Drag back foot forward during a cross

Question

Over the decades, I cobbled together a repertoire of drills from various classes in karate, kickboxing, and a bit of boxing (very little). I cycle through them, but sometimes I come across something that seems to be sacrilege.

One such combo is to expand one's stance forward by stepping forward with the front leg and throwing a straight punch. I hesitate to call it a jab because the chin isn't shielded by the shoulder, and boxing drills never have you expand your stance. The follow-up is a reverse punch (again, hesitate to call it a cross), but notably, with the sacrilegious dragging forward of the back foot.

According to any art, that doesn't make sense because you're back foot isn't driving the cross. But sometimes, some moves that don't appear sensible at first do have a reason. For example, from a long-ish stance, you can step the back foot forward by half a step while jabbing, but it's more of a distraction so that you can drive forward a reverse punch from the back leg, which has been brought closer to the target.

Before I discard the dragging forward of the back leg during a cross, I was wondering if there is any situation in which this would be useful? Because of the dragging forward of the back leg, one is in the finishing position of a cross rather than the more extended position of a reverse punch. The follow-up to that is a simultaneous soto-uke (inward parry) and leading foot sweep (and there's more follow-up after that). Perhaps this is in response to an counter-attack. In the same way that one is loaded for a hook after a cross, one is loaded for the soto-uke and sweep after doing sacrilegious dragging forward of the back foot during a cross.

I only described the 1st two components of a longer combo. There's no realistic expectation that these moves will actually ever be executed in this exact sequence, but drilling in such combos does help with transitioning between moves. The leading straight punch and the following sacrilegious cross can be a mixture of high and low.

One use that I mulled over was that the sacrilegious cross baits the opponent's counter-attack and distracts in order to improve the success of the subsequent sweep. It could more of a distraction if a lands, e.g., fazing the opponent to improve prospects of the sweep. Since the back foot is coming forward, you have more range with the sacrilegious cross, which could provide a surprise factor. If you punch through with your body moving forward, it be quite a good fazing, especially with hip rotation.

Of course, one can rationalize weak moves, but it depends on the practicality. One example of a fake that I see as likely is in my third paragraph above (leading jab with a half step forward by the back leg, which better positions you to drive the following reverse punch forward).

Another possible saving grace is if one were to plant the back foot on the ground upon impact of the cross. This assumes that the cross travels forward synchronously with the dragging forward of the back foot. It would have to be quick slide rather than a slow drag.

Afternote

Looks like it's not sacrilege in all circles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiVgEWAdIIA&t=215s

Answer 1

My wudang instructor called this "following step" and it's used in advanced taiji, bagua, and hsingyi. Matt M explicates the function well.

Hsingyi is probably most appropriate because it's a pure striking form, but very different from boxing and kickboxing.

But the following step seems like it would be useful, where it can be productively applied, in any system for closing distance after a strike.

Here, the main use, aside from potentially increasing power of the strike, is to close distance for the next strike in the combo.

Answer 2

This comes from a boxing perspective...

You state:

"One such combo is to expand one's stance forward by stepping forward with the front leg and throwing a straight punch. I hesitate to call it a jab because the chin isn't shielded by the shoulder, and boxing drills never have you expand your stance. The follow-up is a reverse punch (again, hesitate to call it a cross), but notably, with the sacrilegious dragging forward of the back foot".

In relation to the step forward and jab, your chin (classically at least), will be shielded by your punching shoulder if executed correctly. Your shoulder will be in contact with your jaw. Your chin will be tucked low, greatly reducing the chance of knock-out. You should be able to find heaps of examples on Youtube.

In relation to stance, there is a tendency from many trainers to insist on a classical, narrow stance, and this can arguably have some advantages for the novice. However, if you take the time to watch footage of many of the greatest amateur and professional fighters, you will see that their stance is frequently very wide. A well-rounded boxer has the capacity to vary stance as required, in response to, or to dictate to, the opponent.

To drag your back foot into the cross is indeed sacrilegious. A dragged foot is a useless foot. It will require repositioning to be used to any effect. Whenever you move your rear leg (or front leg), you do so by powering from the ball of your foot in a manner which enables you at any point to plant the toes/ball to enable a sudden change in direction and/or to anchor the punch. An exception might be (if you are orthodox), pivoting off the front foot and sliding the ball of the right foot around to follow, particularly if you are trying to lower your centre of gravity/duck a punch. Remember though that sliding or dragging increases friction and therefore requires more effort to execute at a given speed.

Contrary to your claim, the back foot does drive an (orthodox) right cross. The power comes up from your toes, through rotating hips and shoulders, the arms, into the fist. If this feels wrong to you at the moment, it may be that you are overcommitting with your cross, shifting all your weight onto the front foot. When you do this, you place yourself within range of your opponent whilst simultaneously making it more difficult to retreat. A good opponent will capitalise on this. Whilst such forward commitment does have application in aggressive combinations, a good philosophy to begin with is to maintain a roughly equal weight distribution over both feet most of the time. This provides you with the ability to efficiently attack, counter, retreat and circle at any time. When you execute the right cross, you obtain reach by stepping forward and planting the right foot either just before or at the point of impact (Of course, it is not always appropriate in a fight to step forward. I'm describing a foundational technique. Sometimes you will rotate through a combination from stationary feet, many times it will be inappropriate to throw a right at all).

When you learn how to rotate correctly from a good stance, you achieve a nice, long jab (with simultaneous defensive integrity), and the ability to step into a nice long cross, again, using the shoulder as defence. Whilst you won't always be able to employ such perfect technique in a fight context, being able to maximise your effective range whilst maintaining defensive, balanced posture is critical.

As with many skills, you need to learn the basics before you understand how to break from them. You will have certain attributes that you will eventually want to build on, but do yourself a big favour and lay the foundation first.

Answer 3

Bagua regularly strikes with the jump step, where you jump forward off the back foot and quickly slide the back foot forward to maintain your basic stance. Strikes can be with either or both hands and are based on whipping power where the momentum of the strike all arrives at the same time. The basic idea is you change distance and add the step momentum to stationary strike body mechanics. As you have guessed, you want a quick slide and a solid stance upon impact.

Here is the basic idea, though in a xingyi context.