What is the fighting application of this pivot?
At my fake monk government issued wushu school we do it on on the balls of our feet.
Some pivot with both heel and toe while transferring through stances. For example, if you are turning to the left your left foot should pivot on the heel and the right foot should pivot on the toes. This prevents your back foot(right in this case) from getting buried and gives you a slightly wider base so you don’t do the tightrope wobble thing. Anyone else do this?
Originally posted by Shaolinlueb
i use the front part of my foot and eventually use my whole foot and waste to pivot. put your hips into it too so you can get that snap.
Hewph! I was starting to wonder if I was understanding what you guys were calling Bow-stance.
I Don’t really pivot, per say. It’s more of a snap of the upper torso. Do it fast enough and with good persision, you end up in bow. Do it wrong, it looks more like 5-star. {shrungs} 'S how I do it anyway.
Originally posted by Knifefighter
What is the fighting application of this pivot?
Depending on the system/teacher of course, it can be (for example) a way of training power generation, of getting the body and feet into the striking.
Also, people are talking of pivoting in place, but that’s just one way to shift from one to the other. You can step from one to the other, with either foot (though, of course there will still be pivoting going on, but it sort of takes care of itself). IMHO, this is key to actually realizing how these stances work in application. Step with them, don’t stand in them.
indestructible: I can’t read anything you say w/o hearing Bender’s voice.
you’ll get my vote for best audiolization at the KFM Grammy’s.
Originally posted by Oso
[B]indestructible: I can’t read anything you say w/o hearing Bender’s voice.
you’ll get my vote for best audiolization at the KFM Grammy’s. [/B]
My evil plan to conquer the world is finally taking place!
MMMMWWWHHAHHAHHHAAHAHA… cough,cough ah ha ha
I’m also a member of the wise and exalted “pivot on the heel” crowd.
What was said earlier is true, you maintain your root thru the stance shift if you pivot from the heel. You lose root pivoting from the ball.
If you would join me in getting up from your chair and setting yourself into a nice solid horse stance, we’ll do a little group participation. Ignore the looks from those in the neighboring cubicles and humor me.
Test #1: Pivot from the heel as you sloooowwwwwly transition to a bow stance. Notice how your lead knee maintains its position over your root, feel how solid and nice your stance is throughout the transition. Notice how your center of gravity flows smoothly forward with the transition, enhanced by the strong yet graceful line of your foot-ankle-knee-hip. Bliss.
Test #2: Pivot from the ball of the foot, and slooowwwwwly transtition to a bow stance. Notice how your knee twists unnaturally during the transition. Notice how much tension and force are being wasted in your lower leg as it actually tries to counteract the shift in your center of gravity as it moves forward. You are actually retreating your forward point of stability as you move your weight forward! Notice how you have had to temporarily “lift” your root and resettle it as you finish the transition. Listen to the rustling as 1000s of former Shaolin Monks roll in their graves in despair at your weakened stance.
I guess I meant a pivot centered in the middle of the foot.
Later in training this transition becomes an important part in generating power with weapons.
Wow, we just had this conversation at our kwoon.. And it is better at the heel!