First form · 小念頭

Siu Nim Tau, section 1: opening and punches

Siu Nim Tau is the first form of Wing Chun. It is practised standing in one place and builds the foundations the later forms depend on.

What the first form trains

The name is usually translated as “little idea”. Because the feet do not move, attention goes to the stance, to keeping the arms and elbows working along the centreline, and to moving the arms without unnecessary tension.

Many of the hand shapes met later in partner training appear here first in their simplest form.

What this lesson covers

The free lesson shows the opening section in 12 checkpoints, starting from the adduction stance with both fists beside the chest:

• the arms cross palm-up, cut down as crossed splitting arms, and rise again;
• the fist withdraws to the chest and the straight centreline punch goes out;
• the hand opens into Tan Sau (palm-up arm), circles at the wrist with Huen Sau, and withdraws;
• the punching sequence is then repeated with the other arm.

Stepping into the stance (the toe and heel pivots) is described in the lesson but not animated.

How to study it

• Watch the whole passage once at a slow pace before stepping through it.
• Use the Side view to check where the elbow travels during the punch.
• Step through in Learn mode, then use Recall to put the movements in order from memory.
• Save the steps you find difficult and come back to them.

The animation is a study interpretation built from checkpoints. Precise angles, timing and the feel of each movement come from your instructor.