WingTsun™ begins with a set of movements called Siu Nim Tau. This name translates as Little Idea Form. The first third of this set of movements is done slowly. Learning how to move patiently and slowly through a set of movements over several minutes challenges many new students. It is revealing how many people rush through this set. We are trained in our modern world to get things done quickly and only quickly. WingTsun can be a study of opposites, looking at life as fast or slow. The name Little Idea is significant in its deeper meaning. On the surface it means “basic concept.” On a deeper level it means that the student is learning a little idea that is too important to brush off or run past. A farmer would not plant a seed on the surface and then let the wind blow it away or fail to water it. The seed, after all, carries the DNA of the plant. The Siu Nim Tau carries the DNA of the WingTsun system.

Full benefit of the form’s practice can be received by breathing properly, in through the nose with expansion of the abdomen followed by the chest. After this, the breath should be released through the mouth by moving the abdomen inward, followed by the chest. Continued practice of this breathing trains the student to control breathing and give the body’s breathing mechanisms beneficial exercise. The profound effect on the mind and body is often overlooked but it exists none the less.

The second section of the form is done with two hands moving at the same time doing the same movement in order to further define one’s center. It is done at moderate speed. This set of movements is recognized as a set of personal self defense techniques against attacks from the rear, side front, mostly against grabbing attacks of various kinds. We still have not moved our feet from the basic training stance.

The third section of the form uses more advanced versions of techniques from the first section as applied in punching, kicking or grappling attacks.  Our feet do not move from the basic training stance during the entire form. The person practicing the form can only focus on the hand movements, breathing and body posture. Meanwhile the legs get stronger because of the long period in the stance.

Key techniques from the first and third sections of Siu Nim Tau are the “seed” techniques of the sticky hands exercise of WingTsun called “chi sau.” See the blog entry on “Sticky Hands.”

It is said that the Siu Nim Tau is the “meditation” of WingTsun.  This is actually true and true to its spirit in that the mediation is done at the same time as the movements and the stance practice. During its development, a need existed to teach people self defense more quickly than the ubiquitous Shaolin kung fu of the time.

Form.  What is “form?”  Form refers to sets of movements in a martial art that define that system of martial art. In Chinese systems they are called “kuen.” In Japanese systems they are called “kata.” Some Korean styles call them “hyung.” Some martial arts have nine or ten forms and some have fifty or more! Memorizing and perfecting forms takes quite a bit of time. The more forms, the more time. The idea is to perfect the movement, sometimes for its own sake and sometimes to attain certain practical skills. In modern times, the practice of forms has evolved into performance and competition, at least in some martial arts circles. The forms are supposed to represent scenarios that are defense movements against several attackers in logical sequences. The sequences are performed in front of judges who grade on several criteria and winners are determined in a way similar to gymnastics or figure skating.

WingTsun™ has just three forms and also a sequence done on an apparatus called a Muk-Yan Chong (wooden dummy) in the advanced stages of learning. The forms in WingTsun take on the simplest, most basic requirements in order to learn the structure required for efficient and logical techniques. WingTsun forms are not particularly spectacular and are not designed to impress spectators. The idea behind having just three forms is that a highly effective system of self-defense can be learned with the movements of just three forms. More time devoted to prearranged movements is considered counterproductive to learning effective self-defense in a short enough period of time.

The first form a student learns in WingTsun is the Siu Nim Tau which means “little idea form.” The literal meaning refers to the fact that Siu Nim Tau presents a basic concept to the student and that it is important to learn a “little idea” first instead of a “big idea.” According to most teachers, the Siu Nim Tau contains the most immediately useful techniques. Siu Nim Tau teaches these core techniques and takes a few minutes or even an hour to complete if a student is so inclined. The time spent is essentially, a time of meditation. The first section is done slowly. Natural abdominal breathing is encouraged which leads to better control over one’s breathing in an emergency and results in natural health benefits.

As with the other forms, the Siu Nim Tau has multiple applications for each technique which are taught as the form is taught. Replacing the six months or so of just low stance training in some other styles, WingTsun has the Siu Nim Tau which trains the stance and the hand techniques at the same time.