Grandmaster Tse’s Wing Chun Note 373

108 Movements – Part 2

Mahn Sáu 問手 - Asking Hand
Mahn Sáu 問手 – Asking Hand

The same could be true for Tsum Kìuh 尋橋 and Bīu Zī 標指. In Tsum Kìuh we repeat Jyún Máh 轉馬 -Turning Stance three times. Repeating three times is a very convenient number in Wing Chun, but six and nine times are also convenient numbers in many Chinese skills. Two times three six and three times three is nine, so they are also good numbers. It is the same with Wàahng Máh 横馬 – Sideways Step, it may have been repeated six or nine times, walking back and forth. The same with Jeun Máh 進馬 – Forward Step, it also may have been repeated six or nine times. Then at the end of the form and all the repetitions it may have added up to 108 movements.

In Bīu Zī 標指 form we have twelve Kāp Jāang 扱踭 – Covering Over Elbow, twelve Bīu Zī – Thrusting Fingers and twelve Mahn Sáu 問手 – Asking Hand. These are the major hands in Bīu Zī form. They may have been repeated 24 times each. So, the repeating of all the major movements might have added up to 108.

Also, in the old times the way movements were counted was not the same as nowadays. In the Muhk Yàhn Jōng 木人樁 – Wooden Dummy form it might have been each sound is counted as one movements. Then we end up with 116 movements, so eight movements extra.

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