93 With the start of the second section of SIU LIM TAO the emphasis shifts to learning how to express the energy that has been developed through the first section, by practising the use of that energy in the last six inches of the movements.

94 The second third begins by opening the left hand with the palm facing up.

95 As the hand relaxes down it turns to face palm down, the movement stays relaxed and controlled until the hand reaches hip level.

96 After the hand passes hip level the palm is pushed down with energy as a GUM SAU. Tension in the last six inches creates power in the palm heel, the arm is held slightly away off the body, with the fingers pointing back toward the leg.

97 The right hand opens, at first with the palm up and then turns palm down as the hand is dropped relaxed to hip level.

98 The palm is thrust down with the energy expressed in the last six inches as a GUM SAU, keeping the arm slightly off the body and the fingers pointing back toward the leg.

99 Bring both hands simultaneously behind the back placing them at the base of the spine with the first joint of the thumbs and the tips of the forefingers touching.

100 Both hands move out relaxed at first then thrust out in the last six inches as a double rear GUM SAU. It is important to place the energy in the palm heels and to push them out horizontally with the fingers pointing back toward the body where they would not interfere with any contact made.

101 Relax the tension in the arms and bring the hands over the hips.

102 The hands are brought to rest in front of the hips, the elbows in a natural position at the side of the body.

103 Both hands together are now thrust out with the tension being restricted to the last six inches of the movement.

104 It is useful at this stage to concentrate on practising the GUM SAU’s on their own as they are simple moves which make it easier to focus on what you are trying to achieve and understand the importance of the relationship between relaxation and tension, which is the basis of the energy of Wing Chun.

105 Lift the arms up in front of the chest and hold in a LAN SAU or ‘bar arm’ position, no tension, with the left arm on top the arms are close but not touching. The arms are held horizontally at chest level, the level they are held is critical, too high and the shoulders will be affected, too low and the structure of the LAN SAU will be lost. LAN SAU’s strength relies more upon the mechanics of the arm than the muscles involved.

106 Open the arms out horizontally, elbows leading. It is easy to misinterpret the movement in this technique, the main error in practising this move is that action is more of a swinging out of the arms with the hands following a circular trajectory, whereas the movement follows one of the basic principles of Wing Chun, that is the ‘Straight Line’ theory, the palm heel describes a straight line from the point where it exists in the LAN SAU to its finish as a contact point of the SIDE BIU SAU.

107 The arms straighten out using the palm heel of the hand edge to strike with; the hands are kept flat throughout, though the fingers point slightly forward. This is a SIDE BIU SAU, the energy is directed straight out sideways and in the last six inches.

108 Bring the arms back to the LAN SAU position with the right arm on top, fingertips level with the elbows and the forearms horizontal but not touching.

109 The left hand is brought inside the right LAN SAU and then both elbows are relaxed down while keeping the hands held high.

110 Continue to drop the elbows in until the forearms have uncrossed, at this point there is still no tension in the arms.

111 Both arms fall simultaneously into tension as a JUM SAU energy. Wrist at a slightly higher level than the elbow, never below. Elbows are held about six inches apart, the forearms narrow toward the wrist. The hands are angled in a slight ‘V’, fingers straight, thumb bent, total tension applied.

112 This is the HIGH JUM SAU position, which differs from the LOW JUM SAU position that exists in the first third only in how the arm is held. The principles behind each are the same it is in their application where there is variation, one being defensive and the other offensive. The LOW JUM SAU becomes more evident in CHUM KIU and BIU JEE.

113 Relax the JUM SAU energy and bring the elbows in toward the centreline, the palms turn up so that the arms form a DOUBLE TAN SAU position.

114 Turn the palms to face down and at the same time allow the elbows to drift out from the centreline. When the palms become horizontal the elbows are jerked back about six inches toward the body, the elbows should be resting naturally by the side of the body. The hand is angled slightly up from the wrist with the fingers straight and the thumbs bent. The whole movement is continuous, the energy expressed through the elbow and focused in the wrist as a sharp pull back, this is the JUT SAU.

115 Thrust the fingers out relaxed at first, changing to tension in the last six inches as a BIU JEE finger strike with the arms straight and your hand slightly angled up from the wrist.

116 Keep the hands and fingers straight with the elbows locked and drop the wrists down.

117 Continue the movement down and in the last six inches bring the arms into tension. This is a downward JUT SAU type energy expressed through straight arms.

118 Bend the wrists dropping the hands down, press the thumbs to the second fingers and group the other fingers around, similar to the FOOK SAU of the first section.

119 Lift the arms up to shoulder level with energy expressed in the last six inches and focused in the back of the wrist. The elbows must be kept locked out so you can understand that you can still generate energy with a straight arm and that it is not essential to bend the elbow before power can be demonstrated.

120 Run through the HUEN SAU procedure to close the hands into fists held horizontally with the back of the hand up.

121 The arms are pulled back to the rest position at the side of the body. Always be careful to check your arm structure and stance, as it is easy to relax your concentration and drift out of correct position.

122 This completes the second third of SIU LIM TAO.

Home | First Third | Second Third | Final Section | Siu Lim Tau details | Second Form