Stepping

There are several important points to remember which apply to almost every stepping technique. For this discussion, the person is stepping from a left front stance to a right front stance.

• The front knee and ankle bend toward the target, the front leg pulls the body forward, and the rear foot pushes forward.
• The moving leg should move lightly and quickly. The support leg should remain in firm contact with the floor.
• As the moving leg passes the support leg, the support leg should begin to thrust downward and backward, to begin driving the hips forward. At the same time, the moving foot travels lightly and quickly to its new position on the floor. The upper body should remain perpendicular to the floor during this movement.
• The moving leg must be kept relaxed during its movement forward, but it tenses at the moment of impact. After impact, the legs should relax.
• The moving foot must move smoothly and continuously, with the foot remaining close to the ground throughout the movement.
• The center of mass should move forward in a straight line. This means the hips should not bob up and down, or sway from side to side.
• The muscles of the lower abdomen should remain relaxed throughout the movement to maintain a firm connection between the upper and lower body. This also makes it possible to change directions and intentions in mid-step according to changing circumstances.
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