the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

The 7-star stance (toes up heel down) is used to control your opponent's leading leg (such as shin bite). If you put your 100% weight on your back leg, your leg control intention is gone. Also, your front leg 7-star stance can be easily scooped or swept. In Chang Taiji form, all those 7-star stance are done with flat leading foot instead.

IMO, if you step forward into 7-star stance with heel down first (at 2.20, 2.32 in the following video), it violates basic CMA principle that "you step as you walk on the frozen lake". You may break the ice if you step that way.

What's your opinion on this?

Appledog wrote:

It all depends on where your opponent is at the time

Can also indicate a good place for a heel kick.

I was taught that (almost) every step in the form could potentially be a kick. This one could be a stomp to the top of the foot

P. S. that video is a terrible way to teach correct movement IMO

Dmitri wrote:I was taught that (almost) every step in the form could potentially be a kick. This one could be a stomp to the top of the foot

Complete agreement, but if you look at the empty stances, the cat stances like white crane spreads wings are better places strategically for toe kicks, while the 7 star stances are good places strategically for heel kicks. The top of the foot is just one place to put that heel kick and call it a "stomp".

johnwang wrote:The 7-star stance (toes up heel down) is used to control your opponent's leading leg (such as shin bite). If you put your 100% weight on your back leg, your leg control intention is gone. Also, your front leg 7-star stance can be easily scooped or swept. In Chang Taiji form, all those 7-star stance are done with flat leading foot instead.

I don't really see leg control indicated in any of the places that a 7 star is explicitly spelled out, but could be missing it. I see that sort of thing more in, I dunno, maybe fair ladies? Would have to play with it.

Every forward step is supposed to put the heel down first, so any forward step followed by shifting forward could be a place for "leg control intention".

Yes CTH,s son is just inserting the foot for the next move
To take any move in the form without considering where it comes from and where it is going just shows a lack of basic understanding of the form
I like the FMA name for that as a kick
The cow kick
Coming from a culture that is entwined with the water buffalo

Example of 7-star stance = leg control.

First step in the Wu style form
That was the exact application I was shown but done better

johnwang wrote:Example of 7-star stance = leg control.

Here's that reverse bite.