Advanced Footwork

For those interested in improving your footwork, the tripodal dummy is a unique program of working steps, kicks, and the mechanics of the lower body to such a degree that you will wonder how you ever got along with out. The problem, though, is what is the Tripodal dummy and how is it worked? Further still, how do you work the set if you do not have the room for the trunks that are needed?

In this article, let’s explore this avenue of training that still eludes so many. There is actually an entire curriculum for this training, including four separate sections of training. However, we will look at just the basics here for getting you started.

The Tripodal Dummy
The tripodal dummy is nothing more than using three upright poles or trunks in order to work steps and kicks. There are no upper body actions such as punches, elbows, etc., other than changing Man-sau as needed. In this way, the focus remains solely on footwork.

The concept is that at any given angle, we can maneuver around an obstacle while simultaneously remaining protective and initiating a jam or kick. Footwork is paramount here since effective positioning can wedge our lower body into the opponent, thereby keeping him from attacking in the first place.

Huen-bo
The first action seen in working the tripodal dummy is Huen-bo, or Forward Circling-step.  Huen-bo plays a pivotal role here in that we have to work our way around the the poles in order to set up for angling into the accompanying kicks. The idea is that by repositioning ourselves, we can maneuver around an incoming kick while simultaneously keeping our upper body stable.

The poles are set up as if each were at the end of a small triangle. The distance between each is just enough that you should be in Juen-ma between them and still have a few inches of room to work. This replicates the effective range we would strive to be in during a real fight, i.e. you want to remain in punching distance, so your distance between the poles should be close enough that you can be in Juen-ma and still reach if punching.

As you begin the steps, simply work Huen-bo around each pole while changing sides in order to navigate around the poles. This lets you train a smooth, fluid Huen-bo and learn a more coordinated upper body change that lets you become more relaxed as you navigate around objects. This one simple drill can markedly increase your coordination all by itself.

Jeet-gerk
Once your Huen-bo actions are fluid and you have a good coordinated upper body via changing Man-sau, we now add the first kick. Jeet-gerk, or Stop-kick/Jamming-kick, is a fast, explosive kick that goes no higher than the ankle or shin. As you complete a step, the other leg drives in hard and fast with Jeet-gerk to the pole you are closest to. That foot then Huen-bo’s around the leg so that you are behind, where the other leg now drives Jeet-gerk into the next pole.

The constant moves between the poles first in a clockwise direction and then counter-clockwise will, over a period of time, bring a new light to your footwork and create a more coordinated skill set that continuously improves your confidence. With a more coordinated lower body, you will now find your upper body being more relaxed, too, which in turn makes you a more effective fighter.

Wang-chang-gerk
As Jeet-gerk progresses and Huen-bo becomes extremely fluid, you can then introduce Wang-chang-gerk, or Side Thrusting-kick, to your actions. As you Huen-bo around a pole, take a longer step so that you are in true kicking range. Drive Wang-chang-gerk fully into the pole, return your centerline to the pole, and then go back in the direction you came from. You can train one leg then the other on the same pole for a bit in order to get comfortable, and then continue on.

Continuous Stepping and Kicking
To move to the next pole, Huen-bo around the pole you just kicked and work Jeet-gerk. Immediately move to the next and work Wang-chang-gerk. Repeat this to the next pole, then back to the previous pole, and alternate all three poles until you are using Huen-bo, Jeet-gerk, and Wang-chang-gerk on every pole and with each leg.

There is no pre-set pattern in which to work it; instead, you want to break out of that habit of pre-set actions. First learn to get comfortable with stepping and navigating around the poles, then elevate the steps to include Jeet-gerk and Wang-chang-gerk at all poles and with both sides in a fluid, non-stop manner.

Air Training
Many of you do not have the resources or space for sinking three poles into the ground, so one way around this is to set up chairs or small boxes in the triangle pattern. Naturally any kicks to these objects will send them flying so do not work the kicks; instead, use the objects solely for stepping around them.

Height-wise, you want the height to be at head level if possible. You want to instill this height in your mind because it mimics the height of a real person, so if at all possible, make your setup at your height.

If you find that you cannot set up your objects to be the same height as you, no worries. Work with what you have and leave it at that. Some will forego the training altogether if they cannot obtain the exact tools to use, but that is silly. Again, use what you have and leave it at that. At the very least, you will still get some valuable training in stepping just with a few chairs or boxes.

Conclusion
The goal of the tripodal dummy is simply to train your footwork so that you can flow freely and remove that stiff, uneasy feeling in the lower body. It is not so much about power as it is fluidity and ease of use in free-stepping/kicking.

Maneuvering around an opponent or multiple opponents sounds easy, but even a brief workout on the tripodal dummy will show where many improvements can be made. Even after years of sparring or regular workouts, a tripodal dummy can make everyone feel like a beginner again by pointing out various flaws or areas that might have gone unnoticed for a time.

 

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