What's the Big Idea?
- Lancaster Wing Chun Assoc.
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
by Sifu Nick Francis
When you start learning Wing Chun, one of the very first things you will be introduced to is Sil Lim Tau, the first hand-form.
This hand-form in my opinion is profound for many reasons and it is important that we seek to understanding this.
One reason is that, as I like to introduce it,
Siu Lim Tau is our black-belt level form. Yes, you read that right. We start our training with our black belt level form. I call it this because everything is in this hand-form (if you know where to look). The Siu Lim Tau form is so comprehensive that within its movements, energy, positions and techniques, lies the entire system. ...If you know where to look that is! (But of course, when we begin, we do not know where to look.) This is why we need the other forms? ...to better understand Sil Liu Tau.
My Sifu explained it to me like this... Imagine that you want to learn Chinese. And to learn Chinese, you are given a book on how to learn Chinese, written in Chinese. So, obviously, once you can read Chinese, you no longer need the book. Now of course, this seems extremely confusing and at best, very unhelpful, because the analogy in no way shows us where to start or how to begin learning. This is why we have Sil Lim Tau.
Sil Lim Tau literally translates as "little idea" or "young thoughts". Sil Lim Tau is about starting from the beginning. Sil Lim Tau, to me, is being likened to that of becoming a child, learning all over. In doing so, we don't need a manual, we need to just begin...
... at the beginning! Returning to our "Learning to speak Chinese analogy". When a child is born, are language books distributed so a child can learn to read and speak? At the early age of one, two or three, were you given an instructional book on how to speak a language? No, of course not. We are simply saturated in a context and culture. Like all of us, when learning our first language. We become part of it, and it becomes part of us! Learning Wing Chun is the same. The first thing we do is learn Siu Lim Tau, the first form. Then on to our second form Chum Kiu, to our third form Biu Gee, and so on... Where does this lead you ask?
To the big idea of course!
What then is the Big Idea?
The Big idea is to see how everything we learn returns to the Little Idea. The Big Idea is to see how the principles, lessons and learning of Wing Chun shapes and reshapes us, becoming part of our lives. To me, Sil Lim Tau is the beginning of establishing a new iOS for our lives. Sil Lim Tau is our new operating system.
... And how do we do this? Like children, We Play! How do we know it's working then? How do we know we have reaching our goals? Our Lives Change! This is the "Big Idea"?
"But I thought Wing Chun was about fighting?" you may ask! "I don't see this on the list!"
What if Wing Chun is much more than training for a fight? Let's think about this...If you can spar, you can certainly fight.If you can already fight, then you likely don't need to learn Wing Chun.
Likewise, if you are only training for a fight that may never come, then what are you really training for?Hopefully for another reason! This is what Chi Sau is all about. It is about the "Little Idea". It is about life change. Chi Sau is about so much more than learning to fight.
Chi Sau is not sparring. Chi Sau is not a fight. It is something different all together. Chi Sau is a pathway for learning. It is a pathway for building a new life. It is life development and life change.
And Yes, of course, Wing Chun prepares you to defend yourself if that time and place comes, but what if that moment never comes?
Are you wasting your time? If your only reason for training Wing Chun is to protect yourself in a fight, that may never come, then I suggest, maybe there are better tools to effectively do this... Just to name a few: • You can learn to carry and use a licensed weapon. • You can carry deterrents like pepper spray, a stun weapon, or a taser. • If you can afford it, you can hire someone for personal protection. And most simply, if you're looking to stay safe, just never go out. Never go anywhere or do anything!
But is this actually a solution? Do we want to be safe or live life with a sense of safety?
These are two very different matters and identifying this is at the heart of the matter. As the late Grandmaster Wong Sheung Leung has been quoted as saying,
"The best way to stay safe is to be invisible, if you cannot be invisible, then do the next best thing, learn Wing Chun".
Playing Chi Sau is the tool we use for learning. It is about: • Learning to increase awareness • Releasing tension • Learning about pressure and sensitivity • Learning how to relax • Learning how to communicate • Learning how to regulate your nervous system. • Learning how to lead oneself and take responsibility. Wing Chun is about learning to take care of and become our best self!
There are no shortcuts in Wing Chun. There are however many rewards.
Wing Chun gives us the place to ignore the shortcuts and seek the path of growth and maturity, to practice self-control, to embrace patience and to master the power gained through the journey. This is the path of Wing Chun.
Wing Chun is more than preparing for a fight that may never come and stepping into the battle we are already in. Perhaps, and maybe even more important to consider, is where the other path leads and why this is even important at all. See "The Swinging Log" metaphor! |
"The Lancaster Wing Chun Association exists to build people through learning traditional Ip Man Wing Chun in a safe and supportive environment." |
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