An Odd Question

[machine_dove]

But 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.

Comments

[caduceuskun.livejournal.com]

Inwards. The toes were wrapped downward, so that eventually the whole outsides of the foot curved underneath and they started walking on them, so the little toes all pointed inwards. If you're brave, you can search for pictures on Google. I know they're out there.

[mordath.livejournal.com]

Ha! I knew I was right!

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.

[wizardofkitty.livejournal.com]

Just -thinking- of it is nasty...but it would make sense that it goes inward because they want the feet to be smaller, so the boundings would probably make it go inwards.

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.

[mordath.livejournal.com]

Yup, the kick in question involves turning your foot really oddly and making a short arc with your leg, so your heel hits the person's kneecap and forces it sideways.

It scares me that I keep thinking about how useful this kick could be.