Richard,
Sifu Tony Chuy chose not to translate this form name literally word for word to better illustrate the tactic or strategy of this form. As I am sure you have discovered by now, form names often have more complex meanings than their individual words convey. The “Hahk Fu Tao Sum” name is broken down as such.
First, the “Hahk Fu” or Black Tiger. Actually, there are no such things as black tigers. So what does the this mean? While can be most basically translated as black, in this case it would depict a tiger lying in the bush thus in darkness and hiding, waiting to pounce on its prey. However, our English translation did leave this part alone because it would have been even more confusing to translate as “Hidden Tiger”.
Next, the “Tao Sum” or Steals the Heart now in reference to a waiting and hiding tiger seems more appropriate to translate as ambush since that is what it is doing when finally striking out at the unsuspecting prey.
How does this relate to the form? The actual technique that is most often attributed to this name is the horse stance, low straight punch. But this form and its name teaches a series of techniques that set up, lead, or trap the opponent into the named technique. We first attack high to divert the opponents attention and to create an opening below for the final and sudden sink down punch.
So the practitioner is the black tiger that ambushes its opponent with this technique.
I know that this form and its name was documented by WHF himself in a book that was never commercially printed. My Sifu once showed me a copy of this book that included photos of WHF himself demonstrating this form with a student. It included his notes on the form and a description of the name.
I hope this gives you a renewed view on some of the form names. Many are not meant to be literal as our friend xiao hu yan may be questioning.
Also, though you say it is not listed in WHF’s list, you are correct that it is not in the Ling list which it shouldn’t be but it is listed in the very next section of Wong Hon Chiu’s book. The next section titled Sau Faht which also includes among the list other two man drill/forms such as Pahk Awn, Dzeem Sau, Maw Poon Sau to name a few which are listed on our website as well.
Vance
