Siu Nim Tau

[Awatea Piripi Edwin]

The first empty hand form in Man Sau Gwoon Ving Chun Kuen is called Siu Nim Tau (aka Sil Lin Tau). And although it is the basic level form it is known in Wing Chun circles as the matrix or key form to the entire system. It is considered so highly that the famous Yip Man is said to have performed it everyday several times a day. It is also known that Yip Mans third student in Hong Kong, Tsui Seung Tin (Chu Shong Tin) has spent a lifetime learning all he can about this form, so much so that he bares the nick name Nim Tau Wong or king of Siu Nim Tau. Below are some of Chu's ideas on this form based on his 50 years of practice.

Siu Nim Tau is the basic form of Wing Chun. It comprises of three specialties:

1. No need to exert force

2. It possesses the strongest structure with the minimum use of brute force

3. It induces the release of mind-force from a practitioner

Learning Siu Nim Tau is divided into three stages;

1. Firstly, one must relax the muscles of the whole body. Then you should infuse the spirit into the body so that it is kept straight. Contracting the anus is also important because it can help unify the different parts of the body in to a single structure.

2. The second stage is to practice in a completely relaxed state. When one is fully acquainted with all of the moves, you should practice every move with the mind to initiate the movement without paying attention to whether the move is correct or not. You should ensure that every move is initiated by the mind not by the muscle.

3. After completing the training of the above two stages, it comes to practicing the main point of Siu Nim Tau. This is to learn how to release the mind-force and the familiarisation of the automatic reaction applying to fighting.


These are the thoughts and ideas of Master Chu and are well worth contemplating. He is after all the most senior of Yip Man's Hong Kong students still with us and is an expert on Siu Nim Tau and for that matter the entire Wing Chun system as taught by Yip Man. I have personally had the privilege of spending time with Chu in his home where he trains every day teaching from around 5pm to 11pm each night. My time in Hong Kong with Chu will always be valued highly in my thoughts but even more so the wisdom he shared with with me. The only thing more impressive about Chu, than his knowledge was his humility and hospitality.

I hope you all read his words carefully and many times over, then apply his ideas and make what you will of them.