Chum KIU: Wing Chun Gung Fu’s Second Form

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Chum KIU: Wing Chun Gung Fu’s Second Form

Chum Kui or Searching for the bridge is the second form of Wing Chun and is concerned with turning. There are circles and lines are there in all the forms and the first form appears to primarily have linear motions but while the feet are stable, there are circles in each of the hand motions. Chum kiu has a special function in teaching efficient circling and turning of the entire body in a coordinated and unified manner. Without learning the chum kiu well, the practical use of the hand motions and progression to learning bue gee form will be hampered. Chum Kiu turning can neutralise the hand motions of the first form if used in a static stance. Bue Gee motions can help recover a line lost because of an opponents turn. 

Searching for the bridge means the forearm in Chinese but it also can mean the bridge between the form Sil Lim Tau and Bue Gee Chum Kiu with its three parts has a very important role to play. It involves the mastery of the turning motion and then also stepping with the entire structure that was created by doing sil lim tao well The movement of the chum kiu begins with the turn i.e. chor ma, the turning stance.

The first third of the form is full of turns on the heel. Different schools appear to have different turns. Like many but not all of the teaching lines going back to Yip Man, the Ho Kam Ming- Augustine Fong system turns mainly on the heels keeping an average of 50/50 weight distribution. Turning on the heel keeps the centre and the gravitational path and the vertical axis from being thrown out. After the turning stance comes the rest of the footwork and stance work in the second and third sections of the form. The turning and the stepping assists in entering and closing, kicking and also maximizing control while doing so.

The fast close was one of the moves that Bruce Lee mastered and excelled at. Untrained breathing when turning and moving can become choppy. Chum kiu smoothens out breathing when turning, stepping and moving. It also develops eye power. The development of proper focus and penetrating eye power is one of the gifts of the system. Chum kiu eye power trains for clarity of vision and focus in the midst of motion. Without softness obtaining information, adjusting and being explosive at the right moment will not be easy. Chum Kiu is a true bridge to self-defence and mature wing Chun gung fu. The form starts with the same initial moves as Sil Lum Tao

Lets start with the feet together raise the arms by the chest photo s1.jpg. Now put the weight on the heels and turn the toes outwards a comfortable distance photo s2.jpg. With the weight on the toes turn the heels out so you end up in the position photo s3.jpg. This is a way of ensuring you get into the correct horse stance with the feet correct distance apart. Push the arms down along the centerline photo s4.jpg and then roll them up in front of the chest still on the centerline photo5.jpg. Finally return them to your side's photo s1.jpg.

These moves are there to get used to the centerline but can be interpreted as a lower block against a kick followed by a double block at chest height.

We now start with the left hand bring it into the center photo s6.jpg and then punch totally relaxed visualizing the Ki flowing until the final moment when you do the snap photo s7.jpg.

Turn the palm up when you have completed the punch into Tan Sau photo s8.jpg with a side view of this in photo s10.jpg. Now rotate the wrist inward until it is at position shown in photo s9.jpg and then withdraw the hand back to the start position photo s1.jpg. The wrist rotation has minor variations in that some at this point extend the fingers and make a fist and then withdraw the hand this being a grabbing action this is what I normally do. The sequence is now repeated on the right side, it is worth remembering that most of the system follows the same format of doing the moves first on the left then repeating on the right.

Photos s11-13 show the moves now done on the right first the punch then turn the palm up for Tan Sau do the wrist role and withdraw back to position in photo s1.jpg. So far this is the same as the first form but now thing change From the waist level both hands fire forward with a double Bill Jee photo b6+b7.jpg and the hands then come down as in photo b8.jpg

I have shown this from the side as its important to get the Wing into the move photo b1+22jpg a lot is read into this move but the primary purpose is to develop the snap not some subtle secret move.

Now place the left hand on top of the right as shown in photo b9.jpg then turn quickly to the left photo b10.jpg turn 180 degrees to the right maintaining the arms folded and finally turn 180 degrees to your left back to photo b10.jpg all these turns should be done at high speed.

