Keys to Lesson Plan 1: 5th Chamber - Foot & Leg Way

Now that you understand the importance and significance of the first four Chambers and now that you have learned how to root yourself to the ground to create push-back from a firm foundation, it is time to think about translating or directing the energy of push-back outward through the legs and feet. Students often wonder why in the 7 Circles System do we begin training our legs and feet before training our hands. If you have read the last few Posts then you now understand why. Whatever we are going to do with our hands it will be our legs and feet that get us into position by acting as a conduit for the force of push-back. Earth Qi (other than that which you consume in the form of food) makes first contact with your body at the feet and moves upward or in the direction that you choose to move it. When using the legs and feet for offensive and defensive techniques the energy of push-back first moves up the body and than downward again towards the legs and feet, and ultimately to the particular striking surface (knee, toe, instep, outside edge, inside edge, bottom, or ball of the foot). We could leave the toes out since they are such a vulnerable part of the foot.

Many of you younger martial artists out there, or those who have been trained in northern styles may enjoy the power of high-kicks that the force of push-back can generate. If it works for you and you enjoy it, stick with it! However, there is a strategic and tactical advantage to our approach of low kicks. The strategy is to weaken the opponent’s foundation and retard, frustrate, and thwart their means of movement. The 7 Circles tactic is to the attack the opponents’ feet and legs by kicking low and kicking fast. Consider the strategic logic of this approach. The human mind tends to go towards points of physical contact. Anyone who has had a fly land on some part of their exposed skin knows that their mind immediately shifted to that point of focus, no matter what they were doing. You may choose to ignore or disregard the information but it is impossible not to make note of the occasion (of contact). Likewise, when you kick to your opponents’ foot, his or her mind immediately checks in with the foot to see what the sensation was all about. When the opponent’s mind goes to his or her foot, it is no longer focused on the defense of the upper body. So, by employing tactics that move the opponent’s mind from upper to lower body (and vice versa) we create both pain and opportunity (openings).

Our system is 85% to 90% hands, but our training has a 75% to 85% Leg and Foot Way focus. The first five Chambers are essential to the effective emergence of the seven animals of the system. The Nine Low Kicks are the pillars of our kicking system. The Four High Kicks usually follow the Nine Low Kicks like a lady who gracefully moves through a door that has been opened for her. Our high kicks also emerge like a sudden gust of swirling wind with damaging consequences. It is important to practice throwing even your low-kicks high and stretching out your leg muscles. This will add even more explosive power to your kicks when you throw them to their low targets.

The 5th Chamber completes the materials required for testing to 1st Rank 1st Degree. Hopefully these Posts will assist you in acquiring a deeper understanding of the principles underlying the 7 Circles System and to fall in love with it as I have been for over 40 years.


Live Wu-Te

Seifu Sharif


Support the Wu-Te Performance Troupe