I don’t usually discuss technical details, especially as they relate to actual techniques, very often on the blog. There are many reasons for this. One, these kind of posts take lots of time. Two, many of us are practicing different styles, or at least different branches of the same style, meaning that our forms and trainings are different. In that kind of atmosphere, it can be difficult to communicate technical aspects. I’ve also given up trying to post such technical details on message boards because it’s not often worth my time. Technical posts that may have taken me an hour to write may just get ignored and I can’t waste my time with that.
But wujimon asked a question recently at EF and over at ChenWired that I think is worth addressing. He has some doubts about the Hong method of Chen style, and among those concerns was a question about movement in the lu (rollback) portion of “lazy about tying coat” from Chen style. Basically, he felt that people could move into his body too easily (if I’m understanding correctly). Readers should note that this sequence is also found in Yang style’s “grasp the bird’s tail” so most everyone should be able to follow along. And this application is also universally applicable IMO.
And wujimon gets special consideration anyway. 
This blog wouldn’t exist without him.
My general point is that taiji people often don’t have good footwork because they don’t realize the potential for movement within the form. So many people adopt a big stable stance and try to manipulate the opponent around them. That’s great if you’re really big. But there’s another way of doing things, mainly using your footwork to place yourself in an advantageous position — a great idea for us smaller guys.
BTW, this is a problem with big frame taiji, in general, especially the more publically seen material.
So let’s start out with a video example of what we’re talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoyUhCzoyAQ
At 00:50 he steps into lazing about tying clothes with the right foot (peng), then moves into the lu part (notice that the right foot does not move), then steps into six sealing, four closing.
What I’m suggesting is that if you feel that the opponent is coming into your body too much on the lu part, you step BACK with the right foot while doing lu and bring it toward your left foot. This closes off some access to your body (notice the closed feeling if you do it). Then step out with the right foot into six sealing, four closing, with the left foot following. You transfer all your weight to the back (left foot) and then all of it to the forward (front) foot and the strike.
By using these weight distributions (100% to 100%) you follow the form exactly and yet it gives you a) a greater range of motion and b) more power because you go from one extreme to the other.
The entire form can be done this way!
That’s why I always admonish people to learn how to do their taiji by picking up their feet.
8 responses so far ↓
1 wujimon // Jan 9, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Hey Chessman.
I admit, I fell into the “adopt a big stable stance and try to manipulate the opponent around them” and didn’t really think about the idea that “any step can be a kick” or extending it further, any weight shift can be a step.
You brought up notions on “mobile root” that I think is very important and often overlooked. If you feel yourself going off balance, why not just step
For further details on “having the opponent walk through me” check out my post, Experience with 6 Sealings 4 Closings Application.
2 chenquestion // Jan 10, 2007 at 6:26 am
Hi Guys,
I don’t have any experience with Yang stepping. But regarding Chen style: doesn’t the ground-hugging and/or ground-scraping nature of Chen stepping lend itself to stability that permits one to change footwork if needed? That’s my impression. As for Hong’s style, I think it’s safe to say that one is encouraged to use lively, nimble footwork as often as needed to close any gaps in positioning.
3 chessman71 // Jan 10, 2007 at 8:22 am
Chenquestion,
I assume your talking about the heel-toe stepping, is that correct? I really don’t think much of that kind of stepping, whether in Yang or Chen styles. I find it slow and cumbersome. It does provide for some good stomps and kicks of course, but it overcommits the weight too quickly IMO. I’m finding toe-heel stepping to be more to my taste. Of course, I would — it fits in with my bagua. haha.
4 wujimon // Jan 10, 2007 at 9:09 pm
@Chenquestion:
Regarding heel to toe, I really don’t do that much “sliding” as is advocated by some folks like Paul Lam and company. If you check videos of say Chen Xiaowang and/or Chen Zhenglei, they really don’t do that much heel to toe slide stepping. They will, however step out and touch heel down first and then slowly transfer the weight forward onto the whole foot. This is what I shoot for.
@Chessman:
Very interesting thoughts about toe-heel stepping. What I find interesting is that it does sound like “step like a cat” or “testing waters”, does it not? We normally test waters by dipping our toes in first or test ice by pressing with our toes before heel.. hmm..
5 chessman71 // Jan 10, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Wuji,
One of my teachers has a lot of sparring experience against Chen players. One of the things he loves most about Chen style, etc. is the heel stepping because it makes people so easy to sweep.
6 wujimon // Jan 11, 2007 at 2:04 am
I won’t be sparring with your teacher.. heheh
7 chenquestion // Jan 11, 2007 at 3:13 am
Thanks all, this is good info. Much as I’m attracted to the classic Chen shovel step, I’ve had plenty of problems with it over the years. So I experiment, as well as training for come-what-may. I went back to the Peter Wu article and interestingly, he says that GM Hong was quite strict about maintaining the traditional stepping method, and typically had the distances and angles down to a science. I won’t take up more space here except to say the obvious, good footwork is essential for martial arts and whatever way one does it, it has to work in the real world or a lot of practice time will be wasted.
8 chessman71 // Jan 11, 2007 at 7:34 am
Good point. No matter if you do toe-heel or heel-toe, you have to be pretty good at it to make it work when the time comes to defnd yourself. I just woner about how natural heel-toe stepping is. I’ve gotten used to it to some extent in taiji forms, but in sparring etc., it feels really awkward. But then I did bagua for so long that maybe I can’t tell anymore. haha
Leave a Comment