The Hidden Power of Siu Nim Tau

The Hidden Power of Siu Nim Tau

My master Yip master Yip Man first started teaching Wing Tsun in Hong Kong at the Restaurant Worker's Union Association. At the time I was the secretary of the association, so Master Yip and I had many opportunities to be together. Before I b ecame interested in Ving Tsun, I often overheard ov erheard Master Yip explaining his Wing Tsun theories in his classes. Gradually he sparked my interest in the art. It so happened that I had great interest in physics and mechanics; I enjoyed his theories on body structure and power development methods very much. Through my careful analysis, I was convinced that Master Yip's art was flawless and very advanced. Finally, I decided to follow Master Yip and became his student. Like every beginner in class, I started my journey with Siu Nim Tau , even though I had already familiarized myself with the form as an ob server. It took me little effort to completely learn the basic movements. I then began to wonder about the essence of the form, besides the hand movements. I went to Master Yip and inquired about abo ut the meaning of Siu Nim Tau, especially the non-combative tone in the name. Master Yip replied: "This is about Lop Nim -- to establish an idea in the mind". I am sure most of my peers have also heard about this term. Master Yip also added that it required prolonged practice of this form to truly master the essence of lop of lop nim. nim. This hidden meaning of lop of lop nim really caught my interest. I spent much time analyzing its nature, but could still not grasp the concept. Therefore I decided to drop all my thoughts and simply practiced Siu Nim Tau whenever whenev er I could, day and night. After a long time, I began to see the connection between lop nim and the form. I suddenly felt great joy in my Wing Tsun training, which fueled my interest in the art further. I became obsessed with the art. Gradually I discovered some powerful but hidden forces within each Siu Nim Tau movement. All the movements are indeed able to deliver indestructible power, yet they look very soft and graceful. At that moment, the concept of lop of lop nim became extremely enlightening and inspiring to me. I finally understood the reason behind it. I summarize this hidden power as a kind of nim of nim lik (the force of an idea; or mind/intent force, where nim is the same idea/intent as in nim tau ). In essence, Siu Nim Tau has two major points: nim lik and lik and "structure". 1. Nim Lik (force Lik (force of idea/intent): it stabilizes all Wing Tsun movements to form a springy and dynamic combination of body b ody structures. It makes Wing Tsun body structure able to sustain great pressure and produce rebound energy. Although there are common terms such as nim lik, qigong, noigong or noigong or supernatural abilities that are being perceived as some kind of unusual power, here I would only illustrate the concept behind nim lik (force lik (force of idea/intent). Nim lik is lik is the power of a highly focused mind. It helps one bring forth chi flow into every part of the body. Everyone should have this kind of power. However, without training, it is very difficult to focus thoughts. Siu Nim Tau is a great tool to invoke mind focus power. If properly practiced, one can deliver this kind of power p ower at will in every instance. The mind can stay focused even when the structure is adjusting or moving at high speed. So to achieve nim lik is lik is the goal of Siu Nim Tau.

