Sifu is really hammering Chum Kiu at the moment. I knew that we were going to be tested on our knowledge at the instructor’s course, but with all this focus on Chum Kiu it seems that this form will feature prominently. This doesn’t bother me because I’ve been practising it like mad.

Today’s Chum Kiu Corrections

Today, sifu noticed the following faults in my form:

• right at the beginning, after the first punch, I’m still getting the wrist rotation wrong. It needs to be done slowly and deliberately so that you can feel the joint strain. One of the benefits of taking the time to do this right is that it strengthens the wrist. Once all fingers are gathered in, snap the fist up.
• the double jam sau at the beginning needs to be slower and more measured. The transition from that to wan lan sau still needs to be snappy, but the jam saus themselves need to be slowed down.
• In turning into the wan lan sau, there are different sections to the movement.  The body turns with the feet when they turn to 45 degrees. The feet stay where they are but the body continues a further 45 degrees (so now you are facing a full 90 degrees from the front). During these two sections, the body sinks into the stance. I need to sink more into my stance.
• Each of the 3 jik jeungs: I’m looping them under the next too flamboyantly. The movement should be minimalistic, like when chain punching. The fist of the last punch comes under the next punch going out, but the ‘looping under’ should not be exaggerated. It’s the same movement with the jik jeungs.
• Bong sau to wan lan sau: when pulling the wu sau back quickly to chamber the fist, my chambered fist needs to be higher up the body. At the moment it’s hanging down too low.
• Interestingly, the part where you rest your fist on one wan lan sau before punching: when you rest the fist, you are not yet facing 90 degrees from the front as above. Instead, it’s onlt 45 degrees. This means that you can rotate the remaining 45 degrees, adding more power to your punch.

I like all these corrections because they keep me focused and motivated. They give me something very specific to work on in my practice sessions. Sifu said I should work on it every day, so now I don’t need to have the mental argument in my head about what to practise in my solitary sessions.