Master Tse’s Wing Chun Notes #99

Daily Siu Lim Tao

Practising Siu Lim Tao 小念頭 is a very important part of our training and we must do it every day. When you are new to training, start with five minutes and increase to ten minutes and then eventually up to half an hour a day. If you can do this all the everyday, then your foundation of Wing Chun will become very solid and you will be amazed at the difference after six months. Your footwork will improve, your hand positions will improve, your Gung Lihk功力 and your sensitivity will all improve.

Wing Chun training generally has two parts. One part is solo training, training by yourself, and the other part is partner training, like repetition of techniques and Chi Sau 黐手. For solo training the most important part is Siu Lim Tao. When we practise the first part Siu Lim Tao we must do it slowly. We should not think of the time, we should just let time pass by. Eventually you will be able to do it for forty minutes, an hour, we have even done it for over two hours! When you do this, you get an amazing feeling. Your mind needs to let go and think of nothing, of course thoughts come and go and a lot happens when you are doing it, but you must let it go. You should breathe naturally also not worry about anything. Let everything happen naturally, just stand there and do not move anything apart from your hands. We can sometimes hold a position for a little while, like Taan Sau攤手, Fuk Sau伏手or Wu Sau護手.

After you have got used to practising Siu Lim Tao you will eventually find it very enjoyable and if you do not practise it one day you will feel like you have missed something very beneficial.

Michael Tse