Trying to understand point footwork

[judge]

I´m training in Latosa style escrima, and I´ve learned something called "Point footwork" (probably nothing new to most of you). This is how I learned it:
Standard fighting stance is weapon arm forward, weapon raised covering head/torso, feet shoulder width apart, about 45 degree angle towards attacker, weapon side foot in front. As a reaction to an attack, point footwork consist of retracting the front (weapon side) foot back to the other foot so both feet are closely together, "standing on point". From this transitional position, you are very flexible in placing your feet, completing the footwork reaction to the incoming attack: You can place either foot in any direction, dictated by the attacker. If you see an opening, move forward/diagonally forward with left or right foot, depending on the open area on the attacker. You can also choose to move backwards/diagonally backwards with either feet, for example when the attacker is pressing his attack, you want to avoid and keep distance etc.
In any case, the "feet together" standing on point stance is a short, transitional movement which helps to keep your footwork flexible.
Does anyone have experiences with point footwork or similar concepts? Did I catch it right, or are there other things to it I haven´t realized? Any comments?

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"Peace is not without conflict; it is the ability to cope with conflict" - Leo Giron

 

[Smoke]

Bringing the feet together is usually just taught in the beginning stage. Triangle footwork is supposed to allow evading the blow and countering. If you remember, I never learned under the AEWTO umbrella and Rene or any of his crew ever taught me to retract but the opposite. Using the feet together position as a starting point.

One thing to remember is that your supposed to keep moving the body and your feet to chase or evade. A lot of folks get stuck in the V stance and end up doing another art. I recall a Tang Soo Do stylist who was learning to angle and hit with a backhand. Well he straightened up into a perfect forward stance and his stick was perfectly straight. The result was not evasion and hit but evasion into a perfect karate outside block.

 

[Dave Fulton]

It sounds like a way of teaching the Reverse/Female/Defensive triangle by breaking it down into components IMHO.

You could literally move in any direction from the "point", which is just the apex of the triangle. Imagine several triangles sharing a single apex and remember that the end of any leg of a triangle can be the apex of another triangle . My diagrams didn't work when I posted my message before .... so try this.

Place two sticks on the ground in front of you so that they form a "V". Where the two sticks touch is the apex (what you call the "point") and we'll call the other ends "feet". Now use two more sticks to make an upside down "V", so that the tips of the two "V" touch (ie share the same the "point"). You now have what looks like an "X". What you actually have is 4 triangles, all sharing the same apex. You can expand this pattern in any direction by making either "foot" of any triangle into the apex of another triangle by adding another stick. The only limitation is your own imagination.

You can move in any direction from any location in your triangle or in your pattern to another, using the male/forward/attacking triangle, female/reverse/defensive triangle, side stepping, cross stepping, etc footwork. You can use sticks or colored electrical tape to create all sorts of patterns on the ground and then spend hours just moving. Well, maybe not hours ... although it can be a lot of fun it can also be quite aerobic depending on your pace. You can start off with nothing in your hands, but it's best to starting incorporating your weapons systems (ie single stick, double stick, knife, espada y daga, staff, etc...) asap so that you learn to move your feet while doing your stick and/or blade work. When you add the arms ... especially with double stick or double sword, it substantially increases the aerobic level.

Once you understand the concepts and can apply them, you no longer need the sticks or tape on the floor and your patterns become even more spontaneous.

I hope this makes sense and that it helps.

Respectfully,

Dave Fulton


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Full Contact Martial Arts Association.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."


[This message has been edited by Dave Fulton (edited 05-10-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Dave Fulton (edited 05-10-2000).]