Learn the "Siu Nim Tao" Sequence - with Nima King - Wing Chun Kung Fu

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Beginner Wing Chun students can use this video to learn and memorize the shapes & sequence of Wing Chun's first empty hand Form 'Siu Nim Tao', which translates to 'Little Idea' or 'Small Thought'.
This sequence is as it was taught by the late Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin
Chu Shong Tin lived with Ip Man for 5 years (1950-1955), who called him 'the king of siu nim tao'.
He was a legend in the world of Wing Chun (particularly the internal method of wing chun) and spent 64 years teaching it full-time before he passed away in 2014.
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*A note about this channel and the lineage:
Sifu Nima King is the owner and team leader of Mindful Wing Chun, a CST Wing Chun school in Hong Kong with affiliations around the world.
Mindful Wing Chun is wholeheartedly dedicated to passing on the internal wing chun method as passed down by Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin, who was the longest serving student of Grandmaster Ip Man.
Nima King practiced under him in Hong Kong for 9 years and established Mindful Wing Chun under CST's guidance. Nima is also on the board of Directors for the 'Chu Shong Tin Alumni' which is a group of senior students of CST that were hand picked by him to establish the Alumni and to uphold and continue his teachings and Wing Chun legacy after he passed away.
Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin was a very humble and low-key Wing Chun Master, therefore it's only after we began putting his videos online, that people started to hear about him. In fact, majority of the main Wing CHun teachers (of the Ip Man lineage) who began practice in the 50s and early 60s (apart of Leung Sheung and Lok Yiu) were trained by CST even though they were Ip Man's students. This is due to CST being the most senior & main teacher of Ip Man's school those days.
Nima was lucky to start his practice under CST in 2005 because that's when CST decided to change his teaching to all internal practice so that he can pass on "Nim Tao' and 'Nim Lik' (the mind power/energy cultivated through internal Wing Chun practice) to his students.
Nima, even though a non-chinese and much younger than the other students of CST, attained a high level of these final teachings. He now mainly teaches the seniors within this lineage and also travels around the World giving workshops, and has developed an online program so that master CST's teaching can have a greater reach.
You may contact Nima/Mindful Wing Chun through:
website: www.mindfulwingchun.com.hk
facebook: / mindfulwingchun
facebook 2: / sifunimaking
Instagram: / mindful_wingchun
Long live the genuine and internal art of Wing Chun / Ving Tsun!
Mindful Wing Chun - CST (Ip Man) lineage Wing Chun / Ving Tsun in Hong Kong
www.mindfulwingchun.online/

[@polyronin]

Thank you for sharing. Btw, excellent use of mirror, simultaneously showing side view.

[@G4mer_D4d]

agreed!

[@MindfulWingChun]

My pleasure and glad you found it helpful guys!

[@k4100x]

Thank you for a very clear explanation. I like your idea of using a mirror to show the side view.

[@MindfulWingChun]

Thanks Kevin!

[@fistofthenorthstar9010]

i have never been so relaxed in this stance. amazing

[@MindfulWingChun]

Wonderful!

[@dimitrioszafeiropoulos673]

Holding this stance while doing the moves with the hands, makes my legs feel like burning and growing stronger Thanks for the video 🙂

[@MindfulWingChun]

My pleasure Dimitrios. Ultimately, once the legs begin to relax, there should be no fatigue or pain in them. . So I recommend to continue the practice and aim to use less effort to stand and move. Slowly with time the body will begin to feel lighter and more open. Thats is when the good things begin to happen in terms of feeling of relaxation, calmness, focus and power-generation.

[@TheAcupunctureClinicNZ]

Thanks for doing this

[@MindfulWingChun]

🙏🙏

[@pharujrajborirug4934]

Couldn't thank enough for your generous insight/ demonstration

[@MindfulWingChun]

Thanks for the kind words :)

[@yakarime]

Thanks a Mil Sifu Nima 🙏 this sIs the best instructional video presentation of SLT that I have seen. God Bless 😊🥋 If you could also show us the different kick techniques I’d really appreciate it

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi, Have you seen the video on this channel from a few years ago that's titles something like "CST's prescribed kicking exercises" ? It doesn't go into too much detail but there is enough to work on there. Also, not sure if you already know but we have an online school www.mindfulwingchun.online and there is everything on there from what you should think about in the forms, to techniques, to sparring, striking and training tips etc. If you are interested in learning THIS particular method of Wing Chun then I highly recommend you check it out. You can use the promotional code: LAUNCHCODE to get a 12% discount too. Oh and there is a better video of my doing SNT on there (As a FREE sample) so check that out too :)

[@marvelprince9893]

very helpful..thank you for sharing this video!

