Double step

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Double stepping allows you to take a full step without changing your leading side, covering twice the distance of a push-slide. Double stepping is an excellent way to close the distance, since it allows you to evade as you advance.

From a fighting stance, pull your rear leg up to your front leg, into a sort of bent-knees attention stance, and then step your other leg forward, into another fighting stance.

Double stepping is an evasion, since the second step is a 7-3 movement. To protect yourself during the first step, use your forearms to shield your chest and head, but do not pull your hands in. Keep your hands fixed in space, and walk to them. Pulling your hands in adds a step from the process, resulting in a slower technique. This also precludes the common mistake of advancing with extended hands, which renders you unable to defend or counterattack, since everything must come in before it can go out.

[Video of double stepping forwards and backwards.]

Practice double stepping forwards and backwards (by reversing the directions).