General informa- tion about foot- work.:
Every hand move- ment involves foot- work. The footwork is to be considered as the establishment a platform that a strike can then be executed from. The transition from one position to another is to be done as smoothly as possible. The head is to stay on the same plain, with as little sideways motion as possible. At no time do you have stepping that you cannot hit from. Each step is to flow automatically into the next step.
The Lunge: Mechanics:
The lunge is used to close the gap between oneself and the at- tacker. The attacker will have calculated the distance between you and him. By lunging in, you force the attacker to redefine distance and choice of attack in mid-attack. Very few people are skilled enough to do this without reverting to a brawl ! The hands support each other and the body is straight. It is not really a strike, as such. It is more like making yourself into a spear, the heel of the spear is thrust into the ground that the attacker then impales himself upon the pointy end.
Weighting of feet:
Approximately 50%-50%:
Application:
On the initial attack. If the attacker has survived the first lunge, it is un- likely that the subsequent advances will have the same force or inten- sity. Having been on the receiving end of such a lunge in my early days of training, I can vouch for its effectiveness. Both my feet came off the ground, and I landed flat on my back. The teacher at the time was being
F1 F2 F3
nice to me and used an open palm to the chest, as compared to a closed fist to the throat or jaw, which is the usual practice.
Photos F1, F2, Photo F3, and F4
Feet 1 Photo G1 Front stamp: Mechanics:
Using the mass of the leg as it travels towards the ground generates the hit. The front of the leg, the abdomen and the chest all contract a fraction of a second before the foot hits the ground. The idea is to transfer the downward force of the leg into the arms.
Weighting of feet:
Starts at front foot 5% - back foot 95%, Finishes at front foot 5% - back foot 95%:
Centre of balance is stationary. Application:
At any time when the force of a strike is to be maximised. This is a very easy way to increase hitting potential dramatically. The force that can be generated is very impressive especially when you realise that this force can be generated in a distance of a few centimetres.
Feet 2 Photo G2
Feet 3 Photo G3
Feet 4: Back stamp: Mechanics:
From a long stance to a short a stance in on step. The rear foot is lifted quickly and placed down directly under the centre of balance.
G1
G2
Weighting of feet
Starts at 50% - 50%, Finishes at front foot 5%- back foot 95%, Centre of balance stays in the same spot.
Application
This action prepares the practitioner for a lunge, Front stamp or side step. It can also be used as a hitting platform as well.
Photo H1 Photo H2
Feet 5: Side step.:
Mechanics &Weighting of feet:
Step 1 Weighting is 95% right foot -5% left foot. then there is a shift of the left foot to the left with a 45-degree turn to the centre line of the body. Weighting is 50% right foot -50% left foot. Cen- tre of balance moves from the right foot to be- tween the two feet. (When done at speed this is a transition from right foot to the left foot).
Photo I1:
Feet 6:
Step 2. The right foot slides to a parallel to the left. 100% of the weight is on the left foot. Centre of balance moves from between the feet to the left foot.
Photo I2
H1
H2 I1
Feet 7:
Step 3. The right foot pushes forward as the strike is performed. Weighting is 95% Left foot -5% right foot. Centre of balance stays in the same spot.
Photo I3:
Feet 8: Application:
This is to be applied were the power of the incoming charge is too great to be handled easily. The side step allows the practitioner to step off the line of power and at the same time maintain the optimum line for strik- ing.
The idea of course is that in the end you can do any hand technique in conjunction with any foot technique. This also means same hand as foot or opposite foot to hand. This may sound tricky but with a bit of practise it’s easy.
Remember that this is only the basic of the physical component of Hsing-I. There are the animal forms, strategy, the breathing and medita- tion to be included to make up the complete system of Hsing-I. Of course when you get through all that there is still the personal develop- ment, concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, massage and philoso- phy. I have found that the study in these areas becomes a life long journey of learning about myself and my relationship with the world and others.
It is now been 29 years since I first stepped into the martial arts, I am still learning. A senior student asked me a few years ago, “Knowing what you know now, if you had your time over, would you have spent as much time on Hsing-I and study”. The answer was an immediate yes, and then after thinking a bit longer the answer change to no, I would have spent even more.