How To Get A Twenty Minute 1st Form
When playing your 1st Form (Siu Lim Tau) it is often said that it should be performed ‘slower the better’, but being slow is not what makes energy, actually it’s the other way around.
When you start to feel energy in the elbow, the sensation is one that you will want to maintain and it is this that makes the form slow, any sudden movement will cause a break in concentration and the feeling is gone.
Sometimes however it is hard to get this feeling in the first place because we are distracted by time restraints, therefore it’s not a bad idea to have some understanding or sense of pace before you start.
This can be done by practicing your form facing toward a clock with a second hand but do not focus on the time itself only the second hand.
After opening your hand ready for Tan Sau allow at least 60 seconds for the technique to be completed, slowly change to Mun Sau, THEN, allow at least 60 seconds for the return. DO NOT be tempted to make changes quickly in order to keep within the 60 seconds time frame.
With one Tan Sau and three Fook Sau’s, going out and back to around 60 seconds for each revolution, this will be at least 16 minutes, including slow changes and the rest of the form this is an easy and comfortable 20 minute Siu Lim Tau.