Hey Sean! Yes the drop step is very important. Most all of my students say that it feels unnatural at first, so maybe I can help you some with the drop step so it doesn’t feel unnatural to you. The first thing to keep in mind is the drop step produces power and makes your strikes more effective and also is a big part of keeping your balance along with adding momentum to your forward movement. Here is a drill I have my students do. First I will have you do strike from an unnatural position, so hopefully you have something to hit.
Okay here we go. Position yourself in front of your target, now leaving your left foot forward step back into the blade stance with your right foot. Now without moving either foot, strike your target with your rear hand as hard as you can, keep both feet still. Now that should feel really unnatural and a fairly weak strike.
So now try it this way. Position yourself as before in the blade stance and at first do your strike in slow motion. As you start the strike with your rear hand raise your right foot as you were going to step over a basketball while slightly pivoting on the ball of your left foot, make sure to tuck your chin toward your chest, as you follow through with your strike stomp your right foot onto the floor just a split second before your hand makes contact with the target and freeze in that position.
Now if you note the position that your body is in, your knees are slightly bent somewhat as you are starting to squat down, your belt buckle is now pointing at about a 45 degree angle to the left of your target and your left hand is very close to shoulder level and to the rear. Keep the position of your body in mind as it is now because it will be important later.
Now move back into the same blade stance and make the same strike at about half power make sure to follow through with your strike as if you were trying to cut down through your target using the force from the drop step and strike.
Now then, if you think back to the beginning of this drill (the strike with your feet stationary) at full power you didn’t generate as much power as you did at half power using the drop step that is why the drop step is so important.
Okay so now back to the drill, forget the stationary part because it is weak and sucks a little. Move back into the blade stance with your left foot forward repeat the drill one time slow take note to your body position then repeat at half power alternate slow then half power 20 reps then repeat 20 reps with the you left side.
So now remember when I said to keep your body position in mind because it would be important later? You know, after your strike, your knees are slightly bent somewhat as you are starting to squat down, your belt buckle is now pointing at about a 45 degree angle to the left of your target and your left hand is very close to shoulder level and to the rear. So after the strike with you right hand, follow up with a chin jab with your left hand you are already in position for that strike BOOM! Just add this to your drill and your gaining ground, momentum and keeping good balance. Train honest my friend and enjoy. Give me a shout if this helps out.
