In Traditional Kungfu training stances and poses are great for building strength and conditioning the body. These type of postures are called isometric exercises. Meaning we don’t move we just hold the stance or pose for a duration of time.
Before we go over some of our favorite Kungfu stances remember to listen to your body and always be safe.
Start Using KungFu Stance Training Exercises for Strength and Mobility
Stances are fundamental to the practice of KungFu. They are usually the first thing learned, but it usually takes a student a long time to realize how important they are. On the first day of learning every new student is usually taught the basic stances such as: Horse Stance, Forward Stance, and Cat Stance. And usually during his first lesson, the student can’t wait to get to the good stuff. They want to learn the fancy movements, the high kicks, or the devastating fighting techniques.
It isn’t until the student has trained for a long time that they fully appreciate the importance of stances in Kung Fu. The stances seems so basic, in fact it’s taught in the first lesson, but it is the fundamental aspect of training that determines whether the practitioner has developed real skill.
Usually when a novice sees a performance of Shaolin Kung Fu they look at the hand motions. When an experienced practitioner views a performance, they notice the stances and bodywork because these are the things that drive the hand motions giving them power and effectiveness.
Are You Doing It Right? Horse Stance
Ma Bu – Horse Stance
It could be argued that Mabu is the most important Kungfu stance. This stance is used in nearly every single kungfu style from Shaolin to Goju-Ryu form. Many students do this stance incorrectly. So take the time to go through my instructions.
Horse Stance Breakdown Guide for Beginners
1) Step your left leg out to the side so your feet are double shoulder and slowly squat into Horse stance.
2) Squeeze the floor together with your feet.
3) Remain here for :30 seconds to 3 minutes.
Check list
- Elongate and straighten the spine
- Let your pelvis squeeze and tuck slightly
- Relax your shoulders and tuck in your neck
- Are you knees slightly pushed out so they are over your feet?
- Are your eyes strong?
- Is your centre of gravity in the middle?
- Are you gently grabbing the floor with your feet.
- Don’t tip the body but keep it straight.
Horse Stance is the SECRET to REAL KungFu Power
If you have knee or back problems then you need to keep your stance high. There should be no pain when you do this stance.
How to deepen your horse stance
Make your stance lower. Set a timer and increase the time you stay in the stance a little more every day. Don’t allow yourself to rise higher. Even though you are not moving you will start to sweat. We call this static stamina.
Overview
It’s a good idea for Qigong and KungFu students to spend some time working on this stance in the same way that yoga students spend time working on their poses. Our body’s tend to be lazy and want to find an easy way out but regular check ups will keep us on the right path. It’s also easier to feel the Qi in the power center of the abdomen and solar plexus when we do Horse stance which is why even a few minutes of doing this stance will help us to feel grounded and energized.
Benefits of Horse Stance Training
- Acts as a gateway between Qigong and Kung Fu
- Centers and grounds the mind and body.
- Opens the hips
- A great way to practice static stamina
- Unlocks Super Powers
- Quiets the Monkey Mind
- No longer requires a chair to sit down at the dinner table