A trained body.

The properly trained body has an uncanny ability to transfer incoming forces straight to the ground, or give them back to an opponent. Having this ability depends on many factors.

Wing Chun is a systematic martial art where each of the forms depends upon the other; one cannot learn the second form, Chum Kiu, without being familiar with the first, Siu Nim Tau. The first form prepares the body to maintain a relaxed structure through a feeling of straight back and Tei Gong (a slight raising of the anal sphincter to link up the body as one unit). It conditions the arms to possess strong leverage angles, and fills the whole body with mind force and a forward, attacking intention.

The second form, Chum Kiu, teaches one to use their mass as the source of power. Combined with the moves of Siu Nim Tau, it can apply force in different directions; an opponent finds these difficult to handle as their balance is affected. The third form, Biu Jee, adds speedy rotation to create devastating destructive forces — as well as a sucking-in, whirlpool effect. All these forms prepare the body for real fighting.

As one of the principles of Wing Chun is not to use force against force, resisting strong muscular force with tension affects the body. A tensed body can easily be subjected to leverage attacks, and whoever is stronger usually wins. But a Wing Chun trained body acts like a drainpipe, where the incoming force flows through, while a blocked pipe is full of water pressure (tension) that inhibits the body from attacking someone stronger.

Real fighting does not consist of a series of prepared techniques — no one can predetermine how someone will attack. But a Wing Chun trained body knows how to react naturally. This depends on the training in Chum Kiu: together with the first-form structure, it develops the ability to move or rotate the body using the centre of gravity. That centre, found through repetitive pivoting, is a point inside the body from which the whole can be moved in a relaxed manner. Once found, it moves the body naturally in relation to the incoming force; with the attacking mind force, it finds the easiest way to attack. It must be relaxed and free, otherwise tension prevents free movement — and freeing the centre depends on how well one has trained the first form.

The Wing Chun body can also easily upset the opponent's balance. If, during an attack, the body is tense, body mass cannot be transferred to the attacker; the tense arms and shoulders create a pushing effect that a stronger person deals with easily. A Wing Chun body instead induces a rebounding effect, with multi-directional forces chasing the opponent, keeping the pressure on and weakening their ability to attack back.

Preparing the body for Wing Chun takes patience, keen dedication and constant guidance from a Sifu. The most important step is to train Siu Nim Tau well: after familiarisation, pay attention to the structure that frees the joints, then use the mind to do the form. Relax more each time, and remember that doing it once correctly is better than doing it many times wrongly. Before the second form, practise pivoting to find the centre of gravity — then Chum Kiu will be much easier. Finally, the forms are applied in Chi Sau, the practical way of training the body for real fighting: contact with a partner develops sensitivity, use of the body, multi-angular attacks, and an attacking spirit.