Wing Chun Forms

Wing Chun contains three empty hand forms, two weapons forms and a wooden dummy form. These Wing Chun forms are the bible for Wing Chun. Once you know theses forms, then it will be like having a Wing Chun book that you can constantly refer to in order to solve any fighting problem.  Wing Chun’s forms are not choreographed fighting sequences as you might see in most other arts. Each empty hand form consists of eight sections where a section is like a chapter in a book.  Each section presents a fighting idea or concept with wide applicability. All three empty hand forms start of with the downward and upward crossing of the hands. Although these actions can have a fighting interpretation, the key idea is that this action defines the vertical centerline.  More importantly this action should make the student ask why am I doing this?  The ensuing thought process would bring great understanding about the need to economically defend and attack the centerline. 

Little Idea Form

The first form of Wing Chun is called “Siu Lim Tao” in Cantonese. It literally it means “Little Idea Form.” Conceptually the form gives the student some basic ideas and tools for fighting. According to Master Wang Kiu, the name “Siu Lim Tao” has Buddhist connotations. The idea is that this form is like a small seed. It is the seed of Wing Chun. If the seed receives nourishment and sunshine then the seed will develop into a strong healthy plant. Likewise if the student conscientiously trains the form then the student will achieve a strong healthy body and the student’s Wing Chun will become quite good. However if little attention is paid to the first form then the foundation of one’s Wing Chun art will be quite poor and simply the art won’t work. Thus hard work and great attention to detail is a must.  List of the movements.

Searching for the Bridge Form

The second form of Wing Chun is called “Chum Kiu” in Cantonese. It literally means “Searching for the Bridge.” The second form is a logical extension to the first form. It is not just another form but is a necessary piece for functional fighting. If the student has done a good job in learning the first form, then he would have the attributes of being rooted, supple and centered. Good Chi sau or Sticking hands require these attributes. What happens if the opponent steps in or steps away? What happens if the opponent has not yet made contact? The Chum Kiu form provides the answers. Beginners, who learn only the first form, may be supple, rooted and centered however these may “Go out the window” once the student moves.  So the Chum Kiu form is designed to train stability in movement. Also it provides some tools to close the gap so that one’s Sticking hand skills can be effectively applied. List of the movements.

Thrusting Fingers Form

The third form of Wing Chun is called  “Bil Jee or Biu Jee” in Cantonese. It literally means “Thrusting or Poking fingers.” The third form is again a logical extention of the previous form. Most fights can be handled with a good grounding in the “Siu Lim  Tao” and Chum Kiu forms. However sometimes the opponent is a “notch” better. We may not have enough penetrating power to down the opponent or we may be in a bad position relative to the opponent. Then what do we do?  The third form provides the answers.  According to Master Wang Kiu, the term “Bil Jee” again has Buddhist connotations and means “Pointing to the target.” The implication is that when one’s center is lost, then we must recover to again regain the center. Thus built into the form are ideas for recovery. The term “Thrusting fingers” also has implication to penetrate the target. The third form uses rotational mechanics to add to the penetrating power developed with the first and second forms. List of movements.

Wooden Dummy Form

 The Wooden dummy provides a way to train when one doesn’t have a training partner.  Unlike a living partner the dummy does not respond according to your movement and as such is not as useful to develop sensitivity based fighting skills. Since the dummy arms are in a fixed position, they provide a way to keep one’s positions accurate. In the air, over time positions may start to deviate from the ideals. The dummy gets us back on track. In addition the dummy provides an uncomplaining partner that we can push, pull, jerk, kick and hit with as much power as we like.  The danger is getting carried away with the power aspect before learning position, sensitivity and timing.  We try to use these elements to balance the opponent’s supposedly superior speed and power. List of movements.

The Wing Chun Weapons

 The Wing Chun weapons may have been a practical for combat in the old days but these days there are more sophisticated weapons. However training with the weapons can enhance out empty hand skills by developing power through the weight training aspect and developing timing and speed from the freestyle sparing aspect. The knife has direct parallels in the empty hand vs kicking application. The heavy pole is a good way to train the power of the punch. This is done by holding the pole at the end with the pole parallel to the ground then lower the pole by straightening the arms with the pole still parallel to the ground. Now bring the pole back up and repeat again over and over. For the knife you can make foam padded objects and the perform high speed freestyle sparring to understand something about distancing and timing. More info. List of movements for pole. List of movements for knife. Drill for Knife vs Sword drill.

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