Kung fu · Wing Chun · the second form
Chum Kiu: Wing Chun’s second form — history, sections and meaning 尋橋
In Siu Nim Tau the feet never move. Then, one day, the teacher says: now turn. Chum Kiu is the moment the Wing Chun body comes alive — the same arms, the same centreline, but carried by a stance that pivots, steps and kicks to find the opponent’s arm, the “bridge”, and cross it.
| Name | 尋橋 “seeking the bridge”; some lineages write 沉橋 “sinking bridge” |
|---|---|
| Place in the system | 2nd of 3 empty-hand forms: Siu Nim Tau → Chum Kiu → Biu Jee |
| New elements | Turning stance, stepping, kicks, body weight behind the arms |
| Structure | Three sections, performed to both sides; details differ by lineage |
Foshan, southern China, 19th century. Wing Chun is a small art passed from teacher to a handful of students — three hand forms, a wooden dummy, two weapons.
The first form builds the arms without moving. The second must answer a harder question: how do you get to the opponent, and take your whole body with you?
The answer is Chum Kiu: turn, step, kick — and never lose the centreline.
Illustrative scene, not a historical record.
History
- Origins · legend and lineageWing Chun’s own story speaks of the nun Ng Mui and a young woman, Yim Wing-chun; historians treat this as legend. What is documented is a 19th-century lineage in Guangdong, through Leung Jan in Foshan and his students. The three empty-hand forms were the core of the art. [1]
- 1950s · Hong KongYip Man (1893–1972), who learned in Foshan, began teaching in Hong Kong around 1950. His school turned Wing Chun from a family art into a world one; Chum Kiu became the recognised second stage for thousands of students, among them Bruce Lee. [2][1]
- One form, several spellingsYip Man’s students founded their own branches — Wing Chun, Ving Tsun, WingTsun and others — each keeping Chum Kiu with its own details. The name is read as 尋橋 “seeking the bridge” by most, as 沉橋 “sinking bridge” by some, which stresses sinking and uprooting. [1][3]
- TodayIn most schools Chum Kiu is taught once Siu Nim Tau and basic chi sau are in place. It goes together with partner drills, because turning and stepping only make sense against real pressure. [1]
Historical images
Yip Man.jpg — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The sequence, step by step
A summary in our own words to help you follow and remember the form. It does not replace a teacher, and details differ between associations. [3][1]
- Step 1/4
Opening
As in Siu Nim Tau: open into the pigeon-toed stance (yee jee kim yeung ma), cross the arms low and high, and punch on the centreline.
- Step 2/4
Section 1 · turning
The arms take positions such as a bar arm across the chest, then the stance pivots 90° to one side and back, and to the other. Bong sau and wu sau ride on the turn; the elbows stay in place while the body turns behind them.
- Step 3/4
Section 2 · kick and step
Weight moves to the back leg and a front kick rises without warning. The foot lands forward, the back foot follows, and bong sau with wu sau is repeated with each step, alternating with turns into double tan sau.
- Step 4/4
Section 3 · low bridges and palms
A stamping kick, then steps with a double low bong sau, a short closing step and a double palm strike. Turn and repeat to the other side; return the fists and close as in Siu Nim Tau.
Key stances
Meaning
The “bridge” (kiu) is the contact between your arm and the opponent’s. Siu Nim Tau teaches what the arm does on that bridge; Chum Kiu teaches how to find it, close the distance, and put the whole body behind it. The turning stance is the key: the body rotates as a unit so that force goes through the elbow, not just the hand.
Read as 沉橋, “sinking bridge”, the same movements stress dropping the opponent’s arm and breaking their root. Both readings point to one idea: the second form is where structure meets movement.
Variations between styles
| Style / body | What changes |
|---|---|
| Yip Man lineages (Hong Kong) | Three sections, turning stance, front and side-angled kicks; the most widely taught version. |
| WingTsun (EWTO and related) | Written Chum-Kiu; detailed rules for the turning stance and the stamping kick in the third part. |
| Other branches | Lineages outside Yip Man’s (for example from Foshan or Guangzhou) keep forms with similar names but different sequences. |
Principles and applications
Typical uses taught from the form: turning the stance to redirect a straight punch past you while your arm stays on the centreline; stepping in behind a bong sau to jam the opponent’s arm; a low front kick to the knee or shin as you close; and the double palm to push an opponent off balance at short range.
Practise the turn slowly first: heels as the pivot (or the balls of the feet, depending on lineage), knees in, head level. Then work it with a partner pushing on your arms — the form only proves itself under pressure.
Common mistakes
- Turning the shoulders before the hips and feet.
- Elbows drifting off the centreline during the turn.
- Leaning back or forward to kick.
- Stepping with a bounce instead of staying at one height.
Sources
Content written by Wabukan from the sources below (checked on 2026-10-30). External links are references only.
- Wikipedia — Wing Chun (forms and weapons) — en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia — Ip Man — en.wikipedia.org
- EWTO WingTsun-World — Performing the Chum-Kiu correctly (Part 4) — wingtsunwelt.com
Cite / use this content
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Updated: 2026-10-30