Before I go any further, I know many of you may not know that Kaicho Butch Velez of AGK was put in the Hospital a couple of weeks ago diagnosed with COVID19. As of 9/29/20, Butch was not doing well. I would ask all of you who know him or may not. Put him in your prayers. May God Bless and protect you, Butch. My Masonic Brother.
I had several responses to my question I asked on my last bulletin dated August 2020 regarding the Zen Kutsu Dachi stance/Forward stance. As I suspected, there were several variations on the positioning of the parts of the body that make up the forward stance. All had their reasoning, and all will work up to a point.
Remember what our goal is as a martial artist? That is to reach the top of the mountain. What exactly does that mean? To me, it’s all about Perfection. We will never be perfect, but we should all strive to be the best we can be at whatever we do. It’s about being open-minded and maintaining the mindset to continue training. Complacency has no place in the martial arts. As I defined complacent in a previous bulletin, I will say. To be complacent is to believe that. “You have all the answers.”
With this attitude, you have no room for growth. So call yourself a Master and continue walking around with your fingers stuck in your belt wearing a nice clean starched gi with creases that you could cut somebody with and continue living In the past.” I used to train all day. Now it takes me all day to train.”
I asked Mr. B why he continues to have a school and teach when he should go where he is needed. His response was. The head of any organization should set an example by having his school. Only through teaching can you understand the challenges that your fellow instructors may have.
This is so very true. I have been teaching since 1976 and was a Gokku at that time. I have not ever not had a school. Like Mr. B, I will probably die in class, or going to or leaving class. That would be my wish.
I know I have jumped off track here, but I believe what I mentioned is relevant to the question I asked about the forward stance; if you do not have the time to think out the process and put it to practice to see what I present, then you have become complacent.
First: the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Any deviation from that will cost you time and speed.
Second: Balance and stability are derived from the back being vertically straight and the shoulders being horizontally straight from left to right, with the weight equally distributed on both feet.
Third: Front Knee should be bent just enough that you barely see your big toe. Your Knee and foot should be in alignment and pointed straight in the direction you’re going. Side Note: where your Knee is pointed dictates were a kick would go. If you don’t believe this, try kicking without the Knee following the direction to where the foot makes contact.
Fouth: The back leg should be approximately a shoulder and a half wide and shoulder and a half deep, from the front foot. What do you have here? A square. Note: This is just a point of reference and will vary from person to person. Find that comfort zone that allows you to have balance backed up with speed. NOTE: “If your stance is too wide or too deep, you will sacrifice speed for stability.”
There is some difference of opinion here on whether the Knee should be straight or bent. Look at it this way. If the back Knee is bent forward, that will be the target that I will kick,” Just above the Knee.” Your leg most likely will break because it has nowhere to go. If it is straight and I kick. It will only go in one direction, and that will be in the direction of the kick. It will hurt like hell, but you will have less chance of a break. If you don’t believe this, try it.
Now about the back foot. It should be pointed In the direction that you’re going. If you watch your movement as you move forward, you will notice that you will raise your heel and push off with the toes. If your foot is at any angle other than straight ahead, you will be pushing off from the blade, and as you move forward, you will notice that you will wind up pushing off from the big toe followed by the others into the direction you intend ongoing. If the back foot is not pointed straight, you will lose power, speed, and time. Suppose your back foot is at any angle other than straight ahead. You will notice that you will have to redirect your foot into the direction your moving. This redirection adds extra moves that are not necessary.
Ask yourself this. Why does a track runner when he approaches the start line has is back, and front foot, Hill up toes pushed into the ground pointing straight ahead?
This is the same position that swimmers take that starts from outside the pool to begin their race. It just makes sense. I would like to hear from some of you who will try this and let me know if my logic holds true. If your kata has a forward stance, then it should follow the same rule with some slight variations based on a counter move or the position you land as you move forward.
If you practice this technique, do it slowly and be conscious of each move your leg, foot, and toes are at when moving in the direction you intend ongoing. “Don’t ignore minor details: they are the key to your success.”
I believe the reason we have so much of what many have called watered-down martial arts is that many instructors teach techniques, but when asked why do you do it this way or that. They can’t answer because they may never have been shown why or have been trained to say YES MASTER.
A good instructor, in my opinion, teaches enough that
makes a student start asking questions of why and how individual moves work or will not work. A student should be given enough information that will make him or her begin thinking for themselves.
A student should be curious and open-minded. When they can’t answer the WHY! Then he or she should ask the instructor. If your instructor can’t give you a plausible answer, followed by an actual demonstration. I would suggest you find another instructor because what you have now is a wanna-be who will never be.
Words of thought
What’s more important? Your goal, or others’ opinions of your goal.
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June/July 2020 NKJU® Bulletin
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