Introduction
You may have heard of the term ‘bouncing’ before. What is it? It’s the act of bending your non-stomping foot just before your stomp. In most, if not all of the events I have been to, I have always seen at least 5 cadets bouncing during their drills.
Bouncing
Here’s how bouncing looks like:
As you can see, the leg that isn’t stomping is actually bent slightly. I never really understood why people bounce. I believe it’s because they want their stomp to be more pronounced, since bending it and straighening it when the other leg stomp would give the stomp more force.
However, bouncing is:
- Extremely noticeable. If everyone but you bounces, it’s very obvious since you dip lower than the rest.
- Incorrect. You’re not supposed to bounce. Just keep you leg straight and locked!
Don’t bounce!
During drills that require stomping, simply keep the non-stomping leg straight. There’s no need to bend it. If you really want to create a loud stomp, land on the sole of your foot. Don’t be compelled to slouch or dip downwards when stomping. If you do this in HQ, Encik Kalai will not hesitate to remind you against bouncing. And for a good reason too.
Conclusion
If you find yourself bouncing when stomping, try to make your other leg locked at the knee and not bend. Even in UDI and SCDF Day Parade, I saw some cadets bouncing. Try not to, it’s not a good habit. Good luck!