Stances and footwork

Stance: both feet angled equally, knees bent. Weight distribution is 60% rear, 40% front. If sit in horse stance, then turn torso 90°, rear thigh should be vertical. Arms: lead arm's elbow one fist from ribs, forearm at 45°. Rear hand one fist to side of lead elbow and just below, and always one fist from torso. Both hands are open, fingers vertical, thumbs in, and positioned to cover the centerline. One hand is forward, one is back. One hand is high, the other is low. If they are on the same plane, they can interfere with each other.

In general, when performing techniques, don't move shoulder, and don't reach.

Use footwork instead of leaning back and forth.

Choh ma: When turning, pivot on heels, don't lift toes. Fix on one point at each facing and do not look elsewhere. Do not bob; stay level as you turn.

Question: why practice turning stance? Answer: to develop power and determine center of gravity.

See Section 7 for shifting w/long pole.

Toh ma: front foot moves under push from rear leg, then front foot grips and drags rear foot to stance. Time punches to land with front foot.

Seep ma: motion intercepting step. Step diagonal forward L with L foot as shift L, then shift R as R foot comes close to , then diagonal R forward from, the L foot, in an inward crescent. L foot drags up to follow the R step. Do not put the R foot down or pause in the middle of the R step, just shift R.

Stomp: stomp with rear foot to spring you forward, and to attract opponent's attention to the rear of where you were. The stomp should propel you forward, not make you hop upward. Another example of how heel on floor helps; couldn't do this well on ball of foot due to comparative weakness of calf muscle to thigh muscle.

Some options using seep ma:

gon sao, pak sao

roundhouse kick, pak sao

gon sao, wang gerk

arm destruction w/noy wu sao, tan sao & palmheel to kidney

Poles: Set up a line of poles a little more than shoulder's width apart. Stand at one end facing up the line in stance. Each pole represents an incoming kick. Step forward and to one side at a 35-40° angle with the lead foot, turning the hips. Bring the rear foot forward, but then shift hips back about 80° as send rear foot out along new line to become lead foot. Drag former lead foot up as rear foot. You should now be between the two poles, facing about 40° off to one side. After get comfortable with stepping, punch with lead hand, then start doing pak sao or double gon sao vs front kick and punch [5-41].

While moving, although you are turning, remember position of opponent and keep head facing that way.

If doing double gon sao vs front kick and punch, gon sao fast, while hips are still turned away. Then bring foot up and out, and time pak sao to punch with lead foot. Footwork is important: keep 1 pole-width between your feet. Stay in stance.

Brace stepping

Shift outwards with lead foot and step forward with rear foot into stance. Useful for closing slight distance while shifting for techniques. Need to practice.

Toy ma

Do not move directly back, he will just chase. In stance (R ft forward). He will front kick strongly. Step SE w/R into a NW-facing L leading stance. R gum sao for protection. He ends w/you facing him, on his L outside line.

This is very much like the defensive footwork in the 3-sectional staff class.