Crescent Step
From: maurice richard libby
Date: 12 Aug 1998
Time: 14:06:49
OK, I admit it, I feel really envious, not having been to camp. Now that that's out of the way, if the "little crescent" isn't traditional, or even "good", how, exactly does the foot move? In Shotokan, all the steps are "crescent moon", even though in Shorin Ryu, from which most of its katas are
derived, (at least the ones I am most familiar with), the steps are straight, (the
stances are higher and narrower,as well). The crescent step in Shotokan supposedly comes from Goju Ryu, (about which I know next to nothing), which is a Naha style, often grouped with Uechi Ryu.
The explanation for the crescent step is that bringing the foot in keeps the center of gravity over the weighted foot at all times, making for more stability and balance, and thus keeping the energy focussed forward.