Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Principles and Sayings #3

This series of essays deals briefly with Chinese Martial Arts Principles and Saying. These sayings have been developed over time and are meant to direct your daily practice. Adhering to them will help you develop a proper mindset reflective of a true martial artist. They also reveal distinctive fighting concepts, strategies, and training precepts contained within the Long Fist school. They are not meant to be merely glanced over but instead require diligent study and should be incorporated in your thinking and practice.

I will provide the Pinyin, for those of you who are interested, as well as the English translation.

Bu Bu Kuai, Ze Quan Man (步不快則拳慢) – If the Steps Are Not Fast, The Punches Will Be Slow.

Bu Bu Kuai in this content means “if footwork is not fast,” and Ze Quan Man means “the strikes will be slow.” This adage stresses the importance of quick footwork in delivering an effective attack.

Good footwork is essential in getting you in and out of the fray. Quick and nimble footwork will allow you to mount a forceful attack and also will get you out of your opponent’s range should your attack fail.

If your footwork is efficient, you will be able to maneuver while conserving energy. In defense, footwork will often enable you to avoid your opponent’s attacks without having to exert yourself with blocking actions. If your hands are free, you can mount faster and more effective counters.

Your footwork must be nimble and stable while advancing, retreating, or dodging. You must be flexible and smooth in coordinating your footwork with your strikes.  Move swiftly and maintain your center of gravity especially while employing kicks. Be sure to withdraw the kicking leg to avoid falling out and leaving yourself exposed to counterattacks.

Rules for effective footwork:

When advancing, move the front foot first.

When retreating, move the back foot first.

When moving right, move the right foot first.

When moving left, move the left foot first.

You must spend ample time on footwork practice so that the above rules become natural and instinctive.