[@MindfulWingChun]

My pleasure man, glad you found it helpful. Keep on practicing and then your depth in understanding and feelings inside your body will get better and better, and your daily practice may become a very beautiful aspect of your life :)

[@InfinityAtlantic1]

Thank you for sharing. Great details

[@MindfulWingChun]

Glad it was helpful!

[@108ronin]

You're awesome bro!

[@MindfulWingChun]

haha, cheers brother, appreciate it!

[@musa75mw]

Very interesting. Quite different from the Leung Ting lineage, but it looks more natural with real fangsong mood. 谢谢你 师傅。祝福。魏马丁

[@MindfulWingChun]

Yes Chu Shong Tin method is very different from the Leung Tin method. In fact its different from all other lineages at the core because our initial intention with Siu Nim Tao I believe is fundamentally not the same. From my experience the closest lineages are the Laung Sheung and Lok Yiu ones but even they re different. Very interesting how everyone went their own ways in terms of application and understanding what Ip Man taught in those early days. But its understandable as Ip Man's teaching wasn't very hands on at all so they were left complete;ly to explore and find their own paths...

[@sihingfr]

I come from Leung Ting lineage, and our form is a little different (but I won't say as others that your form is wrong. Lineages have their specificities and those are to keep, as they are the richness of Wing Chun. According to some internet experts, it's all wrong when it doesn't come from them and above all, when they don't understand). In LT Wing Chun, we tighten our knees inside to form a strong triangle which solidifies our stance, while the upper body must seek complete relaxation. But if I'm understanding right, in CST Wing Chun, the lower body must be as relaxed as the rest?

[@MindfulWingChun]

Yes absolutely. In this method, every single joint must be a relaxed a possible. no deliberate tightening or squeezing of any sort.

[@magnus7779]

Hey guys. I've been watching your vids and find the really helpful. im just wondering if you have done one similar to this for Chum Kiu ?

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi Leigh and thanks! Not yet one on Chum Kiu but we will do one soon :)

[@JKDVIPER]

This is fantastic.. I subscribed

[@MindfulWingChun]

Thanks for the sub!

[@journeyman1218]

I found this very helpful. Thank you. Any chance of videos for the other 2 open hand forms in this format?

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi. thanks for the comment. Not at the moment but Im working on an online school which will have in it the entire system. few months to go :)

[@franksiliati5357]

journeyman121

[@CCGS]

@@MindfulWingChun is that class available? that sounds awesome

[@kouamfabrice9245]

really good

[@MindfulWingChun]

🙏🙏

[@Kili7082]

Thanks sifu Nima for the lesson. I have just started to learn Siu Nam Tao so i kinda have a question like this: "Is my thigh and my knee suppose to feel tired ? Bacause i try to do it slow and powerless so it took me along time to finish the form."

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi, In the begging its pretty common to have tense legs as they are weight bearing and we haven't learned how to relax a joint that's under pressure. As we continue the practice we begin to have an insight and experiential understanding of relaxation. Usually this is felt at the shoulders and upper back first. Then we can fathom how to relax the legs. But the legs are the most difficult parts to relax. Ensure you are applying Taigung and Seng as that is what's going to help relax them. There is a lot of things that can be applied step by step within the practice of Siu Nim Tao and if you are really serious about learning this particular method of practice I would sugest you follow our online school www.mindfulwingchun.online

[@borisbralo7972]

Great....but, what is with breathing? For basic level when is breathing in and breathing out?

[@MindfulWingChun]

The breathing should be natural and diaphragmatic. You should be able to observe the movement in the midsection (side and back of the ribs, lower back, abdomen) with each breath. We do not time the movement with inhale or exhale

[@hatefmonajemi]

Hi Nima: Do you feel, in each move, that your qi is filling up that part of of the body? Like the 3 time (wu sao, hun-sao), do you feel your qi flows forward from your body to hand and back-ward from hand to body when you do hun-sao? Do you feel that your hand is being moved by your mind (effortlessly)!?

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi Hatef, Actually at my level, to be very honest, I dont feel much flow of Chi yet! Hoeever, I do feel that my arms are being moved effortlessly and can initiate some movements purely with the mind (especially in the slow, fook, tan and wu sau sections).