Perform a double bill jee to the front and then turn both hands into a double Tan Sau photos b12+b13.jpg note the weight is largely on the rear legs

Now comes a strange move leave the left hand in the Tan Sau and lightly touch the other and on the lower bicep palm down as in photo b14.jpg now reverse the move so you have the right hand in a Tan Sau and touch it with the left photo b15.jpg finally repeat the move on the left photo b14.jpg again.

Do a palm strike with the right hand keeping the left hand on the center line not forgetting the snap in the strike photo b16.jpg now palm strike with the other hand keeping the right on the center line photo b17.jpg and then repeat the move on the left b16.jpg.

Bring the right elbow at right angles as in photo b18.jpg with the left hand withdrawn to the side then turn 180 degrees to the left maintaining the elbow in the same position. B19.jpg

Maintaining the elbow position start bringing the arm up behind the elbow as shown in photo b20.jpg then turn to your left and do a bong Sau photo b21.jpg keeping the other arm in the center line you are now facing the same way you started from (note the faint line on the ground so you can judge this).

This is normally done 3 times so turn back to position shown in b19.jpg then repeat the bong Sau 3 times. On the last one when you are at the position shown in photo b22.jpg the arm this time comes from the same position but now punches as the other arm is withdrawn photo b23.jpg

Turn back and face the front and chop to the side with the left hand photo b24.jpg bring the hand back to the centerline with a lower palm block photo b25. Do a  bill gee with the right hand as you withdraw your left to your side. b26-p27.jpg finally roll the wrist as you bring the right hand back to the waist

As with most of Wing Chun forms the sequence is now repeated on the other side photos b28-b44 

The next section of the forms starts with a turn to the left bringing the elbow up as photo b45.jpg as you do this you turn your lead knee to the left slightly so you don’t telegraph the next move which is a front kick photo b46.jpg

As you land with the lead leg you do a bong sau to the right that is facing the front position you start from photo b47.jpg bring the hands down as shown in photo b48.jpg then slide forward on the lead foot and bring the rear foot up so you have shuffled forward and do the 2 moves shown in b47-b48 again twice.

Finish with another bong sau and don’t bring the hands down but do a uppercut punch as shown in photo b49.jpg the finish on this section has a few variations you can turn to the front and do the moves photo 43-44.jpg to finish or you can do the moves 42-44.jpg to finish again it is a minor differences I do all the moves photo 42-44 Now as with most wings Chun form repeat all the last section on the other side photos b50-b53.jpb and then b24-b27.jpg

The next section starts with a turn to the left with a front kick with the hands still on the hips photo b54.jpg land on the front foot in a front stance and do a double lower bong Sau photo b55.jpg turn this straight away into a double tan Sau photo b56.jpg

This is section is repeated 3 times from photo b56.jpg shuffle forward on the lead foot and bring the back foot up into the side stance as you do the double bong Sau and the double tan Sau. A variation here is that I don’t do any more kicks which is the way Yip Man taught it but some add a kick before each double bong Sau again it personnel preference. After the third double bong Sau bring the feet together and do a double palm block photo b57.jpg then do a double palm strike photo b58.jpg take a step back with the right foot keeping the foot up on the toe at the same time role the hands and withdraw them to your side photo b59.jpg.

Turn round fast and do a front kick and then repeat the last section on the other side photos b61-b66.jpg you do not take the step back in the section but end up as in photo b66.jpg

Turn to your right 90 degrees so you face the original front kick to the right with a side kick photo b68.jpg land in a horse stance and do a lower palm block twisting to the right photo b69.jpg repeat to the other side photo b70.jpg then once more to the right finally do some punches normally 3 rotate the hand back to the sides and end the ending is the same as the first form.

Minor variation exists for the finishing sequence in that some do a front kick on the turn instead of just a turn. That is the end of the second form