Front leg vs. back leg power

[H2O_Dragon]

Not sure if this one's been discussed yet, figured it might be a fun topic. So....

What do you use? Front leg, back leg, or both. any comments or observations?

[mixjourneyman]

Back leg pushes, front foot slides across ground, front foot stops, force goes out, weight goes back again.
Thats sort of the xingyi mentality at least.

[shawnsegler]

I'd say it depends on what position you find yourself in, but you should always find some spring to take advantage from either leg if you are relaxed enough into your kua to be "corked" as they say in silat, but it's also in bagua that the legs are twisted into each other.

One leg is two legs, two legs are one leg.

S

[Ian]

There's a move where you lean on your front leg, take away that front leg support and strike as you fall forward.

That one's non-telegraphing.

IMO you don't always have to push, slide, spring, or twist.

And besides, when you fight multiple people, there often isn't a front or back leg.

[DeusTrismegistus]

Back leg drives forward. For most strikes anyways. The sinking in a technique can be with anything, I don't like the idea of falling and punching.

[Ian]

I don't like the idea of falling and punching.

'course you don't. you haven't trained or seen it done properly.

[Josealb]

I don't like the idea of falling and punching.

Half step. It does the body good.

[qiphlow]

i can see this topic growing some mighty fine arguments.

[H2O_Dragon]

From what I've seen, at least in Yang Taiji, is that both are used for most movements in the form. You usually start backweighted, pushing off the backfoot. As the weight continues to shift forward, The front leg begins to take over with a pulling motion.

What I've noticed fighting though (I'm referring to Boxing, Muay Thai, and Judo) is that you rarely, if ever, are on both feet. When striking, I tend to be on the front foot, when grappling, I seem to be on the back, but I can't ever recall having both feet juicing at the same time.

My other observation is that even though in the form, I'm actually pushing and pulling with my fight, in application, it's more 'squeezing' my leg muscles than either pushing or pulling.

Anyone else observe something similar?

[Bao]

In the basic Piquan, it is the back foot which is stable and weighted. Is it from this leg you bring strength? I have noticed that it is when you coordinate with the step of the front foot you can get some awesome jin. But you dont need to put your weight in it, really just tap the foot or put it down. So, is it the back leg or the front leg which bring strength to the fist? I think it is almost never an easy answer on which leg you should use in a certain situation. Just make sure you have a good body co-ordination and a good sense of timing, that is enough

and btw, very good observations H2O

[DeusTrismegistus]

I don't like the idea of falling and punching.

'course you don't. you haven't trained or seen it done properly.

Falling has certain connotations. Namely being at gravities mercy. So it might be a semantic problem. Sinking is a much better word IMO because the word implies control. The way I have trained is to be centered at all times, some day I might be able to do that. If you are falling then you are not centered, (well I guess you can be centered and falling but is it still falling?) However you can sink and be centered.

I do admit that I have a lot to learn. Every once in a while my teacher will show me something that I would have thought was wrong before. So maybe he just hasn't taught me the falling stuff yet.

[Josealb]

I do admit that I have a lot to learn. Every once in a while my teacher will show me something that I would have thought was wrong before. So maybe he just hasn't taught me the falling stuff yet.

I thought you had "two decades of personal experience"? Maybe its one of those schools that wait for decade number three for the good stuff.

[shawnsegler]

Damnnnnn...

S- kicks back feet

[Walk the Torque]

I don't like the idea of falling and punching.

'course you don't. you haven't trained or seen it done properly.

I know what your talking about Ian. This technique is very quick, very solid and can be used to fire of multiple shots in a seamless and unbroken manner. Your also correct in saying that the telegraphing is cut to a minimum. Follow step also uses this technique to strike negating the need for a wind-up.

DeusTrismegistus,
how it works is that, while "falling" (albeit for a split second) by removing contact of one leg with the floor, the other leg is used to transfer the energy of the body's falling mass, down to the floor and back towards the body part(s) used to apply the force. It is well worth investigating.

[H2O_Dragon]

I use the same 'falling' idea when I do Uchi Mata. Never thought of it for striking tho. Hmmm.....