[@bhaktihopefully]

@@MindfulWingChun Greetings! How have you progressed and what are some changes you discovered along the way from then till now. Have you found the chi presence? I notice it in my hands as a magnetic-like feeling of a push or pull. If you can feel it anywhere else in your body, how does one activate that feeling of the flow happening?

[@Mateo-uw3of]

Hi sifu Nima, this video makes me wonder lot of things XD, but from all my question i think those are the more relevant When you are in wc stance in which part of the bottom of the feets do you feel the weight, heels, ball, in the middle, in all bottom of the foot including toes How does it feels to find the center of the body, in the point itself. And thank you for sharing this videos with us.

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi +Gabriel Otiz, We want to have a feeling of evenness of contact in the bottom of the feet but in terms of the weight I personally feel that the mess is more concentrated on the center of the feet. This way when we start to pivot in Chum Kiu the feet pivot around their own center. In terms of your second question "How does it feels to find the center of the body, in the point itself", this is a very hard question to answer if the person hearing it hasn't experienced the feeling themselves. Similar to if someone doesn't know what salt taste like and you try and explain it to them. Having said this, my feeling is that the center of mass becomes the foundation and support of the rest of the body. So we can say that it feels like every movement is levered from this point. also you will have a great sense of stability once you can feel the center of mass; as if you don't need to use too much effort to hold yourself upright against gravity. The aim is to make the point which is the center of mass smaller and smaller. For me, this point is still pretty big (golf ball size) so the aim is to make it as small as a needle's head :) which is what Chu Shong Tin said he felt like! Hope this helps Gabriel.

[@Mateo-uw3of]

Mindful Wing Chun Nima King Grand master Chu Shong Tin, you know, he made me want to learn wing chun, since first time i saw a video from him, i just thought, what a God, then the faces of his students showing that they really wanted to learn what he was teaching. It was like to see a grandfather with his grandchildren teaching them about life. So needle's head, let's approach as much as posible to it XD.

[@MindfulWingChun]

:)

[@namanshehady2122]

Hi Nima thank you for the video🙏🏻. I have one question: When I move my arm forward and my body is relaxed I start falling back so my natural reaction is to move my hips a little bit backward and sink down my stance maintaining balance, and when I bring my hand back the hips go back forward. Is that right?

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi, the state of the hip shouldn't change to counter the movement of the arms. this is an indication that there is a tense link internally. So I recommend to observe and find out where this tension is and try to release it. good luck :)

[@fabriziopalmieri8104]

Do you pratice any warm up or standing posture before doing the forms?

[@MindfulWingChun]

I do some light mobilizations before my practice. you can follow these videos if you like: www.mindfulwingchun.com.hk/en/pages/members-area/mobilisations/

[@fabriziopalmieri8104]

Thanks a lot!!!

[@G4mer_D4d]

Does the form work backwards... I seem to remember something about that with cow sau and the other one, and I just ask as im wondering if that would help with memorizing the form? I found the form so boring when i was in class and I really have a blockage remembering it. thanks so much from the bottom of my heart for all you do.

[@MindfulWingChun]

I've never done it backwards and CST never said anything about that. However if you found the form very boring it means that at those moments your mind wasn't looking inwards :) It's like saying meditation is boring. Actually the whole concept behind mindfulness is the opposite to boredom. My wife says the same about Yoga. She says it's too slow. But again its cause her mind is elsewhere and not present. So i think you should take those moments as a signpost and reminder to become present and feel whats going on

[@G4mer_D4d]

@@MindfulWingChun Wow! This last year has kinda been me accepting that im anything worth it... I think meditation reminded me how much I hated myself and was no good. I feel I was always "trying" and not "being", if you catch my meaning... And now as I sweat through that and start to see myself as beautiful... Well, it is something I look forward to now. alot of work.. probably never done if i listen to advice.... but im excited and probably rambling. thanks again for sharing and letting me share.

[@ZaddyZavid]

hi sifu question during sil lim tao, do you clench your butt and hamstring certain lineages do,...how is the chu shong tin lineage do sil lim tao?

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi Jet, Not in our method. We try to relax everything including the area your mentioned in your question.

[@ZaddyZavid]

Mindful Wing Chun thank you for response very much enjoy yr content.

[@kal_dev]

tres interessant, comment vous avez fait pour metriser la bonne posture du doigt de pouce avec la paume plat

[@MindfulWingChun]

🙏

[@hailheaven4372]

I always thought it started with the Right fist first

[@MindfulWingChun]

Traditionally it is taught as Left side moves first because back in the day everyone was right handed in China (if they were left handed they would be force to become right handed since calligraphy was done with the right hand) and so the idea is to start with the weaker side first. Ultimately it doesn't matter as long as both sides are practiced!

