Circular Footwork
The problem with linear footwork is things get in the way. That is the point of circular footwork, to go round things.
This could be a leg. or the person as a whole. You need clearance, so I suppose it is unusual in how close the legs get together during. It is used in various applications, in line with the universal principles.
For learning it is easer to start with feet facing forward but staggered. This isn’t really a stance, but you could also start from neutral stance.
In practice it works both ways, so it can be used to go round the outside, but also from the outside back round and then forward in their inner gate.
Jamming / Combined Footwork
Jamming footwork is an overall entry technique that can combine many of the footworks I’ve already mentioned. The point is to jam the person by coming in to them at an angle. The breaking / interlocking feet, plus the controlled barrage, limits mobility, as they are hemmed in.
This is just one example it can be done in different ways. Here we have angular progressive footwork which goes straight into circular footwork (note it is one continuous movement, the back leg only slides up at the end).
So you have side/angle step, circular and arrow and you start in neutral, as that might be where you are at the time.
Again you are intercepting and controlling as you go, and the jamming also happens with the upper body.
Stepping Back
Darting is great for entry technique, you can move couple of metres in a flash if you are good. It is harder to telegraph if you are level, and as you are not bringing the back leg in front, there is less up top to harbour clues.
Moving back using arrow footwork is common place. However if you really want to move back in a hurry, you can do so pretty simply, by stepping back.
All you do is bring the front leg to behind the front leg. There is a slight arc, but really you don’t think about it, just step back.
Again maintain that gap between the feet. You can follow up with arrow footwork, or stepping back again, whatever.
Concluding
I hope that gives a general overview about how the footwork relates to each other and works as one universal system. One thing that is not Wing Chun, is to do moves that are committal and require specific action to recover front that position. Like some of extreme positions you see in other forms of Kung Fu. Wing Chun is very compact in style.
Topics: angle, circular, combined, darting, fencing, foot, footwork, gait, jamming, movement, neutral, position, principles, progressive, stance, step, structure, triangular, turning, universal, yiu ma
