Wing Chun Sil Lim Tao form
The Wing Chun empty hand forms are very different to almost all other martial arts forms. In many martial arts, the forms are a sequence of movements designed to mimic a real fight. You do this, I do that, which causes you to do this, to which I do this.
Wing Chun forms, on the other hand, approach the problem from a different angle. Pardon the pun. The wing chun forms are designed to train the body to move in a very precise manner and concentrate on:
To a person viewing the wing chun forms for the first time, these things are not apparent. The wing chun forms are possibly the most un-awesome martial arts forms on the planet. No high kicking. No spinning, reverse roundhouse kicks. No jumping. No long, flowing movements of beauty and grace. No yelling. Just small, contained, straight lines and circular movements using correct angles and arcs of circles. The power, relaxation and speed of wing chun, with the exception of the biu tze form, are contained within the precise movements of the form and must be experienced to be fully understood. The human body is a remarkable machine but most of us do not realize just how brilliant it is. Wing chun will help you to use your body in the most efficient and powerful way possible. With the least amount of stress and a maximum of relaxation.
Sil Lim Tao form is the least (apparently) awesome of the three wing chun forms. Once the stance has been measured out at the beginning of the form, it does not move throughout the entire form. The wing chun stance is a front on stance to facilitate the equal and simultaneous use of both arms and legs. Toes slightly pointed inwards, the line of the feet coming to a point where the fist extension ends to focus all power of the body to the one point. The knees are bent slightly. The lower spine is flattened by slightly rotating the hips downwards and forward to stretch the lower back to enable the spine to be held straight from the coccyx to the bai hui point at the top of the head, where the spine would end if it was continued upwards through the neck and skull. The shoulders are relaxed downwards and the chest is held open.
One way of visualizing what the wing chun stance should feel and look like is to imagine a skeleton, where the bones and spine are arranged so that the skeleton supports itself upright, without any muscles attached. If the body supports itself in this manner, then it can relax and move as an integrated unit while the muscles are freed for other tasks.
The arm movements of Sil Lim Tao are done with as little muscular effort as possible. It is necessary to generate a relaxed, forward force that always runs under the arms and is contained within the direction of the arm movements. The arms are never locked out, there is always a bend or angle in the arms at the fullest of their extension. Students always ask "What is the correct angle of the arms?"
The answer is actually quite simple and poetic. The angle of the arms during wing chun, is the angle they make when you connect the fingertips of both arms and create a circle held in front of you. Maintaining that angle and rolling your arms in three dimensions will create a ball. ( ) A ball is the strongest shape in nature. It naturally spreads force most evenly over its entire surface. The ball created is pumped up by a relaxed forward force flowing through the arms, which prevents the ball from collapsing.
Simple, yes?
What my sifu said: "Stand straight. Energy flows up your spine. Relax your shoulders. Focus"
Wing Chun forms, on the other hand, approach the problem from a different angle. Pardon the pun. The wing chun forms are designed to train the body to move in a very precise manner and concentrate on:
- Stance
- Relaxation
- Correct body structure and angles of the limbs
- Centreline
- Focus
- Pivoting
- Speed
- Generating the maximum power your body can achieve
To a person viewing the wing chun forms for the first time, these things are not apparent. The wing chun forms are possibly the most un-awesome martial arts forms on the planet. No high kicking. No spinning, reverse roundhouse kicks. No jumping. No long, flowing movements of beauty and grace. No yelling. Just small, contained, straight lines and circular movements using correct angles and arcs of circles. The power, relaxation and speed of wing chun, with the exception of the biu tze form, are contained within the precise movements of the form and must be experienced to be fully understood. The human body is a remarkable machine but most of us do not realize just how brilliant it is. Wing chun will help you to use your body in the most efficient and powerful way possible. With the least amount of stress and a maximum of relaxation.
Sil Lim Tao form is the least (apparently) awesome of the three wing chun forms. Once the stance has been measured out at the beginning of the form, it does not move throughout the entire form. The wing chun stance is a front on stance to facilitate the equal and simultaneous use of both arms and legs. Toes slightly pointed inwards, the line of the feet coming to a point where the fist extension ends to focus all power of the body to the one point. The knees are bent slightly. The lower spine is flattened by slightly rotating the hips downwards and forward to stretch the lower back to enable the spine to be held straight from the coccyx to the bai hui point at the top of the head, where the spine would end if it was continued upwards through the neck and skull. The shoulders are relaxed downwards and the chest is held open.
One way of visualizing what the wing chun stance should feel and look like is to imagine a skeleton, where the bones and spine are arranged so that the skeleton supports itself upright, without any muscles attached. If the body supports itself in this manner, then it can relax and move as an integrated unit while the muscles are freed for other tasks.
The arm movements of Sil Lim Tao are done with as little muscular effort as possible. It is necessary to generate a relaxed, forward force that always runs under the arms and is contained within the direction of the arm movements. The arms are never locked out, there is always a bend or angle in the arms at the fullest of their extension. Students always ask "What is the correct angle of the arms?"
The answer is actually quite simple and poetic. The angle of the arms during wing chun, is the angle they make when you connect the fingertips of both arms and create a circle held in front of you. Maintaining that angle and rolling your arms in three dimensions will create a ball. ( ) A ball is the strongest shape in nature. It naturally spreads force most evenly over its entire surface. The ball created is pumped up by a relaxed forward force flowing through the arms, which prevents the ball from collapsing.
Simple, yes?
What my sifu said: "Stand straight. Energy flows up your spine. Relax your shoulders. Focus"