[@dippetto5103]

You said you lived in China and you trained Wing Chun with other students. Can I know more? I want to try this experience.

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi, I live in Hong Kong. Been here 14years now. I left Sydney and came here and trained under Chu Shong Tin in 2005 and still practice with his students after his death. I also have a school Mindful Wing Chun. And in a week we will also launch our online school www.mindfulwingchun.online :)

[@jeremyturner7364]

Coach Nima, I have a question; I understood the “tangible “ of the “little idea” as you explained , on that , should it remain constant even not in “form”? (Seems like GM Tin was in constant”state”. True statement?)

[@jeremyturner7364]

Should say that “mentality fighting “ and awareness I practice constantly as a “ constant “ “little idea”. Using it for daddy duties an chores haha. But more specifically the “tangible feeling” a constant.? Thank you 🙏

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi Jeremy, yes thats the goal to try and keep it constant during the form. And definitely a good idea to try and keep it during daddy duties and daily activities.. It's just a more efficient and healthy way to move your body regardless of the activity or movement.

[@willylaan2451]

do you do it without power or power to

[@MindfulWingChun]

It must be practiced as effortlessly as possible so all joints start to open up

[@r2knbabrasil601]

Nima, do you usually practice at that speed? Or do you vary the speed you practice? Thanks

[@MindfulWingChun]

depends on what Im practicing. Siu Nim Tao I do extremely slow (lets say 5 times slower than this video), Chum Kiu and Dummy I do same speed as this video. Biu Jee sparring and Chisau I practice at speed

[@r2knbabrasil601]

Thank you so much for the answer!

[@user-lg3by8cp9u]

Mindful Wing Chun I think the speed for practicing kungfu is not the core concern, The core concern is the objective for your practice. For example, if you want to adjust your movement in detail or feel the feelings under the different condition or matching with relaxation in different prt of joints and muscles, you have to practise slowly. It will help you to verify whether you movements are matching you kungfu principles and can execute you expected effect. When you already have enough confidence to master the skills and technics, you can practise the kungfu with the speed as you like

[@tonymonaco5692]

My sense is that in internal wing chun, the chi becomes condensed. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

[@MindfulWingChun]

Hi Tony, thanks for the comment man. Not sure what you mean by condensed. the energy is free flowing through the whole body but we intend to make it start from the tailbone and rise it up through the spine to the top/back part of the head. And then it flows into the limbs. Almost like watering a tree in which the water travels up through the trunk and then into the branches and leaves.

[@tonymonaco5692]

@@MindfulWingChun Thanks! I've been working on this for about a year now. Before I could actually feel the flow of chi it changed from feeling light and airy into a thick almost honey-like substance. I then could feel it rise up my spine and lately into my arms and hands. I'm just a beginner, but the inner spring you talk about is surely a function of chi. You kept me going in the hardest of times. So much respect for you and your work!

[@suleymankamran1161]

His feet weren't shoulder width apart

[@MindfulWingChun]

Toes should be 'around' shoulder width apart. This is why its important for each individual to measure the stance first and the width varies for each person depending on their bodies. My suggestion would be not to get too caught up in the external positions and shapes (but also don't neglect them), as they are merely training wheel to cultivate a particular 'state' of mind/intention

[@johnwayne3554]

He should teach yoga

[@MindfulWingChun]

lol, I actually do practice Yoga

[@andonitalavera230]

Every movement you are doing is basically wrong. No center line, no full range movement... It's quite weird to be honest. I really would like to know to know the real application of this. No offense, I really would like to.

[@MindfulWingChun]

No offense taken dude. I'm not thin skinned that way. In terms of the application, if you kindly have a look at the 120+videos on this channel, perhaps it will give you a better ideas on why we practice Siu Nim Tao in this way.

[@veronicavalentin9155]

Moves are too fast, and lighting is bad. Also no zoom

[@MindfulWingChun]

Thank for the great feedback man. We have already filmed a professional one multiple angles and great lighting. It will be up in our online school once we launch it in 6 months

[@TamNguyen-vw4qg]

In my opinion! Not well done!!! Your Fook-sao is very strange! There are 2 kinds of Huen-sao (the circle hand); the full circle & the half circle! Why do you make a half Huen-sao in the 3. sentence??? Tan-sao is too low!At least, your elbow position is too wide from the "Center Line"! I don't like your "Little Idea form"!That's my opinion!!!

[@MindfulWingChun]

thanks for your opinion