Siu Nim Tao - History

History

Siu Nim Tao is a traditional form from Wing Chun Kung Fu. The Siu Nim Tao form was created by the Red Boat member Leung Yee-Tai, along with the Chum Kiu and Biu Tze forms. There is evidence in this by the fact that not all Wing Chun families have the Siu Nim Tao form. The story of Yim Wing Chun may be nothing but legend, as the account of Ng Mui cannot be supported, given the fact that Nuns were not allowed to live in male temples. In the Fung Siu-Ching oral tradition, the Young Forest Shaolin Abbot Chi Shim (also Jee Shim) introduced the Muk Yan Jong or Dummy Form to the Red Boat Society members, and it was from there that all of the Wing Chun (Weng Chun in the Fung Siu-Chin line) were created. The Red Boat members combined the Luk Dim Bun Gon into the system. The Leung Jan Line contains the three forms, Muk Yan Jong, pole, and Dou (knife) forms. The Fung-Siu Ching line developed the Fa Kuen (Blossoming Fist), Sam Pai Fut (Three Prayers to Buddha), Weng Chun Sup Yat Sao (Always Spring Eleven Hands), Jong Kuen (Dummy Fist), Muk Yan Jong (Wooden Dummy), Luk Dim Boon Kwun (Six-and-a-Half-Point-Pole), and Seung Do (Double Knives). Yuen Kay-San studied under Leung Yee-Tai's and Wong Wah-Bo's disciple Fok Bo-Chuen and also under Fung Siu-Ching, so he was one of the few to have studied from two different Wing Chun lines. The form itself, which contains the Saam Kei Fat or Three Prayers to Buddha section, represents the form as a Qigong form, and so the lack of movement is representative of the traditional standing postures of Qigong, though using the Yi Ji Kim Yeung Ma stance of Wing Chun.

Little is known prior to this, however, many martial arts employ a neutral position when first teaching students the basic elements of a particular style.