Hi everyone...
A few years back, I trained Leung Ting Wing Tsun. One of the "trademarks" of WT is the 0/100 stance.
When a WT fighter turns, he shifts ALL his bodyweight to the rear leg and therefor his centerline moves as well.
I've recently started to train again and one of the things that's different in the new club, is the stance. They keep the weight 50/50 and therefore there centerline remains in the same spot when they turn...
I remember from an old Leung Ting promotional video I once saw that the reason for the 0/100 turn, is to move your centerline away from the punch.
What's your take on this?
In the TST lineage our weight is 50/50 and our feet are equal distance from the opponent ( YCKYM or SLT stance ) and we use economical gliding steps that are similar to walking , picture Groucho Marx walking with a guard up.
With this stance we have a vertical axis running straight down through the centre of the body and the weight is always centred which means it takes very little effort to move speedily in any direction I wish to.
Also with the weight being distributed 50/50 on either leg and the feet squaring up and being equal distance from the opponent , I can kick from either leg with equal power and both have equal opportunity to strike the opponent without telegraphing.
Now onto pivoting , nothing changes the weight is still 50/50 pivoting through the centre of the feet.
Remember the vertical axis I spoke about earlier well instead of moving through space in a forward , back , side ways or diagonal direction it is now rotating.
Picture a spinning top or some type of large machinery like a fly wheel , it will be most energy efficient and rotate with the most speed and power when the axle is through the centre , by comparison an axle that is offset will spin slower , be unbalanced and inefficient.
This rotational force is very important in producing power in attack and defence applications particularly from Chum Kiu and Bil Gee , the faster and more efficient my rotation the greater ability I will have to produce more power in striking or turning away force.
With the rotational axis in the centre I have stability and resistance to force in any direction .
There is certainly some advantage to having weight on one leg when you pivot so you are denying the attacker the target , but you are also altering the axis so that it is now offset and balance is compromised.
In our lineage that loss of balance and stability is too high a price to pay, we prefer to stay centred and when a force enters our space it is spun off to the side by an appropriate hand structure , the stability of our stance and the speed and power of the rotation , think of a big leather ball rotating in space horizontally at very high speed , you try to touch it in the centre but your hand is redirected away and off to the side , it is the same principle.