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Let's look at a simple example: if a healthy person falls down from a 6 - 7 feet tall platform unprepared, although he/she lands with both feet, he/she is still likely to injury him/herself. However, if the person is mentally prepared for the fall, his/her feet will automatically recoil and absorb the impact. Also, he/she can only have this reflex if his/her feet are relax. This is an unique u nique attribute of human muscle in its relax state. The springy force on the feet that help the person land safely is a direct result of relax muscles and nim lik. note: according to contemporary scientific findings; when human muscles are in relax state and are moving at steady speed, they can sustain greater pressure than when they are tensed up (using force). It is so amazing that our Wing Tsun ancestor Ng ancestor Ng Mui was able to make use of o f this scientific method to design our Siu Nim Tao hundreds of years ago 2. Structure: Yee Gee Kim Yang Ma allows one to project all energy forward towards the target. Tei Gong (pulling up of the muscle around the anus area) helps unite body and stance. It also helps relax the leg muscles while being in the stance; thus the whole body reaches a highly alert and ready state. These are the necessary conditions to produce nim lik and lik and must be maintained firmly. The core techniques of Siu Nim Tao -Tan / Bong / Fook -- are indeed subtle uses of body mechanics. These three techniques take the shape of arcs or bows. As we extend the arc shape further, Tan / Bong / Fook become hemispheres. As we all know, an arc or spherical-shaped object can sustain strong impact. It can also transfer or deflect energy dynamically when spinning. A wheel can accelerate faster than objects of other shapes (e.g. square, triangle). Each movement in Siu Nim Tao, inspired by b y this efficient arc-like structure, and when combined with nim lik , becomes extremely powerful defensive and offensive techniques. In addition, practitioners must not employ brute muscle strength. Siu Nim Tao training should never be tiring. To be proficient in this foundation, all movements should be done with the mind rather than strength. Many Wing Tsun practitioners like to impose their techniques into frozen and static postures. Many believe that Bong Sau should be done at certain height or angle, or criticize others for not complying to their artificial standards. Some may call this style traditionalist; that style reformist; and on and on. In fact, movements in Siu Nim Tao are not named as if they were static postures. For example, when rolling up Tan Sao into Bong Sau, it is the cou course rse of this rolling movement that makes up the Bong Sau technique; the function of Bong Bon g Sau exists in its circular motion. Similarly, all other techniques in Siu Nim Tao employ circular movements in various directions. It is a popular belief that Bong Sau is a passive technique: practitioners only use Bong Sau to deflect incoming forces. This would apply to the scenario where a statically posted Bong Sau is being used to block attacks. However, this explanation lacks an



Finally, I suggest that all fellow Wing Tsun practitioners look carefully into each technique of Siu Nim Tao. Discover the subtle circular movements in each of them. Practice with mind focus and steady speed. Use the mind to command each technique rather than using muscle tension. I am sure you will gradually find great joy and satisfaction in your Siu Nim Tao training!

Tsui Sheung Tin

Siu Nim Tau 小念頭 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 念力 at a stationary position. All movements of the hands are initiated by the relaxed shoulder joints together with the cooperation 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 二字拑羊馬 1. 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. 2. 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.)

3. Contract internally upward at the Anal Sphincter / Anus/ Tei Gong



FORM MOVEMENTS 4. Open the fists into flat palms. Move both arms sloping

downwards until they cross the wrists at a t the centre with left arm over right ( the elbows are still bent not straightened ); palms facing downwards and form a knife edge. 5. Rotate the arms arms upwards until in front front of the face and turn turn both palms to face the body at the same time. Then, withdraw both arms back to the STANCE position. 6. 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 pa lm 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. 7. 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 攤手. 8. 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 護手. 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. 9. 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 伏手. Move the FOOK SAU forwards on the same route as traveled by the TAN SAU until the same ultimate angle is reached. 10. 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.



palm inwards until the fingers are facing the floor; form fist at that position; withdraw the arm back to the STANCE position. 13.. 13 Repeat Repeat the same same moveme movements nts on the right right sid side; e; start start from 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.)

Second Section 14.. 14 Open Open the left left fis fistt into into flat flat palm palm and turn turn until until facing facing downwards; thrust straight down beside the body. Repeat on the right side. 15. Both arms are then placed together around the lower back with

the palms facing outwards. Thrust together sloping downwards. 16.. 16 Place Place both both downwa downwards rds,, facing facing palms palms in front front of the waist waist area and thrust in a slightly slanting downwards direction. 17.. 17 Rotate Rotate both both arms arms upward upwards s until until should shoulder er height 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. 18.. 18 Sink Sink down down both both elbows elbows until until they they are parall parallel el to each each other 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. 19.. 19 Thrust Thrust both both arms arms forwar forwards ds toward towards s the eye eye height height with with fingers pointing forwards and palms facing the floor. 20. 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. Third Section 21. Open left fist into flat palm and turn until it face the front. Move



22.. 22 Open Open left left fis fistt into into flat flat palm palm and drop drop it at the waist waist height 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. 23. 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 膀手. 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. 24. 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 more times and with with the last time, time, withdraw the left arm back to the centre at solar plexus level and form the palm into a fist. 25.. 25 Six contin continuou uous s chain chain punche punches s are execut executed ed by striki striking ng 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. Return to Articles

Wing Chun

The Hidden Power of Siu Nim Tau

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