Small Plum Blossom Fist

Siu Mui Fa Kyun, or Plum Flower Small Fist, is perhaps the most emblematic Choy Lee Fut choreography (form), not only because it contains in itself the versatile dynamics and tactics of this Chinese martial art but also because it symbolizes and distills its very essence.

Rolando Martins | Published 31 March 2019I

Siu Mui Fa Kyun, or Plum Flower Small Fist, is perhaps the most emblematic Choy Lee Fut choreography (form), not only because it contains in itself the versatile dynamics and tactics of this Chinese martial art and self-defense system, but also because it symbolizes and distills its very essence. Understanding this sequence, the richness of its movements and the dynamics of its processes is the proper way to understand Choy Lee Fut and solidly assimilate further advanced and complex skills.

Such is the importance of Siu Mui Fa Kyun to the learning curve of Choy Lee Fut, that it integrates the initial curriculum of the overwhelming majority of schools in this system, mainly those with lineage traced up to Chan Yiu Chi, the 3rd generation great master, and creator of this sequence.

It’s not a particularly difficult choreography, quite the contrary. Its movements are simple and basic, its combinations practical and direct, and the number of exercises within a reasonable amount, being a choreography to perform in about forty seconds. Nevertheless, understanding in detail all these dynamics and processing it within the demanded standards, requires hard work, dedication and persistence. But that in itself is also not enough because, after all, this is an art of war and combat is its ultimate goal. Each movement has a raison d’être, a practical functionality and a martial purpose. As a martial artist, this should always be the North on each training session and the aim of each gesture, each technique, each movement.

The practises should be very simple and objective. You always start the form facing East (well, not turning yourself to East direction, but rather keeping in mind that East is always in front of you when starting the form, for guidance purposes) and you move in the four directions, imaginary fighting against several opponents – or just by fighting an opponent who keeps changing is positioning. At same time you perform different combinations of punches and kicks covering the most fundamental Choy Lee Fut techniques that you latter will come across in more advanced forms. The rhythm should be continuous and fast, light and penetrating, all in one shot: you start moving and never stops until the final salute…! 

Understand each movement and his fighting propose should be a major propose. Being familiar with the original name of the techniques and his meaning helps. A lot…! You will understand better the movement. Normally the original intension of the action is undercover under the poetic or less poetic character. Learn it! It brings depth to the understanding of the system and brings martial maturity to the practitioner.

And if you want to understand in detail Siu Mui Fa Kyun, just buy my last book. That’s what this book is precisely about. Not only about standardizing in detail a popular and emblematic form, but also providing all the necessary objective information, such as this particular dimension of practice – the martial applications – the starting point of a practical and objective system.

It is my wish that the reader regards this book not only as a complementary source of information, which it certainly is, but also as an inspirational reference and a guide for good practices, in the path for the great goal of Choy Lee Fut: combat in all its dimensions.