The ‘Arrow Step’ method is used a lot, more than many in the martial arts realise in fact, but before we take a look at how it is used in a combat situation, or a sporting competition event, we first need to look at how stepping forward, or to the side, is done.
The descriptive term ‘Arrow’ is simply based on how an arrow travels, or anything else that moves, from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ along a single straight line. When you walk forward in the normal way you are in fact walking along not one but two imaginary lines on the floor. Parallel lines in other words. In the case of an Arrow step you are walking with both feet along just one imaginary line. To understand how this very simple stepping action is done you first need to stand with your left leg directly behind your right leg as if standing on one line on the floor, then just take one step forward along that imaginary line with your right foot, taking a small or short distance step only, take note, then place your left foot behind your right foot. You are now back in the same position that you started with but a bit closer to your imaginary opponent. Both feet are almost touching each other by the way when you draw your back leg up behind the front leg. This stepping action is not aimed at covering distance or a big gap between you and your opponent, just a simple case of getting a bit closer, it should be noted at this point. Again step forward with the right foot and as before bring up the left foot behind the right foot to get a bit closer still. All this is done while moving forward along that one single imaginary line. This arrow stepping action can be done if you start with a left foot step of course. Now we add a punch or a kick to it all. In the case of a punch simply bend the back leg, Cat stance, and then throw a right hand jab before or after each step. In the case of a kick simply lift your right leg, Crane stance, and throw a front kick. Returning the kicking foot back in front of the left foot, before or after a step, to start all over again. Now we move on to the side step action. This time the step action does cover more distance but with no transitional stances involved. A simple but wide 'side on' position step action. Keeping in mind that you are now standing and moving from a side-on position and not facing forward you are now visualising that your opponent is standing to the right of you. Without turning to face him, throw a sidekick from that position. Then drop the leg, with control, down into a wide standing position. To repeat this action simply draw the left leg next to the right leg and then side kick again. Both the front and the side Arrow stepping actions are the very core of the striking martial arts when it comes to learning how to close the gap before throwing a punch or a kick from a somewhat neutral or natural starting position. Now let us take a look at the Cross Step. The Cross Step is an extension to the side arrow step and is far more aimed at covering a big gap before throwing a side kick, and far more dynamic in nature. This time rather than just simply placing your left leg next to the right leg you place your left leg behind the right leg, often called a Cross or Snake stance, to aid in covering more distance before performing a right side kick action. In other words you are placing your back leg beyond the front of your right leg, nearer to your opponent, and moving forward with a kick from that position. The Cross Arrow step can even be far more dynamic if you then add a bit of a skip and a jump action before throwing the sidekick. Although learning the basics of the Arrow Step method is easy enough to do, you will need a good teacher to help you with the Cross Step action as that requires a physical demonstration to make sure you are doing it in the full correct way. Arrow stepping is not just limited to the martial arts by the way, a tightrope walker does it more or less in the exact same way as he steps along a rope. For a related article on the Cat Spring Attack method click >HERE< Comments are closed.
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