The Anterior Oblique Sling - The Hidden Rotational Power Chain

The Anterior Oblique Sling – The Hidden Rotational Power Chain

What Is It?

The Anterior Oblique Sling (AOS) is one of Thomas Myers’ functional fascia lines from Anatomy Trains. It links opposite shoulder to opposite hip in a spiraling diagonal path:

LEFT pectoralis major + LEFT external oblique

→ cross the front of the body via abdominal fascia

→ connect to RIGHT internal oblique + RIGHT adductors

It’s like a natural “X” harness across the front of the body.

What It Does:

• Controls rotation, stability, and force transfer in activities like:

• Punching

• Throwing

• Kicking

• Grappling

• Kata pivots and torque-based techniques

• Functions like a brake and accelerator — when you rotate the torso, this sling fires automatically to stabilize the hips and spine.

How It Applies to Kyusho and Tuite:

1. Disrupting the Sling = Balance Loss

• Grab their shoulder and hip diagonally (e.g., left shoulder and right hip) and torque → you “unzip” the anterior oblique sling.

• This collapses core tension → the body can’t stay upright.

2. Locks and Throws

• Applying a Tuite motion that rotates the spine while anchoring the opposite hip shuts off sling tension and forces a collapse.

• Bonus: Add a pressure point strike to GB27 or ST31 (hip/adductor) and the whole line short-circuits.

3. Healing/Performance

• Weak AOS = poor kicking, bad punching mechanics, or unstable stances.

• Rebuilding it through diagonal band work, punching drills, and standing cable twists improves martial efficiency.

Understand the Science. Master the Art! 🐼