Month: August 2017
Close Range Combat
In the About section, you discovered that Wing Chun originated in and was developed for crowded urban environments such as the cities most people live in today. This simple shift in context completely redefined both the principles and techniques of Kung Fu combat. Before this, most styles of Kung Fu — and all martial arts in general — were designed for the battlefield, where you most often had wide-open space in which to fight. The techniques of Northern Shaolin Long Fist, for instance, are designed for an environment where there is plenty of room to move. By contrast, Wing Chun…
The Complete Siu Lim Tau Form
Now that you have learned all three sections of the Siu Lim Tau form, it is time to begin a formal daily practice. In the complete video sequence below, you can see that the entire form can take less than four minutes to perform. Simply set aside five minutes each day and practice Siu Lim Tau. Or, as Moy Yat would say, “More will do no harm.” As you move on into the world of Chi Sau, do not neglect your Siu Lim Tau training. Frequently review the Key Points and Concepts from the three sections of the form, keeping…
Siu Lim Tau: Second Section
As you move into second section of the Siu Lim Tau form, you are shifting gears to move at a much quicker pace. You are still focusing on being precise and smooth rather than fast, but you are no longer deliberately trying to move slowly. The great Chinese Kung Fu master Gol Dee Lokz* used to say, “Not too fast, not too slow; just right.” Finding that elusive “just right” becomes easier when we allow ourselves to let go of any unnecessary mental or physical tension. Releasing taut muscles and rigid thoughts results in Hing Mui Dom Se, or a…