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also for 4-to-the-5 bend your knees, that aids in the reduction of bouncing

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I'm going to disagree with that.

Good technique aids in the reduction of bouncing. While it works for the horn myrons, bending looks awful when a battery does it. If you are marching forward, you'll most likely have a snare or two bang their knees into the drum (probably losing a scoop in the process), the tenors won't be able to get past theirs, only the basses may have a shot.

If you're marching backwards and bending your knees, this has to look really awkward and your center of gravity is probably all over the place unless you roll step backwards, yuck. Toes all the way.

Lastly, if you're bending during a crab step, you more than likely will appear to be taking a poo on the field.

Now this is strictly a matter of preference, but I prefer the straight leg approach. For all you wise guys reading this, no, I'm not saying to lock your legs, no one is a robot. The style my programs are taught is very similar to what the Cadets use, especially the crab technique, minus the right foot lead

After marching in two corps and a wgi line with three different styles, these are the conclusions I've come to. However if anyone reading this has a justified opposite pov, I welcome it.

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also for 4-to-the-5 bend your knees, that aids in the reduction of bouncing

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I'm going to disagree with that.

Good technique aids in the reduction of bouncing. While it works for the horn myrons, bending looks awful when a battery does it. If you are marching forward, you'll most likely have a snare or two bang their knees into the drum (probably losing a scoop in the process), the tenors won't be able to get past theirs, only the basses may have a shot.

If you're marching backwards and bending your knees, this has to look really awkward and your center of gravity is probably all over the place unless you roll step backwards, yuck. Toes all the way.

Lastly, if you're bending during a crab step, you more than likely will appear to be taking a poo on the field.

Now this is strictly a matter of preference, but I prefer the straight leg approach. For all you wise guys reading this, no, I'm not saying to lock your legs, no one is a robot. The style my programs are taught is very similar to what the Cadets use, especially the crab technique, minus the right foot lead

After marching in two corps and a wgi line with three different styles, these are the conclusions I've come to. However if anyone reading this has a justified opposite pov, I welcome it.

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I agree with you (straight leg approach) but bending the legs does have a purpose.

Think of your body as a set of springs and stabalizers. Your first stabalizer would be your foot and its platform(s), then going on up, your ankle is a spring. Calf: stabalizer, knees: spring, thighs/glutes: stabalizer, hips: spring, waist, lower, middle and upper abdominals: stabalizer, neck:spring.

If you take the straight leg approach , basses especially will feel very top heavy. By adjusting the knees (i'm not talking "the limbo" here), you lower your center of gravity and you'll be able to use more of a "push off" for jazz-run like drill sets. Its all about moving fluidly. Keep the upper body still and let the legs do the work. Marching is the only time you'll hear the word "tense up" and it will be good. You legs and abs must provide a lot of muscle contribution, or you will look like a camel bouncing up and down.

Look at Star 93's bass line (and the rest of the line too...). They had some ridiculous 5 to 5 drill. They did it smoothly while bending the knees and fluidly "pushing off" the platform (while spinning from forward to backward). Getting that fluid push off to work with your knees and ankles to counter the bounce is what seals the deal.

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