The Mechanical Model

Every technique contains a vertical component. Your center of mass rises and falls during stepping, chambering, and finishing.

Height control does not eliminate vertical movement — it regulates it.

• Controlled: one smooth rise and one controlled drop per technique.
• Uncontrolled: rise → drop → rise → drop between techniques.

That extra rise creates visible bounce and breaks rhythm continuity.

Vertical Phase Discipline

Each technique moves through a vertical phase. When transitions are mistimed, the body exits that phase too early.

Premature rise often happens because:

• Hands reset fully before stepping.
• Reaction hand pulls lift the shoulder.
• Students “stand up to turn.”
• A dead pause resets posture between techniques.

Once the body rises early, it must drop again — creating double bounce.

How Height Control Integrates With the System

Transitional Timing

Pauses between techniques almost always trigger premature rise.

Chamber Paths

Large or early chambers often lift the shoulders and raise the center.

Lagging Hand

Intelligent lag helps preserve vertical phase during transition.

Rotational Control

Standing tall before turning disrupts both height and stance accuracy.

Where Height Control Breaks

• Standing up to chamber.
• Double drop between techniques.
• Head visibly bobbing.
• Shoulders lifting during reset.

Height errors are usually small — but even small vertical inconsistencies reduce perceived control.

Advanced Principle: Intent Preserves Height

If your intent ends at the finish, your body resets.

If your intent continues into the next technique, vertical phase remains disciplined.

Height follows intent.

Diagnostic Questions

• Does your head rise twice between techniques?
• Do you hear louder steps during transitions?
• Do your shoulders lift during chamber?
• Does your height change more during turns?

White Belt → Black Belt Expression

• Beginner: eliminate obvious standing up between moves.
• Intermediate: remove double bounce in short chains.
• Advanced: vertical motion becomes subtle and nearly invisible at full speed.

Coaching Cues

• “One wave, not two.”
• “Don’t stand up to prepare.”
• “Glide, don’t bounce.”
• “Stay in the phase.”

Refinement Drills