(Also pronounced Chum Kiw/Cham Kil/Cham Kiu; "Cham" in Cantonese means "To Seek" or "To Sink"; "Kiu/Kiw" in Cantonese means "the bridge")

Cham Kiu focuses on coordinated movement of body mass and entry techniques to "bridge the gap"/"seek the bridge" between practitioner and opponent, and move in to disrupt their structure and balance.

Close-range attacks are further introduced, such as using the elbows and knees, in non-linear lines of attack, are also developed here. It also teaches methods of recovering position and centerline when in a compromised position where Siu Lim Tau structure has been lost.

For some branches, bodyweight in striking is a central theme, either from pivoting (rotational) or stepping (translational). Likewise, for some branches, this form provides the engine to the car. For branches that use the "sinking bridge" interpretation, the form has more emphasis on "uprooting", adding multi-dimensional movement and spiraling to the already developed engine.

The first section of Chum Kiu teaches how to use turning (shifting stance, built upon the perfect structural alignment demanded by form 1 - Siu Lim Tau "The Little Idea") and techniques at the same time, for example the Bong Sau and Wu Sau are performed whist turning and shifting the body weight from one leg to the other. This is teaching the practitioner to use the hips to develop power or Yiu Ma (Hip/Waist structure) as it's called in Cantonese. Yiu (hip/waist) Ma (horse/stance/structure/infrastructure) and body movement in general, is not present in the first form (as the 1st form is all done stationary, to develop perfect structural alignment from the ground up).

Chum Kiu is also teaching the practitioner about body positioning when using techniques like the Bong Sau ("Bong" in Cantonese means "wing"/"arc"; "sau" means hand...the Bong Sau has two types, one explored in Form 1 - "shifting Bong Sau", used to redirect an incoming forward, linear, intrusive attack to our centerline; the second is the "Pau/Pow Bong" ("Pau" in Cantonese means "to throw") - a more explosive Bong Sau used to shock and off balance a centerline attack; due to perfect ground structural alignment, the shocking bong can both shock/stop an attack similar to running full speed and hitting a brick wall) as well as a type of horizontal baton/hockey stick type shove/attack) which becomes considerably more effective when combined with turning.

The first section also introduces two way energy as seen when the Lan Sau ("Barricading Arm/Hand) arm Laps ("Lap" Sau in Cantonese means "to grasp"/"grap"/"seize" (aggressive)" back and a straight punch is delivered. This enables the practitioner to deliver more devastating blows with relative ease as the Laping arm is enabling the transfer of power across the body as the force can flow as one motion without interruption, with the addition of pulling your opponent off balance, the target will also be moving into the punch and so additional damage will be caused.

The key to doing this is to learn how to relax, and use all the muscles in your body in a short sequence ie. your hips and legs turn and start generating some power, which is then carried on my the shoulders and finally the arm. If you miss time this, you end up just striking with your arm and not using the power of your whole body. The only way to develop this skill is through practice. Chum Kiu is a vitally important way to practice synchronizing the body's movements to work as one unit.

The second and third sections introduces Wing Chun stepping and the most ugliest kick in all of Kung Fu...the Wing Chun Kick (wtf is this shit...it looks ugly but it is profound...as we explore the idea of the "third leg" principle in the arena of kicking), this, when combined with techniques, this enables the safe bridging of the gap between the practitioner and his/her opponent. Hence the form is called Chum Kiu or 'seeking the bridge'. Furthermore the second section of Chum Kiu is building on Sil Lim Tao by making the practitioner use both footwork and kicks with hand techniques such as blocks/covers, at the same time.

Chum Kiu introduces the Wing Chun practitioner to three different kicks, a lifting kick to block others kicks as done by Yip Chun, a front kick which can be aggressive or defensive as used by Yip Ching, and a turning kick which again can be used to stop the advance of an attacker or strike them if they try to get around the practitioner.

The Wing Chun kicks like hand techniques are non committal and do not compromise the balance of the practitioner in any significant way. This is due to their speed and lack of height. Most kicks are delivered to targets below the waist, like the groin or knees. When the "third leg" principle is applied the Wing Chun kicks become very devastating.

Also throughout the practice of Chum Kiu the practitioner must use both hands at once. Although this is done in Sil Lim Tao, when both hands are used in the first form they perform the same action whereas in Chum Kiu they do different things, requiring a higher level of ability and concentration from the practitioner.

Therefore Chum Kiu builds on Sil Lim Tao.