Advanced
Leverage
Advanced Level
Full mastery — nuance, personal expression, and artistry
Using your body weight against your partner's resistance to create power, speed, or dramatic movement through the connection.
Tips
- •Think of your arms as ropes, not arms. Ropes can only pull (create tension/leverage) — they can't push. This mental model prevents arm-pushing habits.
- •The longer the lever, the less force you need but the more precision you need. Start with short-lever moves and gradually extend.
- •Always maintain a micro-bend in your elbow, even at full extension. A locked elbow joint under leverage is an injury waiting to happen.
Common mistakes
- •Confusing leverage with force — leverage is about distance and body weight, not arm strength.
- •Maintaining maximum leverage throughout a pattern — you need to release leverage to maintain control at the end of a movement.
- •Not maintaining frame structure at full extension — a bent arm has no leverage. The arm must be toned and nearly straight.
- •Using leverage without considering the follower's balance — leverage moves the partner's center of gravity, so you must account for their stability.
Practice drill
In single-hand open hold, try leading your partner in a full circle around you using only your body weight shift. Step in a circle yourself — your partner orbits around the connection point. No arm pulling at all. If your partner stops orbiting, your leverage has failed. Adjust your body positioning until the orbit is smooth and continuous. This teaches pure leverage mechanics.