I know that when studying way of 4, some people take quickly to some of the ideas, and then again some find difficulty in the concepts of movement. I know that it can be especially troublesome to students who have not studied dance or martial art or anything similar in the past. In private lessons, I have no problem committing to explanation and careful training, but in group class I found that this can detract from the learning of others. This is why I have decided to post an in depth explanation for students that are looking for more clarification.
 

 
excerpt from 'way of four elements. an elemental system of martial art' by me.
 
'Many combat systems use the technique of moving forward or from side to side as the basics of an attack. From fencing, I found that the movements of a competitor that moves forward and back is easily predicted by his opponent. Doing what is expected makes you immediately equal or disadvantaged to your opponent. Moving forward and backward at 45 degree angles breaks up the consistency of what most fighters have expected.
When doing the footwork of the four element style you should stand with feet shoulder length apart, and good posture. Imagine a silver thread connected to the earth from your tailbone, continuing in a straight line toward heaven, exiting through the top of your spine. Shoulders back, and chest forward.
 
Visualise a cross on the floor. The center is based where the silver thread enters the earth and the cross is pointed in the directions of north (where you are facing) east (to your right) south (behind), and west (left).  
 
In the four elements, most of your movements will be along the axises of NW, SW, SE, and NW.  
 
When you use the quadrants created by north south east and west, you have areas of NW SW, SE, and NW. These quadrants are now specified with values.
 
Many words can be applied to these values. Yin/yang, positive/negative, day/night. Masc/fem. I choose to use the terms aggressive and passive for the description following. We will also consider that all the following descriptions are dealing with an attack from an opponents right hand.
Four elements relies upon a combination of two things movement, and position.
Movement can be aggressive (+) and forward. Or Passive (-) and retreating.
Position can be aggressive (+) on the inside or front of the opponent. Or it can be passive (-) on the outside or from the back of the opponent.
 
60% of your weight should be upon the leg in which direction you move, leaving 40% on where you came from. When done correctly, you have more momentum in the direction you are moving, and to the opponents eyes you are streamlined and small of targets, very much like an olympic fencer.
 
The northeast quadrant is named fire.   If the opponent uses his right hand, we use our right foot to step into this quadrant. We move forward towards the attacker. This is aggressive (+). We are now close to the attacker and inside his guard. From this target we have many sensitive targets. This is an aggressive (+) position.
Fire is a (++) element causing the most aggressive combination.
 
Next, the northwest quadrant is earth.  Earth moves forward in an aggressive (+) stance. Earth however takes you to the outside of the opponent, giving him many opportunities to protect his inside, leaving only head, kidneys and back as possible targets. Moving to the opponents outside is passive (-).
Earth is a (+-) element. It moves forward to take control, but does not intend to do much harm.
 
The Southeast quadrant houses the water element. When attacked from close range, the performer steps SE with her left foot. She has taken a passive(-) movement to sidestep attack. She however is in a position to due much damage as she is still in the aggressive (+) inside position of her assailant.
Water is a(-+) element. It feigns surprise and retreat, while it leaves much room for attack and agression from the user.
 
The last movement takes the right foot into the southwestern quadrant. Wind retreats into a passive (-) movement. It also leaves the possibility for many attacks small, as it takes it's user outside of the opponents guard. The position is passive (-)
Wind is (--) When performed correctly, Wind should feel as if an attack was never delivered. One tackling a user of wind, will feel as if they passed right through her.
 
You must always remember that the four elements is a system based on movement and position, not on right and left.
Fire, a (++) attack means it moves forward and to the inside, not right foot to NW. If an attacker attacks using his left hand… Your right foot to NW quickly becomes an earth attack.
 
You will notice, that most of four element's techniques deal with defense more than offense. That is for one simple reason. I do not believe there is any fight that you can not walk away from by merely using your mind and personality. Nor do I believe there is any fight that you need to initiate. In the end, the only fight you should ever need to fight in your life, is the one in which you are attacked.
 
Footwork is most important in any physical art. Without proper footwork, nothing else will work correctly.' 

Hope this helps!
Feel free to contact me with any questions comments or insights.

Ken