Front Open Lion + Fakie Toe Press
The second block of the series begins: two-movement combos that fuse into the feeling of a single one. The first: a front open Lion whose exit is already the entry of the fakie toe press.
Coming soon
The video for this move is in production. Meanwhile, the full theory is below.
Available on September 14 at 8:00 AM CST.
Fifth episode of Combos of the Week and the first of a new block. In the previous four combos we sequenced at least three movements to clearly mark an entry, a development and an exit. In this block we look for something else: two movements that go very well together and can practically be fused, until in the end they feel like a single one. We start with a front open Lion exiting into a fakie toe press.
The front open Lion isn't re-taught here — it has its own tutorial and it's worth mastering it before entering the combo. What we do look at is how we connect it towards the fakie toe press. About the toe press, remember the essentials: thighs compressed, trying to keep the toes as close together as possible — not a scissor position —, and in that position raise the heels looking for balance in motion.
The key of the combo is one way of entering the toe press, Shaun Unwin's method: you do a lemon backwards and, when you feel confident, you lift the heels in that impulse — it gives you the feeling of holding the toe press a little, but in a sustained way. That same feeling appears in the exit of the open Lion: your feet come together and do that same lemon action. What you're looking for there is simply that way of lifting and holding. The exit of one movement is already the entry of the other: that's why they fuse.
Steps
- Check the prerequisites: the front open Lion comfortable on its own and the toe press already held even for an instant — the combo doesn't teach either of them, it joins them.
- Exercise 1 — The isolated toe press: thighs compressed, toes as close together as possible (no scissor), and in that position raise the heels looking for balance in motion.
- Exercise 2 — Shaun Unwin's entry: skating backwards, do a lemon and, when you feel confident, lift the heels in that impulse. Try to hold it a little, in a sustained way.
- Exercise 3 — The exit of the front open Lion as a lemon: exit the Lion letting your feet come together and do that same backwards lemon action, without lifting the heels yet.
- Join everything: front open Lion, the feet come together in the exit lemon and in that same impulse you lift the heels into the fakie toe press. When the exit lemon and the entry lemon are the same gesture, the combo feels like a single movement.
Common mistakes
- Opening the toes into a scissor inside the toe press: the thighs stay compressed and the toes as close together as possible — the scissor takes your balance in motion away.
- Lifting the heels before having the impulse: Shaun Unwin's method is lemon first, and heels only when you feel confident in that impulse.
- Closing the Lion and starting over: if you exit the open Lion braking and then look for the toe press, that's two tricks. The Lion's exit is already the entry lemon.
- Entering the combo without the front open Lion mastered: first its tutorial, then the combo — here it only gets connected.
In one sentence
First combo of the two-movement block: a front open Lion whose exit — the feet coming together in a lemon — is exactly the entry of the fakie toe press by Shaun Unwin's method (backwards lemon, heels up in the impulse). Fusing is finding the gesture both movements share.
Frequently asked questions
- What changes in this block compared to the previous four combos?
- Before, we sequenced at least three movements to mark entry, development and exit. Now we look for two movements that go very well together and practice them until they feel like a single one, not like a combo.
- What is Shaun Unwin's method for the toe press?
- A way of entering: you do a lemon backwards and, when you feel confident, you lift the heels in that impulse. It gives you the feeling of holding the toe press in a sustained way. His tutorial is in the references.
- Why does the front open Lion connect so well with the fakie toe press?
- Because in the exit of the open Lion your feet come together and do that same lemon action. The only thing you add is lifting and holding: the exit of one is already the entry of the other.
Sources
The nomenclature of families and variations follows the official source. The drills, progressions and teaching concepts around it are ARCO's own elaboration, created to communicate the ideas.
