The Risk of the XingYi Beng Chuan Footwork

[Syn7]

There are many counters against foot sweep. A simple ouside crescent kick can just do the job. This is the most common method.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnbIvpFVHEw

thats some funny sh1t man... thanx for that...

[YouKnowWho]

thats some funny sh1t man... thanx for that...

These are more funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCjyS...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L0dFcnux58
http://www.56.com/u43/v_NTYyNzE1NDQ.html

[Syn7]

Ueshiba is an ass clown... yeah those are silly...


the other clip had me cracking up tho... one of the guys in the back, pretty new... priceless...

[mooyingmantis]

To be the fastest in closing in with a committed attack, lead leg moves while back leg launches. It is all in transition and there is no wide stance as maybe when someone is just maneuvering for position.

This sounds exactly as I teach it.

Broken down:
1. Feet are at middle distance (中 式 - zhōng shì).
2. Lead punch thrown to cover footwork.
3. Rear leg propels body forward.
4. Front leg advances as rear leg pushes off.
5. As soon as front leg grips the ground, rear leg is pulled forward to assume the middle stance distance.

I tell students to imagine a large rubber band connecting the ankles. When the lead leg springs forward, the rear leg is automatically pulled forward to avoid overextending the legs unnaturally.

All this should happen in under a second.

Yes, there is always risk. However, overestimating an opponent's reaction time is as foolish as underestimating an opponent's ability.

[YouKnowWho]

5. As soon as front leg grips the ground, rear leg is pulled forward to assume the middle stance distance.

After your front leg grips the ground and before your rear leg is pulled forward, your stance is much wider than the "middle stance distance" and you may be vulnerable at that moment.

If your opponent scoop your front leg "before" your front leg grips the ground, you will feel like to step on a banana skin as shown in this clip.

http://www.judoinfo.com/images/anima...kouchigari.htm

Not saying this will always happen. But the risk is always there. Again if you move your back leg first, you don't to take that risk.

[SanHeChuan]

What's the other option?

Stepping back leg first, to feet together, then stepping front leg out?
Then the problems are just the same just in reverse order.

The danger in that foot work is that they "finish" feet together.
That is when your in the most danger of being taken down.

If you step through with every step you still have all the same problems.



The least risky steping is to step wider, and back to shoulder width.

Step and Slide

[mooyingmantis]

Again if you move your back leg first, you don't to take that risk.

Just as easy to sweep both feet that way.

Plus we are talking about actions that take less than a second. Sweeps work best by setting the person up for a sweep, not as a reaction to a split second movement. I think you are oversimplifying.

[YouKnowWho]

The least risky steping is to step wider, and back to shoulder width.

IMO, the least risky stepping is "to touch your leading leg on our opponent's leading leg".

[Syn7]

IMO, the least risky stepping is "to touch your leading leg on our opponent's leading leg".

always??? just follow em?

[Violent Designs]

always??? just follow em?

perhaps this is due to YouKnowWho's background in shuai jiao, someone who's mostly a striker like me would not find that range too comfortable IMHO.

[bawang]

the pulling of the back feet isnt for fighting its just training.

[SPJ]

The half step XingYi Beng Chuan is famous but the footwork may have some risk involved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvAfiEBPegA

What's your opinion on this kind of footwork?

grinding of the front sole or nian

and stomping of the heel, or zhen.

these 2 aspects, a lot of people do not pay attention to.

[SanHeChuan]

IMO, the least risky stepping is "to touch your leading leg on our opponent's leading leg".

That to me is more position than stepping. How do you get to leg to leg?

If you are leg to leg, you should be offensive with your stance, step on their foot, push their knee out of place with yours, and sweeping their foot. Because if you aren't then your in danger of having that done to you.

[YouKnowWho]

That to me is more position than stepping. How do you get to leg to leg?

If you are leg to leg, you should be offensive with your stance, step on their foot, push their knee out of place with yours, and sweeping their foot. Because if you aren't then your in danger of having that done to you.

Agree! You only do this if you think it's the time to "attack" and not wait and play around any more.

You step to get your favor position. A jump kick to your opponent's knee or sweep at his leg can achieve that. When your leg touch your opponent's leg (build a leg bridge), you can sense where your opponent's leg is. At that particular moment, his leg will have less threaten to you. When you play "offensive", you put your opponent into "defensive". That will reduce your risk (offense is the best defense). In order to do that, you need to have confidence in your "clinching range" skill.

Many TCMA system emphasize on how to build an "arm brigde". But not emphasze enough on the "leg bridge" building. It's the same concept. When you apply "underhook", "overhook", head lock", "waist control", "leading arm jam back arm", ... you can temporary take your opponent's punching ability away. When you apply "knee kick", "foot sweep", "inside/outside shin bite", "foot scoop", "sticky kick", ... you can also temporary take your opponent's kicking ability away.

A friend of mine always attacks with a 45 degree downward flying side kick. When his whole body weigh drops on your knee joint, it forces you to react. At that particular moment, you only worry about your own safety and forget about counter. That will give him a chance for his "safe entry".

To step in front leg first is to use "punch" to enter. To step in back leg first is to use "kick" to enter. Since you have to enter the kicking range before you can enter the punching range, it makes more sense to use "kick" to enter. That's why I believe to step in back leg is safer than to step in the front leg.