1 As with the
precedent that began in Siu Lim Tao, clear your mind of all little
thoughts. Prepare yourself to practise Chum Kiu in the right
frame of mind.
2 Stand with your feet together, arms by your side with the
body relaxed and clear of those distracting thoughts.
3 Lift your arms up, elbows back and pulled in, the hands closed
as fists and brought to chest height, level with the front of the
chest, remember that the forearms are held horizontal with the wrists
straight so the bone structure is linear from knuckle to elbow.
4 Hold the arm position and bend the knees, dropping down until
the toes are still slightly visible over the knees. Do not sit down
too far as this will stress the knees incorrectly with the possibility
of injury in later life. Sitting down too far also shifts the centre
of gravity over the toes, which causes difficulty when trying to turn
in the stance.
5 The last two stages of forming the stance can be performed
simultaneously, though this is not essential as there is no hidden
technique.
6 Maintaining the same level with the knees bent, push the
toes out as far as possible while keeping the soles of the feet in
contact with the floor; the heels are used as a point to pivot around.
7 Next use the balls of the feet as pivots to push the heels
out, keep contact with the floor throughout the movement. When the
move is completed the insides of the heels should be a shoulders width
apart and the knees at one fist distance. The hips are pushed forward,
so that a straight line is created between the shoulders and the knee.
Balance is held over the heels, never the toes, tension is expressed
in the muscles of the whole of the leg, developing strength in the
stance throughout the whole of Chum Kiu.
8 Put the arms out down and forward into the CROSSED GAUN SAU
position, with the arms slightly bent, crossing the forearms just
above the wrist, the wrists held at waist level with the left arm
always on top.
9 Maintaining the elbow position, lift the forearms up while
rotating the hands so the palms face up.
10 The movement is complete when the hands are in a CROSSED
TAN
SAU position. Now the left is on the inside with the forearms
crossing at the wrist, with the wrists at shoulder level.
11 Pull the arms back to the rest position at the side of
the chest. Use the hesitation between movements to correct alignment
and stance.
12 Remember that the CROSSED GAUN SAU and CROSSED TAN
SAU are not applications as they are used to define your centreline.
13 Bring the left hand out as a vertical fist onto the centreline
in front of the solar plexus with the elbow in its natural position
at the side of the body.
14 Push the wrist out straight along the centreline using the
elbow to drive out through the forearm and wrist, pay attention to
the alignment of the bone structure from elbow to little knuckle,
especially across the wrist. The energy of the movement changes in
the last few inches as tension is brought into the arm with the hand
in the vertical fist position concentrating the energy in the bottom
three knuckles, executing a BASIC PUNCH.
15 Open the hand palm up.
16 Pull the fingers back toward the body while keeping the
rest of the arm stationary, creating tension in the forearm to prepare
for the slow clockwise rotation of the hand as a HUEN SAU.
17 Keep the tension in the HUEN SAU until the hand reaches
a point naturally where it cannot rotate any further without disrupting
posture then relax.
18Close the hand as a horizontal fist.
19 Pull the arm back to the rest position with the fist level
with the front of the chest and the forearm horizontal.
20 The right fist is now brought onto the centreline in front
of the solar plexus with the fist held vertically.
21 The fist travels out along the centreline with the arm relaxed.
Take care that the elbow is held on the PLANE OF MOVEMENT on a line
drawn between the shoulder and the fist. The further the elbow is
off the plane the weaker the structure of the punch and the more the
ribs are exposed.
22 Energy is expressed as a centreline punch through rapid
total tension in the arm in the last few inches.
23 Whereas
in Siu Lim Tao we describe the use of tension in the last six inches,
now you must refine your energy by focusing the tension in just the
last few inches, to result in developing your power and increasing
the efficiency of energy transfer, ultimately you will be able to
focus your energy at the point of contact.
24 Open the hand
palm up.
25 Pull the fingers
back keeping the elbow locked out and slowly execute a HUEN SAU with
tension.
26 Continue the
rotation until the hand reaches its natural stop point and relax.
27 Close the hand
as a horizontal fist.
28 Return the arm
to the rest position at the side of the chest. Run a check on posture
and position.
29 Open both of
the hands relaxed and lift them up and out.
30 Keeping the arms
relaxed raise the wrist to shoulder level with the forearms slightly
forward of the vertical, with the wrists relaxed the hands drop so
that the fingers are more horizontally forward while the palms are
in the vertical plane. This relaxed position is the DING SAU or HIGH
FOOK
SAU .
31The arms are projected
out still relaxed and the fingers are raised as the wrists are pushed
out forward.
32 Thrust out in
the last few inches, concentrating energy in the palm heel of the
hand as a VERTICAL BIU SAU.
33 Turn toward a
left stance while bringing both arms into a DOUBLE LAN SAU position
with the left arm on top.
34 Complete the
90-degree turn to a left stance, sitting low with all of your weight
on the right leg. Shoulders are over the heels and the forearms horizontal
at upper chest level, fingertips to elbows without the arms touching.
