-
Hello
This is my first posting in this newsgroup. I practice Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut (as my name suggests).
We do horse stance (say ping ma) with the toes pointed forward. The knees must be above the feet, both forwards and sideways.
The desired 'look' is one of complete centrality and strength. Weight should be evenly distributed along the feet, not on the front or toes.
If the knees are directly above the feet then most of the pressure should be taken off the knees, as you are using the shin bone as support from the knee down, not knee strength. All stress for the stance is held in the thigh and groin regions.
Also, if your knees are hanging in, imagine the protection there is if a kick came to the side of your leg. There is none. Horse stance should be strong enough to withstand someone kicking and pushing your legs from every angle. The shape of the stance naturally gives this.
I have had trouble with my knees, due to other exercises and training, and I find a good warm up is to do a crane stance (dook lok ma), close your eyes and try to stay balanced. The simple corrections you do to stay upright exercise the medial and lateral areas of the knee.
For me the horse stance gives balance and strength to hold that balance. It also gives me a good connection to the ground that enables me to throw my techniques with power and sureity. Plus the mind over matter when it comes to the pain.
I have seen hundreds of people come and go at our school in Perth, Western Australia, over the years and I have never heard of an injury from a correct horse stance.
I hope my two cents worth has been interesting.
Peace
[This message has been edited by Buk Sing CLF (edited 08-14-2000).]
-
The general feeling I get is that everyone thinks that the horse stance is a good thing.
From my personal experience the horse stance is trained deep so you can use it high. I've
found that the strength you get from training it deep results, in you having increased mobility when you use in a 'standing horse stance postion'. As for the toes being in or out. I believe you should keep them in. The reason why, is that the structure is weeker when your toes are splayed out. It makes you liable to lose your structure if you are swept.
As for horror stories my instructer had to sit the horse stance 'deep' for half hour then had to do crane stance for a half an hour on each leg.
-
In my opinion, horse stance is the least of you worries when it comes to knee problems. The scissor stance and the one legged stances put way more pressure on the knees. Things I have found that help: Ace bandages lightly wrapping the knee area, Hindu Squats to warm up the knee area, Lots and lots of tiger balm and wrapping with a cloth overnight after your workout. The direction of your knees definately effect the structure of your horse stance. Trying to keep your shins pointing straight up as opposed to leaning them out over your feet is much better.
-
the horse stance is dangerous. Too much stress on knee joints, also, leave the crouch open to kicks!
Bruce Lee said to be natural - never tensed, but always ready and flexible.
"ease and comfort and body feel" - use the "spiritual stnace"
-
"All stress for the stance is held in the thigh and groin regions."
Exactly.
-
feet shouldn't be even 45degrees forward on sei ping ma, because when you get kicked to your knee, your knee joint might straighten out and break.
but if the feet point forward the knee just bends down to the floor. a bit like in kneeling horse stance. (lok gwei ma)
just another way to look at it.
-
Excellent post Buk Sing CLF. By the way do you learn fromt he Generation Grandmaster Of CLF? Grandmaster Sun of 8 Step Praying Mantis said that he is one of the few Generation grandmasters of a complete system. Another thing to consider is the feeling. you should feel all your weight going through the centers of your feet. Another thing to consider is your breathing. If your breathing is fast and forced its easy to do a "billy blanks" toes out horse stance. WHen you breathing is low and steady and you hips are sunken and relaxed you can stay in a horse stance for a long time. 10 minutes in a low horse stance with 10 rings was part of my 4th grade testing and it taught me a lot about horse stance. For maintinence workout I usually do a horse stance while I take a shower or have to wait somewhere. Another way to practice horsestance is to take the weight off you legs when your sitting at a desk.
-
Hello 8StepSifu
In answer to your question, no my Sifu is not the Jeung Mun (or Keeper of the Style) of CLF.
Our school mainly follows Gong On. He was one of the top disciples of Tarm Sarm, the founder of the art.
Gong On was one of the disciples that were sent by Tarm Sarm to train in Northern Shaolin and Iron Palm under Ku Ye Chern.
He was also a master in Jow Gar before he met Tarm Sarm.
So our lineage is basically BSCLF but we have Northern Shaolin (Sil Um) and Jow Gar training as well.
Gong On's son, Gong Hing, is still alive in Hong Kong today. He taught the Lacey Brothers, Dave and Vince (now in Fredmont, Calif.), who then brought the art to Perth, Western Australia, in 1966. That's where my Sifu started his training.
I hope that answers your question.