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the term Chum Kiu refers to several concepts, as well as searching, it can also be interpreted as ' sinking the bridge'.
searching for the bridge can relate to the 'bridge' of an opponant (normally the forearm) that we need to cross to get to their vital areas, unlike the stationary Sil Lim Tao, the turning and moving incorporated in Chum Kiu shows how to make contact, in other words to 'search for the bridge' of an opponent.
Sinking the bridge can be looked upon as the defeat of an opponents structure, to 'sink his bridge'.
the three sections of the Chum Kiu form among other things introduce us to certain basic turning, forward motions, and kicks.
The Movements of Chum kiu instills how we need to reference, and change reference to maintain centreline advantage to an opponent, to 'search for the bridge'
One of many sayings relating to Chum Kiu is,
"if a bridge does not exist, create one"
The turning and forward motions now applied to hand techniques during Chum Kiu, show how with proper co-ordination and timing, the whole of the body can be used to assist these techniques, resulting in superior effectiveness,
A simple understanding being, when in Yee Jee keem Young Ma, we punch using the arm only, lets say, this punch has a factor of X=10, if we were to add a turn, at a factor of X=10, combined would give the result of X+X=20,
of course we can generate power by means other than just turning, for another example forward motion, if this is added to the effects of both the punch and a turn you can see how the effects are compounded, there are many ways in Wing Chun, this can be increased, both physical and mental.
The turning, moving, and kicks show how to use body positioning to maintain, or achieve contact
Although the key concept of Chum Kiu is to 'seek', then 'sink' the opponents bridge, there are many other techniques/ principles introduced, i.e,
Mobility, Entry techniques, Utilisation of Yin and Yang energies, Body unity, Elbows, Knees, Dealing with mulitple opponents, Short and long range attacks, Centreline angling, Kicks, Eye power, Evasions, Arm locks, Footwork, Leg traps, Defusing of incoming energy, Powerful double handed techniques, and not to be forgotten, the technique also know as Chum Kiu = sinking elbow.
As you can see the importance of the SLT form is carried over into the Chum Kiu form, where proper structures and principles learnt there are applied to the positioning manoeuvers of Chum Kiu, resulting in increased effect,
proper unification allows for less energy to be spend yet at the same time the effectivness is increased.
Without the understanding of Chum Kiu many Wing Chun practitioners resort back to brute strength, which wanes as they grow older, unlike those who are able to utilise the keys of Chum Kiu, and find their proficiency increases with time.
Chum Kiu can also be looked on as the 'bridge' between the hand motions of the first form, and the emergency motions of the third form.
Without proper application of Chum Kiu the hand motions of SLT are less effective, and the regaining of centreline techniques of Biu Jee negated.
In this sense the Chum Kiu form becomes the bridge that links the three forms together as one.