35 Shift your weight
toward the left leg as you turn the body while maintaining the DOUBLE
LAN SAU position to prepare to turn to a right stance.
36 Pivoting on your
heel continue to turn, both feet move simultaneously as you progressively
place more weight onto the left leg, take care to keep a low stance
throughout.
37 Complete the
180-degree turn to the right stance, so that all of your weight is
now on the left leg. Hold the DOUBLE LAN SAU position with the left
arm on top throughout the movement.
38 Initiate the
turn back to a left stance by shifting your weight toward the right
leg as you rotate the body pivoting on the heels.
39Throughout the
turn the DOUBLE LAN SAU is held and the height of the stance is kept
constant, there must be no bouncing up and down while moving from
left stance to right and vice versa.
40 Return to the left stance with all your weight on the right
leg, arms still in the DOUBLE LAN SAU position.
41 Remaining stationary
in your stance, relax the hands out from the DOUBLE LAN SAU position
while the elbows drop toward the centreline.
42In the last few
inches of the movement the arms are flicked into with no tension involved.
The elbows are relaxed toward the centreline, not forced, as this
would stress the shoulder and weaken the structure. The forearms are
parallel with the hands relaxed in the DOUBLE DING SAU position, or
HIGH FOOK
SAU .
43 Change the DOUBLE
DING SAU into a DOUBLE TAN
SAU by turning the hands to the palm up position as you drop the
elbows toward each other until they are parallel.
44 Turn the right
hand so that the palm faces down as the arm is drawn back slightly
while the left forearm drops down a few inches with the hand angling
down from the wrist.
45 Concentrate on
feeling the in the wrists of both hands as the right wrist is pulled
back and drops down toward the left elbow as a JUT SAU, simultaneously
lift the left wrist as a TOK SAU. The energies are similar in that
they are short sharp expressions of energy, only in opposite directions.
46 Relax the arms
and draw the left arm back toward the body as the forearm rotates
so that the palm faces down, at the same time the right arm extends
out with the elbow coming in toward the centreline and the hand turns
to face palm up.
47 The energies
expressed in the arms are now reversed, with the left wrist pulled
back sharply toward the right elbow as a JUT SAU and the left hand
lifted as a TOK SAU energy.
48 Rotate the arms
again so that the right palm faces down and the left palm faces up,
this has the effect of bringing the left elbow in toward the centreline
while the right elbow drifts out so that it ends up in line with the
shoulder on the outer-gate line.
49 A right JUT SAU
and left TOK SAU energy are expressed in the last few inches to complete
the movement.
50 Relax the arms
and push the right hand out along the centreline as a vertical palm.
The left hand drops and is brought back passively along the centreline.
51 The right hand
completes its movement by thrusting out in the last few inches as
a VERTICAL PALM STRIKE while the left arm simultaneously takes up
a passive WU
SAU position in front of the solar plexus on the centreline.
52 Relax the tension
from the right arm and drop the hand slightly; this opens up the path
along the centreline for the left palm to progress.
53 Extend the left
arm out relaxed as a vertical palm while bringing the right hand back
toward you on the centreline.
54 Execute a left
VERTICAL PALM STRIKE with the energy expressed in the last few inches.
The right hand returns relaxed back to the WU
SAU position. It is important to isolate the use of energy in
the two arms, the VERTICAL PALM STRIKE is an active movement using
total tension and power, whereas the WU
SAU is brought back passively, merely relaxed back to position
rather than pulled back with energy. This is a characteristic of returning
to the WU
SAU position that is not just true in this instance, but in all
movements involving an active use of energy in one hand and a return
to the WU
SAU with the other hand.
55 Push the right
hand out relaxed for the third and final VERTICAL PALM STRIKE as the
left hand is dropped and pulled back passively.
56 The right hand
continues out until it is a few inches from full extension while the
left hand is pulled back toward the rest position at the side of the
chest.
57 When the right
hand is thrust out as a VERTICAL PALM STRIKE the left arm is pulled
back actively into the rest position expressing energy in the elbow
in the last few inches.
58 Shift your weight
toward the left leg and begin to turn to the right, at the same time
the right arm bends while staying in the horizontal plane as the hand
drops at the wrist to face palm down and in line with the forearm.
Although the arm is in the LAN SAU position, it is just held there
relaxed with no energy. The left arm remains in the rest position.
59 Complete the
180-degree turn into the right stance, so that all of your weight
is now on the left leg. The right arm is now in the LAN SAU position
with tension throughout the arm; the forearm is horizontal at high
chest level, square onto the chest forming a right angle with the
upper arm. The directional energy in the LAN SAU is created through
the turning of the stance and not by an exaggerated arm movement.
60 Holding the stance
and LAN SAU position, bring the left hand out as a TAN
SAU on top of the LAN SAU on your centreline. The hand positions
are held with no tension or energy expressed in the arms.
61 Shift your weight
toward the right leg and start to turn to a left stance, at the same
time the right wrist pushes out while lifting the elbow and the left
forearm rotates as the hand becomes vertical.
