Siu Nim Tao 3rd Section

A note on Cantonese

I mostly use the ‘Jyut Ping’ (粵拼) Cantonese writing system as I have found it to be the most accurate. For an excellent way to learn Cantonese pronunciation, see Fluent Forever. For a dictionary see CantoDict or use the Hanping Cantonese App for Android.

Intro

Arms should be at 135° (mid point between straight and 90°) unless otherwise stated.

前拍手/cin4 paak3 sau2 (chin pak sao)/forward patting hand

Angles:

1. Use the 1st circle to rotate the forearm from a palm up (fist drawn backwards) to a Wu position

2. Arm goes forward as directly as possible

Applications:

1. In Saan Sau, use your 3rd Centreline to make contact either Same side, Outside or Diagonal, Inside. Using your hand means you don’t have a free hand to deal with their 2nd punch.

2. You can combine a Hau Paak Sau (dealing with their front punch) with a Cin Paak Sau (dealing with their rear hand). This can lead into twisting their arms up with either their front or back arm on top.

3. In Chi Sao, you can use your Paak Sau hand on the Diagonal, Inside – as long as your forearm is on top of their other arm. You can combine this with a Fei Zaang Punch to make Cin Paak Daa. You can’t use Maai Zaang however as it will mean your forearms hit each other.

割手/got3 sau2 (got sao)/cutting hand

Angles:

1. Arm remains at 135° as it lowers, so that your hand covers your groin

2. Wrist angle changes so that fingers are pointing outwards – common in the Biu Zi form

3. Same move as in Biu Zi form but without Zyun Maa

Applications:

1. Diagonal, Inside and Same Side, Inside

2. Combine with an upper move such as Wu Sau (if using Got Sau diagonally)

3. Sets up the next move in the form – Dai Waang Zoeng

低横掌/dai1 waang4 zoeng2 (dai wang jeung)/lower horizontal palm

Angles:

1. Forearm points downwards, aiming for the level of the lowest horizontal line on your own rectangle (around the level of your own groin)

2. Fingers point horizontally sideways (hence ‘横’)

3. Elbow in line with your 1st centreline

Applications:

1. Make sure not to hit too centrally in practice in case your fingers make contact with your opponent instead of the heel of your palm

2. Practice with pads set up at the correct angle – facing diagonally upwards and at an angle so that your fingers don’t hit first

3. Wrist angle goes from flexed to extended helps further expose the heel of the palm when hitting

4. Can be combined with any palm to make 抱排/Pou5 Paai4/Embrace Row

挑手/tiu1 sau2 (tiu sao)/poke hand

Angles:

1. Open hand, palm facing downwards before move starts

2. Goes diagonally forward and across your body until the elbow angle is at 90° and the 3rd centreline is in line with your 1st centreline

3. Then the palm goes up (45° forearm angle) and the elbow finishes in line with your ‘braces’ line (only in the form)

4. Fingers end in line with your shoulder

5. Tiu is a mirror image of Zam

Applications:

1. Diagonal, outside and Same side, inside

2. Use ‘blade’ of your forearm (thinnest part underneath)

3. Use a quick Hau Paak Sau for outside

4. Can combine with Daa/Cin Paak/Pai Sau/CK Gam (see CK 3rd Section)

5. Tiu Daa – use Laai Daa to transition to next outside Tiu Daa against cycling punches

後圈手/hau6 hyun1 sau2 (hao huen sao)/backward circular hand

Angles:

1. Forearm and elbow come straight backwards (touching your side) as wrist makes a circle in a flexed position

2. Different from Cin Hyun Sau in the 1st Section

Applications:

1. Diagonal, Inside and Same side, Outside

2. Train against a stiff fist to make sure the forearm stays straight as it draws back and affects your opponent’s balance

3. Hau Hyun is better for higher strikes e.g. to your nose, as your Hyun goes backwards

4. Cin Hyun is better for lower strikes e.g. to your upper 3rd centreline (sternum) as the Hyun goes downwards

5. He Punch/You Hyun (either side)/He Punch/You Hyun (either side)

6. Punch/diagonal Hyun/Punch/Laap Daa

7. Punch/diagonal Hyun into same side Cin Paak back hand/Punch/1 in 1 out Paak Daa

8. Hyun into Pou Paai is also common

平横掌/peng4 waang4 zoeng2 (peng wang jeung)/middle horizontal palm

Angles:

1. Forearm points horizontally, aiming for the level of the lowest horizontal line on your own rectangle (around the level of your own groin)

2. Fingers pointed horizontally sideways (hence ‘横’)

3. Elbow in line with your 1st centreline

Applications:

1. Make sure not to hit too centrally in practice, in case your fingers make contact with your target instead of the heel of your palm

2. Practice with pads set up at the correct angle – facing horizontally and at an angle so that your fingers don’t hit first

3. Wrist angle goes from flexed to extended helps further expose the heel of the palm when hitting

4. Can be combined with any palm to make 抱排/Pou5 Paai4/Embrace Row

耕手/gaang1 sau2 (gang sao)/plough hand

Angles:

