<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Forms and Sets > Short Form 1 > Frequently Asked Questions > What importance does pivoting on the ball of the foot hold?

Pivoting on the ball of the foot allows the practitioner to eliminate extra (and unnecessary) motions during foot maneuvers. In a Neutral Bow stance, pressure is placed upon three primary points on the bottom of each foot. Two (2) on the ball of the foot (inside and outside of the ball), and one (1) on the rear of the foot (the heel). As the practitioner advances in skill the stance becomes more and more like a boxer's stance, where most weight is placed upon the ball of the foot, and not the heel. This positioning allows the practitioner to absorb more impact from the opponent(s).

 

For example: anyone familiar with boxing should have heard of the phrase - 'getting caught flat footed'. This phrase refers to the fact that the boxer got hit while their feet where flat on the floor - causing the boxer to not absorb and dissipate as much of the opponent's punching power as would be if their weight was kept primarily on the balls of the feet. This scenario usually occurs later in a fight, when the boxer becomes tired and can no longer keep minimal to no pressure on their heels.

 

If one maintains their stance with more weight towards the balls of their feet (as they should), rotating on the heels becomes a more difficult and timely ordeal. One must first shift their weight to the heel, pick up the ball of the foot, rotate the foot, replant the ball of the foot, and re-place the weight to the ball of the foot. But, if one rotates on the ball of the foot from the proper positioning, it is a simple matter to slide the heel to the new angle needed for the intended foot maneuver. Thus, removing a large number of steps, and getting closer to implementing full Economy of Motion (i.e. removing all wasted motion).