Most players focus on the hand work of Taijiquan so today I’d like to go over some techniques associated with the legs.

Taijiquan is an all emcpompassing art that synchronizes the players movements between upper and lower body and takes advantage of the natural reactions of the opponent. The Taiji leg techniques are almost always set up by the handwork and will always take advantage of the opponents reaction to that handwork.

In other words… set ‘em up and take ‘em down.

The False Stance

Sometimes known as the cat stance, the false stance is one of the eight primary stances in Taijiquan. This prolific stance allows for quick forward or backward movement while at the same time allows for quick kicks to be issued by the forward leg. When utilizing kicks from the false stance realize that these kicks are to be used as a set up for the major technique that must follow. The snap kicks utilized from the false stance will always be low kicks issued to the shin, bottom of kneecap (to dislocate) or if utilized on an angle, directly to the inside or outside knee. Whenever these kicks land correctly the player can expect the opponent to react by always leaning toward you and this knowledge can be used towards further effect.

When performing the forms the false stance is often completed with the toe up, as in play the fiddle. This toe up technique has significance as well. The toe up in the form indicates that the technique associated with the form will be a “leg pull”. Leg pulls are set up by our handwork where the opponent is placed into an urgent position (off balance) and we attack his forward leg. If the opponent is drawn forward and his weight shifts to the forward leg we can use the toe up technique to hook in behind the ankle and pull the opponents leg out from under him. Since his weight was on the forward leg and that stability is now gone, he will go down.

If we put the opponent into urgent with him leaning backwards (as in brush knee) we can wait until he tries to right himself forward and try to put weight on the forward leg. When he attempts this, we again use the toe up hook and as he shifts his weight forward we make sure there is no leg to stand on by pulling it in the same direction his body is moving. This results in what looks like "gymnastic splits"!

I encourage you to study the false stance as I’m sure... the more you look the more you’ll find.

Peace

Rod