Front Closed Lion + Back Open Lion
A front closed Lion straight into a back open Lion switching feet: the momentum of the first generates the second — and unlocks the Lion many of us struggled the most to learn.
Coming soon
The video for this move is in production. Meanwhile, the full theory is below.
Available on September 21 at 8:00 AM CST.
Sixth episode of Combos of the Week, second of the two-movement block. We keep looking for two-movement combos with a very natural continuity between them, and practicing them until we reach the feeling — or the habit — that they are a single movement and not a combo. Today: a front closed Lion straight into a back open Lion switching feet.
The back open Lion is entering on the outer part of the leg and exiting with the inner part. Without generalizing: for me it was one of the most complex Lions to learn — we're all different. And precisely for that reason this combo is useful: entering first in front closed Lion gives you a position and a momentum to be able to introduce the outer part of the leg, something that doesn't happen when you attempt the back open Lion cold.
The episode's image: you enter in front closed Lion and right there you start bringing in the outer part. With the impulse the back leg carries, the Lion is practically generated through the momentum of the previous movement. You don't build it from scratch; it inherits it. If you've struggled with the back open Lion, this combo will surely help you unlock it.
Steps
- Check the prerequisite: the Lions. The front closed Lion has to be comfortable, because it's the one that sets the position and the momentum; the back open Lion can still be in progress — the combo is precisely a way of finding it.
- Exercise 1 — Isolated front closed Lion, feeling where the back leg's impulse leaves you on the exit. That impulse is the one you're going to reuse.
- Exercise 2 — Front closed Lion bringing in the outer part: enter in front closed Lion and, without cutting the movement, start introducing the outer part of the leg. Don't look for the full Lion yet, only the entry.
- Exercise 3 — Let the momentum generate the back open Lion: with the impulse the back leg carries, switch feet and the back open Lion is produced through the momentum of the previous movement. Exit with the inner part.
- Join everything: front closed Lion, the outer part entering on the same line, switch of feet and back open Lion exiting through the inner part. Practice it until it feels like a single movement and not like two Lions glued together.
Common mistakes
- Attempting the back open Lion cold: without the front closed Lion's position and momentum, bringing in the outer part is much harder — that's why this combo exists.
- Cutting the front closed Lion before bringing in the outer part: if you brake between one and the other, you throw away the momentum that was going to generate the second Lion.
- Building the back open Lion with your own force: you don't push it, it inherits it from the back leg. If you're forcing, the momentum was lost earlier.
- Getting discouraged with the back open Lion: it was one of the most complex to learn for me too. The combo is the way in, not a prerequisite.
In one sentence
Front closed Lion straight into back open Lion switching feet. The first Lion leaves you position and momentum to bring in the outer part of the leg, and with the back leg's impulse the second Lion generates itself, through the momentum of the previous movement. If the back open Lion has resisted you, this combo is a way to unlock it.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the back open Lion?
- Entering on the outer part of the leg and exiting with the inner part. For me it was one of the most complex Lions to learn, although we're all different.
- Why does the front closed Lion help with the back open Lion?
- Because entering first in front closed Lion gives you a position and a momentum to be able to introduce the outer part of the leg. With the impulse the back leg carries, the back open Lion is practically generated through the momentum of the previous movement.
- Do I need to master the back open Lion before trying the combo?
- No: the combo is precisely a way to unlock it. What does have to be comfortable is the front closed Lion, because it's the one that sets the position and the momentum.
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.
