Learning and practicing individual exercises is an easy way to pick up skills. However, there are some who are like me, prefer to practice a form over a number of solo drills.

All the exercises mentioned in the earlier three posts can be practiced in the Siu Nim Tao form, which for the purpose of illustration I will use the Ip Man version (meaning the version I learned) as reference.

From the three posts we have the following exercises :-

a) Redefining the Learning
i) Huen Sao exercise

b) Redefining the Learning 2
i) Forming the basic stance
ii) Basic vertical fist punch
iii) Using the core to punch
iv) Side body punch (Pin Sun Chui)

c) Redefining the Learning 3
i) Principle of immoveable elbow
ii) Using the core to move the arm in Sam Bai Fut

Below I list the Siu Nim Tao sequence I used to teach to students :-

1.0 Opening
1.1 Feet together, palms up, arms extended
1.2 Perform Huen Sao, change to horizontal fists
1.3 Pull horizontal fists back to side of body
1.4 Open up feet to shoulder width
1.5 Sit into basic stance

2.0 Punching
2.1 Left vertical fist moves to centreline
2.2 Left fist punches out
2.3 Fist change to palm up
2.4 Perform Huen Sao, change into horizontal fist
2.5 Pull left fist back to side of body
Repeat for right fist

3.0 Sam Bai Fut
3.1 Left fist open to palm up, move to centreline
3.2 Slowly move left palm forward until it can no longer move without losing immoveable elbow
3.3 Left palm performs Huen Sao, change into Wu Sao
3.4 Slowly move Wu Sao back towards body
3.5 When Wu Sao is about 1.5 fist distance away from body, change into Fuk Sao
3.6 Move Fuk Sao forward until maximum range without losing elbow placement
3.7 Change Fuk Sao into Wu Sao and repeat 3.4 (for the Fuk Sao sequence perform three times)
3.8 Once Wu Sao comes back the last time, perform Pak Sao to right and come back to centreline
3.9 Execute Jing Jeung
3.10 Change vertical palm to palm up
3.11 Perform Huen Sao, change into horizontal fist
3.12 Pull left fist back to the side of body

Here is how I would redefine the practice of the Siu Nim Tao :-

1.0 OPENING

1.1 Feet together, palms up, arms extended

1.2 Perform Huen Sao, change to horizontal fists. To repeat the Huen Sao exercise, turn both fists so that the palms face upwards, open up the fists into open hand, and repeat the Huen Sao drill for 10 reps

1.3 Pull horizontal fists back to side of body

1.4 Open up feet to shoulder width

1.5 Sit into basic stance – check knee bent, check adduction, check tailbone tuck in, check Dan Tian configuration, check upper body

1.6 Open up both fists, extend arms forward and do Huen Sao as per 1.2. First hold the body posture and focus on Huen Sao. Later, as you become more familiar the Dan Tian should connect even as you do Huen Sao (do you feel the connection? Feel the power?)

This is the first part of how we can redefine the practice of the Siu Nim Tao.

P.S. – the part about doing the body posture can be a challenge even when I taught it in person so not to worry if its something that you don’t get right away. But like learning to ride a bicycle you just keep at it and success will come.