62 When the turn
into the left stance is complete the right arm has changed to a TURNING
BONG
SAU with the elbow at least at shoulder level, the forearm diagonally
down and forward from the elbow. The left hand is held on the centreline
as a WU
SAU, half way between the body and the right forearm. Although
your stance has turned through 180-degees, your centreline only shifts
through 90-degress, so the upper body with the TURNING BONG
SAU and WU
SAU are facing forward. Learn to understand the movements through
90-degrees and 180-degrees as these will give you precise points of
reference to relate to, showing whether your turning is correct or
not, with perfection as your goal.
63 Both arms relax
slightly from their positions as the turn to the right stance is initiated.
64 Turn into a right
stance with all your weight shifting onto the left leg. The left arm
is pulled back to the rest position at the side of the chest while
the right arm returns to the LAN SAU position with energy expressed
throughout the arm in the last few inches of the movement. It is important
to co-ordinate the use of energy in the LAN SAU with the completion
of the stance, if not the LAN SAU energy will not be reinforced by
the momentum from your body and therefore less effective.
65 The sequence
is now repeated by bringing the left arm out as a TAN
SAU on the centreline on top of the LAN SAU.
66 Shift your weight
toward the right leg and turn into a left stance, relax your right
arm from the LAN SAU position and lift the elbow as the wrist is pushed
out, the left hand is made vertical as the forearm rotates.
67 Complete the
left stance; the right arm finishes in the TURNING BONG
SAU position, elbow at shoulder level, the upper arm pointing
forward, the wrist down and forward from the elbow with the hand in
a WU SAU position.
68 Shift your weight
back onto the left leg as you turn to a right stance pivoting on the
heels. Relax both arms slightly from their positions as you move.
69 Concentrate on
focusing your energy in the elbow as you complete the movement into
a right stance, there is tension throughout the arm in the LAN SAU
position. The left arm returns to the rest position at the side of
the chest.
70 The sequence
repeats for the third and final time with the left arm brought out
as a TAN
SAU to rest on the right LAN SAU.
71 Turn toward the
left stance and relax the arms out forward.
72 With a completed
turn all the weight is now on the right leg in a left stance, the
right arm as a TURNING BONG
SAU and the left arm assuming a WU
SAU position. The only energies expressed in this movement should
be in the stance as well as specifically in the elbow; It is a common
mistake to use energy or tension in the hand or in lifting the forearm
to form the TURNING BONG
SAU, this is wrong and causes a misinterpretation in using the
TURNING BONG
SAU, you must learn to isolate your energy in the elbow leaving
the forearm relaxed.
73 Initiate the
turn to the right stance by shifting your weight to the left leg and
relaxing the arms from their positions, changing to a right LAN SAU
and the left arm pulled back to the rest position at the side of the
chest.
74 Complete the
turn into the right stance. The energy expressed in the LAN SAU is
total and linked through the body with the stance; it is only by combining
the tension in the arms and the legs through the hips and waist that
any useful power can be exerted in the LAN SAU.
75 Maintain the
right stance and the LAN SAU position while the left arm is brought
out to rest on the LAN SAU on the centreline as a vertical fist.
76 Holding the stance
and the left fist position drop the right elbow rotating the forearm
so that the palm faces up and a right TAN
SAU position formed.
77 Immediately after
the TAN
SAU position is assumed the left arm is extended out as a CENTRELINE
PUNCH with the energy expressed in the last few inches, simultaneously
the right arm is pulled back to the rest position at the side of the
chest.
78 After the punch
has been executed tension is relaxed and a BIU SAU movement initiated,
the fist opens and rotates so that the hand faces palm down as you
begin to turn back to a forward neutral stance.
79 When the turn
into the forward neutral stance is complete the left arm continues
in its movement through the horizontal plane with the elbow leading.
It is the left palm heel that is the striking area, it is important
to understand the path that it takes and see that it adheres to the
STRAIGHT LINE THEORY, which is fundamental to Wing Chun.
80 The BIU SAU is
completed with the energy expressed out sideways through the palm
heel as a strike and not swinging the arms behind you.
81 Relax the arm
and bring it back toward the centreline, dropping as it travels.
82 The wrist is
brought onto the centreline; the hand is open and vertical with the
arm relaxed.
83 The movement
of the arm concludes with a JAM SAU energy expressed in the final
few inches. This JAM SAU is the same as the one practised in the first
third of Siu Lim Tao as opposed to that of the second third.
84 Holding the left
arm in position bring the right arm out, palm up with the wrist coming
to rest coming to rest on the left forearm on the centreline.
85 Push the right
hand out palm up while the left arm begins to be pulled back.
86 Energy is expressed
through the fingertips, in the last few inches as a palm up Biu Gee.
The left arm returns to the rest position at the side of the chest.
87 Keep the elbow
locked and pull the fingers back creating tension in the forearm and
perform a HUEN SAU rotation.
88 Tension in the
HUEN SAU continues until the hand reaches its natural stop point and
then relaxes.
89 Close the hand
as a horizontal fist.
90 Pull the right
arm back to the rest position at the side of the chest. Check stance
and position.
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