STUDYING STANCE Part 1
by Sifu Rick Jacobsen
In today's martial arts the actual study
and practice of stance is, for the most part, neglected. Yet, correct
stance is fundamental to the performance of every technique and posture of the
martial arts. I thought it might be a good idea to go over the stances
(used in Yilichuan) and examine them in detail. Who knows? You
might learn something...
First...stances and stepping are two
different things. Stepping is what happens in between stances. The main function of a
stance is that of issuing or receiving force.
One of the chief concerns is that of
stability. Any given stance has to be absolutely stable; never wobbly or
weak. This means that the breath has to be kept low in the abdomen (using
reverse breathing) and you should imagine breathing through the yangchuan points on the soles of the feet (the
1st points of the kidney channel in acupuncture). Your toes should
"grip" the ground as if trying to create a "suction" on the
sole of the foot.
Stances can be divided into two
basic categories; long and short. Long stances should be two
shoulder-widths long. They utilize an "outward tension."
That is, the legs are slightly tensed outwards, away from the body.
Short stances are usually one shoulder-width
in length. They use an "inward tension"; slightly contracting
the muscles of the inner thighs to enhance stability (which is crucial because
their short length can make them rather unstable).
1. BOW AND ARROW STANCE
The so-called bow and arrow stance is
sometimes called a forward stance or mountain-climbing stance in other
Chinese styles. The forward leg represents the bent bow, and the rear leg
represents the arrow.
In Yili, the stance is two
shoulder-widths in length and one shoulder-width (or hip width) in width.
The width is crucial because it allows for free rotation of the hips.
Some styles use a much shorter width, aligning the toes of the front foot to
the heel of the rear foot...and some don't use any width at all (which severely
limits pelvic rotation). In some spots in Yili forms, an aligned version
of this stance appears, but it is used to generate force to the side or as an
evasive posture; never used for emitting power frontally.
The front
foot is turned inwards 30 degrees To help protect the groin with the knee which
will be turned slightly inwards but which is tensed forward) and the rear
foot is turned out 30 degrees (so the two feet are roughly parallel to each
other). In some styles, the front foot is pointed straight ahead.
The front leg carries 70% of the body's
weight and is bent so that the knee is aligned vertically with the big toe
of the front foot. This sets the lower leg in a vertical position which
is most useful for generating power to the front.
The rear leg is slightly flexed - never,
ever locked straight...and the heel is never raised at all. The back
should be straight (although some styles such as Hung-Ga allow for a slight
forward lean).
Other styles may use a slightly shorter
version of this stance, especially if they're from the so-called short fist schools of southern China. Some
Okinawan karate styles also use a shorter version of it. However, the two
shoulder-width length is really the maximum length that should be used for this
stance because any increase in length either causes the rear heel to rise up or
disallows the vertical positioning of the front foreleg.
This stance is used more than any other
stance in most martial arts, including Yilichuan. It's main function is
to act as a foundation for emitting power frontally. It is also
frequently used as an evasive posture or for defensive purposes.
2. HORSE-RIDING STANCE
The horse-riding stance is typical of
many martial arts and derives its name from the position of the legs which are
said to look like a person straddling a horse. Although the internal
schools do not emphasize its use, the other schools usually emphasize it very
heavily. Although its use in combat is limited, as a training exercise it
is excellent for building strength in the hips and legs.
The weight is divided evenly between the
two legs which are bent with outward tension. The forelegs should be
vertical with the weight coming down on the center of the sole of each
foot. The feet point straight ahead. The back is held straight with
the buttocks tucked into avoid standing in a "sway-back" kind of
position.
The depth of the stance varies from style
to style. Some styles favor keeping the buttocks almost level with the knees
although such extreme depth severely limits mobility. Other styles flex
the knees only slightly. In any case, the buttocks should never be lower than the knees as you see many
contemporary wushu stylists
demonstrate. Besides, it looks like you're trying to take a **** in a
third-world country.
In some styles, the feet are turned
outwards (up to 45 degrees, but no more than that). Some schools actually
refer to this position as being a seperate stance because the outward turning
of the feet changes the nature and feel of the stance.
This posture is best used for generating
power to the sides. It has minimal stability to the front and rear, so
it's generally not used to generate force frontally.
Because moving out of the horse-riding
stance requires a substantial shift of weight (either forward or backward),
some styles disdain its use.
3. BACK STANCE
The back stance is also known as a
"half-horse stance" in some styles. The rear leg carries 60% of
the weight and the knee and foot are usually pointed directly to the
side. The position of the front foot may vary. Most styles point it
straight ahead. In Yili, it is turned inwards 30 degrees since this
stance is often used for pulling actions. If the front foot is turned inwards
slightly, it helps facilitate the inward turning of the hips which is necessary
for such techniques. If the front foot is pointed straight ahead,
inward-turning movements are more difficult because the pelvic girdle is
"bound up."
In the internal schools of Xingyi and
Bagua, this stance is often performed with the rear knee (and foot) turned
inwards up to about 30 degrees. This is especially true if force is being
generated frontally (this stance can be used to generate force at close
quarters if the rear knee is turned inwards slightly). When one is close
to the enemy and unable to stand in a fully forward-weighted stance (a bow and
arrow stance), one can use this stance to emit power.
4. SQUAT STANCE
Also known as a "coiled snake stance",
this stance is two shoulder-widths in length (identical to a horse-riding or
bow and arrow stance) but you sit fully down on one leg so that your buttock
nearly touches the heel of the rear foot.
The feet are held straight (as in a
horse-riding stance). The forward leg should not be locked straight; it
should be slightly bent. If it is straightened, it has no strength and
makes a very inviting target.
Ideally, the back should be
straight. Unless you're very flexible, this is nearly impossible to
do...so just keep the back as straight as possible.
This posture is generally used as an
evasive maneuver although some styles use it for purposes of striking.
Frankly, no real power can be generated from this stance at all so it's useless
for striking... I've always seen it more as a quick evasive maneuver that
allows you to duck under an enemy's attack and rise up from beneath him.
However, if your maneuver doesn't work you're in an untenable position because
fast movement out of this position is largely impossible.
5. CAT STANCE
This stance is known by several other
names (such as "empty leg") but it is found in most martial arts
styles. It is only one shoulder-width in length. The rear leg
carries 90% of the body's weigh and the foot is turned forward 30
degrees. Some styles turn it sideways but this actually prevents quick
movement. The heel of the front foot is raised up so only 10% of the
weight is held there (and some styles use less than that). In Yili, the whole
ball of the foot touches the ground (and the toes are turned 30 degrees
inwards), but other styles touch only the tips of the toes to the ground (I
feel that this puts much too much weight on the rear leg).
The stance is so named because it should
have the lightness and springiness of a cat's pre-attack position. The
front foot can be easily used for fast kicking.
However, it isn't enough to just
"sit" in the stance. Inward tension is necessary to provide
stability and to create a "springy" power which will allow you to
move quickly. Your back should be straight.
In contemporary wushu, this stance is
often very deep, but sitting too deeply in this posture is foolish because it
places much too much weight on the rear leg and prevents you from moving quickly.
When this stance is seen in a form, it
often represents a hidden kick. Other times, it is used in a defensive or
evasive mode.
-More Next Time-
Sifu