1. Starts with 1 hand Soeng Gaau Caa Sau

2. Arm hinges at the shoulder only and goes down to a 1 hand Haa Gaau Caa Sau

Applications:

1. Same side, Outside (no Zyun Maa) or Diagonal, inside (Zyun maa)

2. Combine with Zam Sau or Daa (punch), otherwise if you have no upper hand and they can upward Bin Kyun you above your 2nd centreline

3. Train against a stiff fist to practice keeping your elbow in and effectively compromising their balance

4. Gaang Sau/Daa covers incoming strikes both above and below your 2nd centreline

5. Ideally only use if you already have 1 arm extended to 135° – otherwise you have to go forwards first and then downwards

枕手/zam2 sau2 (jum sao)/pillow hand

Angles:

1. Prepare by having your elbow by your side, elbow angle at 45° and your palm facing forward

2. Rotate your forearm slightly as you Zam to use the ‘blade’ of the forearm

3. In the end position your elbow will be on your 1st centreline and your fingers will be in line with your shoulder (form only)

4. Zam is a mirror image of Tiu

Applications:

1. Same side, Outside only with Zyun Maa (turn body)

2. In practice when you Zyun the end position will be your nose, elbow, hand and their shoulder all in a line

3. Can combine with Daa (punch) to make Zam Daa

高横掌/gou1 waang4 zoeng2 (go wang jeung)/high horizontal palm

Angles:

1. Forearm points diagonally upwards, aiming for the level of the highest horizontal line on your own rectangle (around the level of your own chin)

2. Fingers pointed horizontally sideways (hence ‘横’)

3. Elbow in line with your 1st centreline

Applications:

1. Practice with pads set up at the correct angle – facing diagonally downwards

2. Wrist angle going from flexed to extended helps further expose the heel of the palm when hitting

3. Can be combined with any other lower palm to make 抱排/Pou5 Paai4/Embrace Row

膀手/bong2 sau2 (bong sao)/wing (shoulder) arm

Angles:

1. Starts by elbow dropping down by your side, elbow angle at 45°

2. Forearm rotates from palm up to palm down position

3. Forearm end position is same as 1 hand Gaau Caa Sau – however is palm down and hand is relaxed (flexed wrist)

Applications:

1. Combine with Wu Sau and Zyun Maa

2. Only have fingers exposed at your 3rd centreline – they can Laap you if your whole hand is showing

3. Know that from Bong you have to change quickly, as you have 2 hands under 1 of theirs

4. Train Bong into Laap + Hoi

5. To cycle Bong in a drill, Bong hand does a Reverse Hyun under your forearm to form the next Wu Sau

6. Train where your hand is back and they are putting pressure on top with Fuk Sau – Bong to put the pressure back on them

7. Punch/Bong Sau/Punch/4 slots (e.g. they punch inside or outside of your Wu or Bong hand)

8. Punch/Gaau Caa Sau (1 or 2 hands)/Punch/Bong (or switch the moves)

9. Punch/Paak + Cam Zaang Taan Sau (see below)/Punch/Bong (or switch the moves)

沉踭攤手/cam4 zaang1 taan1 sau2 (chum jarn tan sao)/sinking elbow taan sau

Angles:

1. Same as Taan Sau except elbow angle is 90°

Applications:

1. Punch/Bong/Punch/90° Taan (Diagonal, Outside) + 135° move (e.g. Punch)

2. They grab you Diagonal, Outside/90° Taan (makes their elbow go up) into e.g. CK Laap Sau

低掌/dai1 zoeng2 (dai jeung)/lower palm

Angles:

1. In the form from the Taan, hand drops (wrist extends), then elbow angle opens up to 135°

Applications:

1. In the form the true target of the groin is concealed

2. Can grab or hit the groin

3. Can be applied Diagonal, Outside or Same side, Inside where your forearm is on top of their arm or hand

4. Can be combined with any other palm to make 抱排/Pou5 Paai4/Embrace Row

轉臂削手/zyun2 bei3 soek3 sau2 (juen bei serk sao)/turn arm pare hand

Angles:

1. Starts with 1 arm at Haa Gaau Caa Sau, 1 hand palm up touching the other elbow pit

2. ‘Reverse Hyun Sau’ with forward hand as you scrape forward upwards

3. Upper hand ends with upper 1 hand Gaau Caa Sau (palm down)

4. Front hand drops down to Haa Gaa Caa Sau to begin the 2nd Zyun Bei Soek Sau

Applications:

1. Grabbed Outside, Diagonal – use reverse Hyun to make their elbow go up, then Soek their elbow to twist them away from you

2. Reverse Hyun can also be used on its own if they are grabbing you Same side, Inside, and you want to get back on the inside

埋踭出拳/MAAI4 ZAANG1 CEOT1 KYUN4 (mai jarn chut kuen)/ ‘ELBOW IN’ PUNCHes (6)

轉馬埋踭出拳/zyun2 maa5 MAAI4 ZAANG1 CEOT1 KYUN4 (mai jarn chut kuen)/turn stance ‘ELBOW IN’ PUNCHES (6)

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