There's more than one way to put core energy in a front kick. Advanced practitioners (including your truly) know how to do this and how to teach it. There are many, many degrees of freedom of motion in the core muscles. There's absolutely no need to lean back.Bruise* Lee wrote:
Some people who don't know how to front kick tend to sty upright or even lean forward clumsily
And there IS an advantage to leaning forward slightly BTW - particularly if you plan to follow up with upper body techniques. It all depends upon what you want to accomplish. By that same token, there is a BIG disadvantage to leaning back. You've thrown all your marbles into that front kick. If it gets jammed and/or grabbed, you are absolutely screwed with your head (and reach) behind your center like that.
It all depends...
FWIW, Uechi Kanei is famous for a slightly forward crouch when throwing one of his patented front toe kicks. Watch how he does it. I used to think it was rotten form... until I learned to replicate what he does. Smart man, that Uechi guy...
- Bill
