Part 2 of 2
Once we are more aware of our feet we then want to start gripping the ground with our feet when our foot is flat on the ground. Gripping the ground means pressing the toes and heel down and lifting the center of the foot upward. The action with the toes is engaging but not stiff, hard, or too forceful. The idea is to engage the ground with your toes pressing the pads of the toes down and into the ground slightly. Avoid using the tip of the toe and pressing it straight down like a nail. That is too hard on the feet and not as effective. Think of the pads of your feet more like suction cups on a tree frog. All five toes press down engaging and connecting to the ground.
The second part of this action is to sink the heel into the ground. You can never have a truly strong stance unless at least one heel is on the ground. The goal is to press the heel firmly into the ground and increase the pressure of the bottom of your foot on the ground. Pressing down the heel also helps to counter balance the pull of the toes. This action between your toes and your heel creates the third part of this action and that is the center of the foot lifting up. When the center of the foot lifts it indicates that pressing the toes and heel down to engage the ground and grip the ground is working.
Gripping the ground with your feet will increase the amount of exercise your feet get when you practice. If you are too aggressive when you first start this practice your feet will get very sore. If you continue to practice gripping the ground with your feet your feet will get incredibly stronger and healthier. People with flat feet, meaning no arch or a slight arch can develop a full normal arch by practicing gripping the ground with their feet enough.
Gripping the ground with your feet also helps you properly sink into your stances by sitting back and down like you are going to sit on a chair or bench. If you do not grip the ground with your feet, it is hard to do this because it feels like you are going to tip over backwards and fall out of your stance when you lower yourself. What most people do to lower themselves instead is to push their knees too far forward past their toes. Pushing the knees forward past the toes is a weaker stance that strains the knees and should be avoided. With the knees too far forward, your stance is weak, and you can easily be thrown or lose your balance. Gripping the ground with your toes allows you to maintain a proper position with your knees and creates a much stronger stance.
Have fun practicing gripping the ground and improving your rooting skill and soon we will discuss “massaging the ground” with your feet to generate power for striking and throwing!