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machine_dove at 06:51pm on 13/12/2004
machine_dove at 06:51pm on 13/12/2004But you're an odd sort of group, so one of you many have the answer.
When a woman's feet are bound, do their toes (what's left of them, anyway) point inward or outward?
I ask because Erik was attempting to demonstrate a Ba Gua kick for me called the Woman's Kick that was supposedly taught to women with bound feet. It's designed to knock kneecaps off, but I suspect he's holding his foot wrong. (He's only seen it demonstrated one time, so it's a distinct possibility).
I also vaguely suspect that the whole "Woman's Kick" thing is made up, because foot binding really didn't do much for the balance, and I suspect a woman with bound feet wouldn't be able to stand on just one foot for long enough to kick anything. But it's still a neat kick.
In other news, I finally got Last Exile 7. With postcards. I'm trying not to drool on them too much.
When a woman's feet are bound, do their toes (what's left of them, anyway) point inward or outward?
I ask because Erik was attempting to demonstrate a Ba Gua kick for me called the Woman's Kick that was supposedly taught to women with bound feet. It's designed to knock kneecaps off, but I suspect he's holding his foot wrong. (He's only seen it demonstrated one time, so it's a distinct possibility).
I also vaguely suspect that the whole "Woman's Kick" thing is made up, because foot binding really didn't do much for the balance, and I suspect a woman with bound feet wouldn't be able to stand on just one foot for long enough to kick anything. But it's still a neat kick.
In other news, I finally got Last Exile 7. With postcards. I'm trying not to drool on them too much.
(no subject)
(no subject)
I also knew that someone here would know without me having to look up pictures. I don't want to be that traumatized ever again. Reading descriptions of it is bad enough.
(no subject)
Anyway, if you do kick with your does like that...they'll definately break or disgustingly break off. Best bet is that they hit you with the heel or side of the foot in order to deal any damage without hurting themselves.
(no subject)
It scares me that I keep thinking about how useful this kick could be.
(no subject)
(no subject)
Furthermore, bound feet meant that in order for the foot to maintain it's four inch shape, all the toes except the big one was broken, and bend inward (toward the sole). Women were expected to walk on broken feet. I don't think you could kick anything and hope to break anything but more of your own toe bones.
Pre-footbinding though, it was possible, and I'd read of women partaking of martial arts, especially for aestethic (sp?) purposes. Sword dances, for example. But during the age of foot binding? I doubt it.