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But in the end you don't find it takes "2 movements" for offense. 1) shift, 2) attack
I was taught that being forward heavy is that I can deploy attacks ASAP being "1 movement". My schools' a bit more dutch than traditional.
Front heavy may be marginally faster but I find it gives up power and balance. You can snap off rear side kicks & punches a touch faster since you don't really have to transfer weight and your hands & legs are closer to the target, but the lack of weight transfer also means you can't get as much weight & extension behind the strikes. For an extreme example, see Holly Holm and her severe weight forward stance.
With your weight centred or back, you drive off the rear foot and start to pivot on the front as the rear unweights, then continue the motions to complete the kick. I find the pivot is actually a bit faster this way since there's not as much weight on the front foot and the added drive off the rear leg gives better speed & momentum to the weight shift & rotation. Overall, maybe the same speed or a touch slower, but it feels a lot more fluid and balanced for me.
-Try some kicks without a step in. Just pivot from where you are. It make the strike a lot less telegraphed.
This. Most definitely this. Or at least use some random front leg bounces to hide the step-in.