To achieve the elite precision of a top-tier drill team, we must first master the fundamental rhythm of movement. For competitive marching, understanding and dissecting this rhythm is the key to achieving the unison and timing that separates a good team from a champion.
I briefly introduced this concept in my book, the WDA Adjudication Manual, but I want to expand on it here because it is a critical tool for every instructor.
If you lead a competitive color guard or drill team, you must transition your mindset: you are no longer just an instructor, but a coach of the Sport of Military Drill. Competitive marching is a sport. Until we embrace this philosophy, we won’t be able to bring our high school cadets beyond the basic level of “effectively marching from point A to B,” which is the elemental purpose of drill and ceremonies.
The Three Parts of Action
Movement, like music, has a pulse. By borrowing musical terms, we can bring a necessary level of detail and understanding to the mechanics and artistry of physical actions, helping us to see the “rhythm” of movement.
Here are the three musical terms that can be applied directly to physical action:
- Anacrusis (The “Wind-up” or Preparation): This is the preparatory movement, the “getting ready” phase. Think of a golfer’s backswing or the drawing back of an arm before a throw. It’s the momentary build-up of energy and anticipation before the main action.
- Crúsis (The “Strike” or Main Action): This is the peak of the action, the moment of greatest force, focus, or expression. For a thrower, it’s the release of the object; for a marching unit, it’s the foot strike. It is the “downbeat” of the movement.
- Metácrusis (The “Follow-through” or Resolution): This is the completion of the movement, the natural dissipation of energy, or the smooth transition to the next action. It brings the current action to a close or prepares the body for the sequence that follows.
Taking the First Marching Step
Here is how to break down the action of taking the first step after the command “Forward, MARCH!” Learning this rhythm can make a significant difference for your team’s timing and consistency.
Terms Used:
- Moving Foot: The foot that will move next.
- Standing Foot: The foot that will remain in place momentarily.
- Example: For the first step on the command, “Forward, MARCH!”, the Moving Foot is the left foot, and the Standing Foot is the right foot.
- “ON the command”: Means immediately after the command, within its tempo. It does not mean to literally move as the command is being called. (The only exception to this is executing “Count OFF!” in Line Formation where movement is literally on the command “OFF”.)
The Command Rhythm Breakdown
When teaching military marching, we do not use the dance or band count-off (“5, 6, 7, 8…”). We must achieve our movement precision using the military command rhythm.
Using a metronome will help tremendously as you practice counting these beats (you can find more information here: https://thedrillmaster.org/2013/02/28/metronomes-can-help/).
Here is the precise rhythm of the command “Forward, MARCH!” and the immediate actions that follow, aligning the military execution with the musical terms:
| Beat | Command/Action | Musical Term | Description |
| 1 | “For-” | Crúsis | Command Downbeat |
| & | “ward!” | Command Continuation | |
| 2 | [natural pause] | ||
| & | [natural pause] | ||
| 3 | “MARCH!” | Crúsis | Execution Command |
| & | [natural pause] | ||
| 4 | [natural pause] | ||
| & | Push right heel/Inhale | Anacrusis | The “Wind-up” |
| 1 | Left heel strike | Crúsis | The “Strike” |
| & | [Mid-stride right foot] | Metácrusis | The “Follow-through” |
1. Anacrusis (The “Wind-up” or Preparation)
- The Beat: This is the “&” count before “1” (see the table above).
- What it Looks Like: This is the internal, preparatory response to the command, happening just before the foot leaves the marching surface.
- On the command “MARCH!” (Beat 3): The mind prepares.
- On the “&” count (Anacrusis): The right leg and core muscles tense, pushing the right heel into the marching surface. This internal tension facilitates forward motion while maintaining the position of Attention.
- Simultaneously, the left foot begins to lift, heel first, rolling through the toe (it does not leave flat). Both arms begin to move from the shoulders.
2. Crúsis (The “Strike” or Main Action)
- The Beat: This is count “1”.
- What it Looks Like: This is the primary, most powerful part of the action.
- The left heel strikes the marching surface at the designated service distance and tempo.
- This is the “downbeat” of the movement—the moment of impact and weight transfer.
- The body is propelled forward as the right foot pushes and rolls onto the toe. Both hands move to the apex of the arm swing.
3. Metácrusis (The “Follow-through” or Resolution)
- The Beat: This is the “&” after “1”.
- What it Looks Like: This is the completion of the first step and the smooth transition into the next one.
- The right foot is now mid-stride, and the body’s weight is fully supported on the left foot (the standing leg).
- The right leg is now in its own Anacrusis position, prepared to take the second step.
- The movement of the arms comes to a suspended, straight-down position in mid-swing.
Applying the Rhythm to Other Movement
This framework is useful for analyzing and perfecting all synchronized movements in military drill, ceremonial displays, and exhibition drill. All movement can be separated into these three parts.
- Rifle Manual (e.g., “Port Arms”):
- Anacrusis: The preparation in the mind and body, imperceptibly firming up the grip on the rifle.
- Crúsis: The swift, controlled placement of the rifle into the Port Position in the left hand.
- Metácrusis: The final, firm placement of the right hand at the small of the stock.
- Sword and Saber Manual (e.g., “Present Arms”):
- Anacrusis: The initial lift of the sword on the command “Present!”
- Crúsis: The sharp, decisive arc traced by the blade as it comes to a stop in front of the face.
- Metácrusis: The final, firm placement of the hand on the grip, steadying the blade until the command “ARMS!” when you bring the sword to the salute position in two counts.
- Flagstaff/Guidon Staff (e.g., Guidon Salute):
- Anacrusis: The subtle hand shift at Carry.
- Crúsis: The sharp, downward motion of the staff, often accompanied by a swift turn of the wrist.
- Metácrusis: The staff coming to a firm horizontal stop in the salute position and held steady.
In Conclusion
The simple act of taking a step contains an incredible amount of nuanced timing and physical mechanics. By breaking down movement into the tension-building Anacrusis, the accented Crúsis, and the resolving Metácrusis, you give your team a rhythmic map they can follow to achieve synchronized perfection.
Understanding why the body moves the way it does is the first step toward training it to move better and to have a team move as one.