2025-10-22

Teaching my regular classes at the Ross Farnsworth - East Valley YMCA.

I’ve written before about the importance of orienting the “back” foot correctly but teaching Heian Sandan last night made me realize it’s probably better to say the “drive” foot, since “back” foot isn’t really a thing when you’re in kiba-dachi.

This came up while working on the transition from the last lunge punch, through the 270° pivot, and landing in kiba-dachi. Since you pivot on the left foot, most people have no problem getting the right foot to land in the correct place and, with work, in the correct orientation. But the right foot, the foot you use to pivot and then drive, is often a problem …

Most people drive this pivot with their upper body and the hips and foot just kind of come along for the ride. But the pivot should be driven from the hips, not the upper body. A fast-twitch rotation of the hips makes the foot turn faster. Concentrate on getting the foot to point where it’s supposed to and, I assure you, the upper body will follow.