AmericanSanSoo.net

[San Soo Sifu]

Steve asks us what we (the group) means when we say "right step forward."

I think he brings up an interesting conversation point. Not necessarily the stepping (although, it is a good start); but rather maybe those of us involved in Kung-Fu San Soo try to reach a consensus in shared terminology.

Before we talk about what "we" step with, "we" need to have the reference point of what punch our opponent is throwing. I know a lot of people get hung up on the same foot forward - same hand punching is not realistic for how most people will throw a punch on the street. However, I have always viewed our training of the piston punch (or straight blast, or power jab) as a tool for our own punching development (as the role of the attacker)... as well as a standardized reference point for learning new techniques (not necessarily for freestyle workouts, exclusively).

When our opponent (our workout partner) throws a right punch... we know that he will have his right foot forward. When he throws a left punch... we know that he will have his left foot forward.

From this standardized reference point (for learning new lessons)... we can then determine our own terminology for stepping.

If I write a lesson that has the opponent (our workout partner) throwing a right punch (of course, with his right foot forward)...

The lesson "could be" written as...

Step up and inside with your left foot forward (LFF); block and hold with a left up windmill (LUW).

The above description tells me the following...

I am stepping up and to the inside, on his centerline. My footwork will be a modified (semi) left cross-step. My left up windmill will complete the circle and set the weight of my shoulder down into the block as I prepare to block, trap, slide down, and finally hold. As the weight of my left shoulder is setting down into the block, so is my body weight, as it is sinking down into the modified (semi) left cross-step. As the weight of my left shoulder (and left arm); as well as my body weight, from sinking the modified (semi) left cross-step is dropping down onto the opponent's right punching arm... I am also pulling my left hand towards my left hip, as I am slightly torquing (twisting) my waist & hips (towards my left) into the modified (semi) left cross-step. So, you have the combined action of weight dropping (both arm/shoulder & body weight) into the block; as well as pulling your opponent forward off-balance.

This is the circular nature of Kung-Fu San Soo. Yes, Kung-Fu San Soo is both circular & linear. Unfortunately, most of the Troglodytes on YouTube have forgotten the circular nature of Kung-Fu San Soo; and focus exclusively on the linear aspects of San Soo, much to their own detriment and progression as a truly well-rounded San Soo fighter.
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Hit First...Hit Hard...Hit Often...and Finish Him Off!