:-
First Section
THE STANCE 二????/p>
Stand straight with feet together and arms by the side. Make sure body is relaxed but not sloppy. Draw both arms up to the side around chest height; form fists with thumbs tucked in (at all palm and fist positions) and with the palm side facing upwards.
Slightly bend the knees. With heels tuck together, open the feet into one straight-line (as straight as you can). Pivot on toes to form a triangle with feet pointing towards the end point of a fully extended arm at the centreline. (Make sure knees are not beyond the toes and the back not beyond the heels.)
Contract internally upward at the Anal Sphincter / Anus/ Tei Gong ?? to link up the whole body as one unit. This is the basic STANCE throughout the whole form.
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FORM MOVEMENTS
Open the fists into flat palms. Move both arms sloping downwards until they cross the wrists at the centre with left arm over right (the elbows are still bent not straightened); palms facing downwards and form a knife edge.
Rotate the arms upwards until in front of the face and turn both palms to face the body at the same time. Then, withdraw both arms back to the STANCE position.
Drop the left fist down to the centre at the solar plexus level with the knuckles perpendicular to the floor and facing the front, and thumb on top; execute a straight punch. Fist opens into a flat palm and turn until facing upwards; then, bend the flat palm upwards until perpendicular to the forearm (do your best and a little tension at the wrist is acceptable); turn the palm inwards until the fingers face the floor; form fist at that position; withdraw the arm back to the STANCE position. Repeat the same on the right hand side.
The left fist is opened and the palm is flattened, facing upwards. Place the wrist at the centre and solar plexus level; move the wrist along the centreline with the fingers pointing straight forwards; when starting to have the intention to force muscle in order to keep the movement, stop, and this is the ultimate angle for that person. This is called the TAN SAU ??.
Bend the flat palm upwards until perpendicular to the forearm; turn the palm inwards until the fingers face the floor; flick the palm upwards until fingers are pointing upwards and palm edge facing the front. This is called the WU SAU 護?. Move the WU SAU backwards on the same route as traveled by the TAN SAU until back to the centre at the solar plexus level.
Drop the palm facing towards the body with the edge facing the floor and maintain the wrist at the centre. This is called the FOOK SAU 伏?. Move the FOOK SAU forwards on the same route as traveled by the TAN SAU until the same ultimate angle is reached.
Change the FOOK SAU to WU SAU by turning the wrist inwards with a flat palm until the fingers face the floor; flick the palm to WU SAU position. Repeat WU SAU and FOOK SAU until the third time back from the WU SAU.
Execute a side palm strike to the right shoulder; back to the centre; a front palm strike towards the centre.
Turn the palm until a flat palm is facing upwards; bend the flat palm upwards until perpendicular to the forearm; turn the palm inwards until the fingers are facing the floor; form fist at that position; withdraw the arm back to the STANCE position.
Repeat the same movements on the right side; start from nos. 7 to 12 except no. 11 where the side palm strike is now to the left shoulder. End of this section.
(For nos. 7 to 10, try to perform as slowly as possible to make sure that there is no forcing of the muscles which causes the tension.)
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Second Section
Open the left fist into flat palm and turn until facing downwards; thrust straight down beside the body. Repeat on the right side.
Both arms are then placed together around the lower back with the palms facing outwards. Thrust together sloping downwards.
Place both downwards, facing palms in front of the waist area and thrust in a slightly slanting downwards direction.
Rotate both arms upwards until shoulder height and at the same time close the elbow joints until left forearm is placed on top of the right one. Slash the arms out to the side until near straight and then rotate back to the previous position except that now the right forearm is on top.
Sink down both elbows until they are parallel to each other and then move downwards until the fingers point to the front. Then, sink back towards the waist together with the turning of the flat palms until they face the floor and fingers are pointing to the front.
Thrust both arms forwards towards the eye height with fingers pointing forwards and palms facing the floor.
With full extension of both arms, move the palms with the wrist till fingers points upwards; rotate the arms downwards. Move the palms with the wrist till fingers point downwards; rotate arms back to shoulder level and withdraw arms back to the STANCE position. End of the second section.
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Third Section
Open left fist into flat palm and turn until it face the front. Move the palm to the right shoulder and back to the left shoulder in a 45 degree angle. Strike out a palm strike towards the centre at that angle. Repeat no. 12. Repeat the same movements on the right side with reversed left-right directions.
Open left fist into flat palm and drop it at the waist height with wrist at the centre. Thrust out sloping upwards towards the chest height along the centreline with an elbow angle slightly bigger then the ultimate angle. Then, cut down and rotate the arm until the palm is facing downwards. Rotate back to the previous position. Bend the palm until the fingers point upwards; turn inwards until fingers point downwards; open out into a side palm and then thrust forwards. Repeat no. 12. Repeat the same movements on the right side.
Open left fist into palm. Rotate through the shoulder joint until the wrist is at the centre; the palm is facing outwards and fingers are pointing forwards at the shoulder height. This is called the BONG SAU ??? Rotate the arm into the TAN SAU position. The fingers are then pointed downwards (at your best) with palm facing the front and then palm strike forwards. Repeat No. 12. Repeat the same on the right side.
Move the left arm sloping downwards to the centreline with the palm facing downwards and elbow angle slightly bigger then the ultimate angle. Place the right wrist at the left elbow with the palm upwards and fingers pointing to the front. When the right arm thrusts and turns towards the centreline and the palm is facing downwards, the left arm is withdrawn back to the right elbow position with palm upwards and fingers pointing to the front. Repeat four more times and with the last time, withdraw the left arm back to the centre at solar plexus level and form the palm into a fist.
Six continuous chain punches are executed by striking out one and sinking the other back to the punching position. Then, withdraw both arms back to the STANCE position. End of the third section and the form.
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