Remember this little kid that was posted over in the Boxing forum a while back?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=49z07SC565E

Great little example. Some of his crosses and body hooks show some great head movement to leverage into the shots. Theres a concept thats probably been discussed before about not being double weighted. When we walk our centre of balance swaps between feet as we place all the weight over one foot freeing the other to lift and step...thus bringing the body mass forwards. I like to use head butts as a great example to demonstrate this example. Most people head butt by whipping their neck when really it should be driven by the body...but it is the movement of body weight that generates the power to more or less "ram" the head it the target. If you take a natural fighting stance and then put all your weight on the back leg you'll probably notice your head over (or somewhere close) to your back foot. Now moving the body weight into the front foot brings the head forward being dragged by the body weight. So I suppose your initiator analogy is pretty cool.

I find though that peoples stances are usually too wide or too long to be able to effectively move their body mass into the feet. IMHO you should be able to get your head over either foot without loosing balance. If we go back to that little kid when he dumps in power shots you'll see him shift his weight completely from one foot to the other. Hence why you should be able to generate power off slips and ducks....or anytime you move your body mass.

Probably doesn't make any sense...very hard to convey in writing.

Ahh....I think I get you now. When you say "get your head over your (front or back) foot", that makes sense to me. Beginners sometimes lose their balance by throwing their heads too far over their feet, in either direction. I used to tell people (when striking) to not let their head go forward beyond their knees, or backwards past their heel, as a rule. Always exceptions, of course, but as a rule it worked pretty well to help folks maintain their balance.

AKK uses a principle called "breaking the horizon", which involves forcing the opponent to bend forwards or backwards (Hey! Get your mind out of the gutter! ), to effect takedowns or control of the opponent's arms and legs.

Thanks for the detail, Gav.

http://www.morrisnoholdsbarred.co.uk/tips.htm

Here is an article on the importance of head movement in martial arts.Its a big part of the 'morris method'.

I hadn't actually read that article on Steve's website. Very much enjoyed it. Over the past year or so I've been really investigating the role of the head and it's roll as an initiator, a stabilizer and indicator of movement and I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. That article is a lot to digest but there are tons of 'ideas' contained within it. I had the pleasure of meeting Steve a few months ago and have to say its an experience I'd recommend every MA tried to get. I took a couple of Steve's low round kicks he mentions in the article at very low power and they are devastating. A very unique and insightful man and a total gentleman as well. About a week afterwards he even took the time to phone me to explain in more depth some of his theories...a very intense and wonderfully insightful man. And he doesn't move too badly for a 63 year old either!

If anyone is interested in training with Steve he runs regular sessions in London which are detailed on his website. Also my Sifu Steve Rowe has hosted two courses at his Dojo in Chatham, Kent and my friend Jon Law has hosted two at his dojo in Birmingham...all of them highly rated. Not sure if there are any more planned, but they'll be announced on here if they are:

http://shikon.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=2

Matt,

Found this amongst Steve Morris's youtube clips. This is his take on head movement and he hits like a canon.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-G8GTo7hCo

At this stage of my training, not often. Most of the focus is based circling the upper body off the hips...like a stick of bamboo.