[ Combat Techniques ] [ Ground Fighting ] [ Hall of Fame ] [ Links ]
[ Lion Dance ] [ New Instructors ] [ Self Defence ] [ Terminology ] [ Chum Kiu ]
[ On Line Training ] [ Chi Breathing ] [ STOP PRESS ]
not only is this the first of the 3 wing chun hand forms, but also the most important, this is where we first start to build our Wing Chun skills, the starting point that we need to constantly return to, helping to build a good solid base for all our Wing Chun techniques, this is much like building a house, you need good stong foundations or it will crumble and fall.
This first form, allows practise of hand techniques,without the concern of co-ordination of hand and feet. it helps to train our body so we react using Wing Chun techniques.
The training stance we adopt for Sil Lim Tao, is sometimes referred to 'Yee Jee Keem Young Ma', character two, restraining the goat, horse stance, you will find that there are different ways of opening into this stance, much as you will find different points of the actual form its self, this along with verious name pronunciations, and even the english translations, these all go to make it seem a little confusing to the new student, what should always be remembered, is the essence of the form and what it teaches, so long as this remains true to the Wing Chun style, and not influenced or altered by the instuctors 'outside' techniques , you will find all the differences are of no real importance .
Sil Lim Tao should be practised every day, it is said you don't really know the form until you have done it perfect 1,000 times.
The little idea, is a concept, that we should practise our Wing Chun techniques until we perform them as required without having to think as to which one would be best applied, I liken it to stepping on a drawing pin/ thumb tack, bare footed, you will not have to think as to what to do, you will simply react, this correct (note the word correct !) reaction is what we want to acheive in a fight situation.
The first section of S.L.T is sometimes know as saam pai fut, or 3 times praying to Buddha, here we can help to build up or Chi/ Qi energy, this can be done dynamically or as a simple form of meditation, this section also allows us to concentrate on the 'imoveable elbow moving line'.
The form helps to keep the upper body supple and flexable, it helps to strengthen the back and helps posture and maintains a healthy spine alignment, the foot and leg joints are also strengthened without causing undue stress on them, and the muscles become stronger, allowing us to perform this even into old age, this phsyical exerise, coupled with the relaxed state of mind achieved durring saam bai fut, helps to maintain a healthy body and a active mind, (throw away those stress pills!).
Sometimes called the backbone of the Wing Chun system, S.L.T instills in us the importance of the Centerline, this is a key concept, the vast majority of techniques performed in S.L.T reference to this centerline.
This form also helping in building coordination of the hands, with the first section allowing for independent hand movement, the second shows both hands working together, and the third, shows how we can flow from one hand to the other.
The hand techniques practised here, help to build up reference points, not only the centreline, but also outside and low gates,it also contains the vast majority of the Wing Chun blocking principles.
Understanding the many principles and concepts behind the movments is the real key to understanding what S.L.T can teach us, otherwise we are left with nothing more than simple hand structures.
The stance adopted in S.L.T teaches many aspects important to Wing Chun, as well as building a strong stance, it teaches us to lower our centre of gravity, (better stability, and transference of power), to draw into and protect the centreline, to be firm without being tense, it sets the distance between our heels, (important for our combat stance), and shows to maintain an upright possition.
Training stance
To open into the stance,
stand with arms relaxed at the sides feet together (1), as you bring your forearms level with the elbow joint at 45° to the front make relaxed fists (2), bend your knees, so if you were to look down you would not be able to see your toes (3), with the weight on the heels open your feet outwards, creating a 90° angle, by turning on the heels (4), now shift the weight to your toes and open out the heels again forming a 90° angle (5),
To help in building a good solid stance, ensure the pelvis is forwards, feet grip the floor, and apply gentle tension to your legs.
ADVANCED TRAINING,
# IMPORTANT # when performing these versions chi breathing should NOT be attempted
Advanced S.T.L training tip, #1 (6)
This can be done once you have perfected your the form,
this time the form is carried out using a single leg horse stance, this is done by following sequence 1 to 4, then instead of opening out the heels we raise 1 leg into a front kick possition, we hold this possition while we then continue doing the whole form, (of course this needs to be done twice, so as to use both legs), apart from the obvious leg strengthening, this S.L.T single leg training helps to build ballance, and is a good firm basis for later when we apply kicks/ movement along with our hand techniques,
Advanced S.L.T training tip, #2
In this version the stomach muscles are drawn in, and held tense through out the form, the benefits are the obvious abdominal and back strengthening.
Advanced S.L.T training tip, #3
S.L.T 108, here the form is broken down into individual sections, of certain movements, for example, the crossed arms, rolling through, then drawing the fists back (sub jee sao - kwun sao - sao kuen), is carried out 108 times, before moving on the the next group, in this case the left punch, then the right, agin this would be done 108 times, ect., etc.,
Advanced S.L.T training tip, #4
Here we use dynamic tension, keep your muscles as tense as you can and move as if in slow motion, we have to imagine trying to move our hands as though they were meeting great resistance, because this goes contrary to our Wing Chun training, of developing relaxed power, this should never be performed much more than on a monthly basis,
Your own instructor/ sifu will make the full list of the movements/ techniques/ principles/ concepts/ etc., available to you during your training, however if for any reason you are not under personal instruction, and need more assistance please feel free to contact me