The
Important of Stances for Self-Defense and Martial Arts by J. Richard Kirkham
Stability, balance and nimbleness are all important in
martial arts and self-defense, but what is there relationship with
each other and with stances...?
http://kirkhamsebooks.com/MartialArts/MartialArtsArticles/StanceImportance.htm
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The Important of Stances
for Self-Defense and Martial Arts
Stability,
balance and nimbleness are all important in martial arts and
self-defense, but what is there relationship with each other and
with stances...?
What is the
Purpose of a Martial Arts Stance?
There's a
huge subject. Stances in martial arts and self-defense can serve a
lot of purposes.
Defensive
This
comes to mind to me immediately. A defense stance will position
your body in such a manner as to limit the openings in your
defenses which could do you harm if struck, but a good defensive
stance will not limit your weapons.
For example if you
were to assume a perfectly sideways stance to your potential
attacker or training partner you'll protect your centerline quite
well. Your centerline is basically your most vulnerable areas to
attack. Eyes, nose, throat, solar plexus, and groin are all
included in your centerline. Yes I know many martial artists don't
count the facial area as part of the centerline but since it's a
vulnerable area AND in the center why not count them? Standing in
such a manner perfectly sideways to your attacker will protect
your centerline well, but at the expense of ease of accessing your
rear weapons. Your furthest arm and leg to your attacker will now
require an extra twisting motion in order to utilize them for
attacking and counter-attacking.
The same stance about a
45 degree angle to your attacker or partner will allow easier
utilization of your rear weapons without as much motion which
could give your attack or counter-attack away
Offensive
Technique Preparedness
Ever spar those martial
artists in cat stances? 90% of their weight on the rear legs.
Which limb do you think they'll use to attack. So yes a stance can
give you a better option to utilize a preferred method of attack
or counter-attack.
Stability
Stability is an important factor in the
development of power and follow through of an offensive technique.
Stability is generally acquired via a stance in only up to two
directions. The front stance for example will give you the ability
to follow through with an attacking technique in a forward
direction. The reverse-punch is a classic example of the use of
the front stance for stability. The horse stance creates a stable
position for strikes to the sides relative to your body. Thus
creating two stable points of position. Stability generally
ensures balance, but balance doesn't generally ensure stability.
Balance
Static
balance is simply the ability to remain in the position of your
choice. You may be able to balance on one leg for example but your
impression of a tipit game toy will not create a stable point from
which you may execute a strike. Thus creating the argument that
stances should be flowing from one to another in order maintain
stability, balance and nimbleness.
Nimbleness
Yeah yeah I forgot the professional term for
this. I could probably say dynamic locomotion efficiency, but I
think I just did when I said nimbleness. Basically the wider your
base of support the more stable you are and the closer your two
primary bases of support are the greater the locomotion
capabilities. In most cases a common tactic is to assume a
fighting position with feet about shoulder width apart with weight
shifts to the smaller muscles of the calves to ensure the fastest
response time. The smaller the muscle the faster the muscle can
move. The fastest voluntary muscles are those that move are eyes.
"We Don't Use Stances"
Yes you do. You may not practice a particular
stance when executing a strike, but eventually you find yourself
and most of your training partners as they become more efficient
creating almost the exact same motion and finalizing their
technique in approximately the same position as you. THAT, is a
stance. Whether dynamic or stationary we all use stances in order
to increase our defensive and offensive capabilities and in order
to increase our stability, balance and dynamic locomotion
efficiency, okay okay nimbleness.
Related
Articles Books and Videos
Isometric
Exercises to Increase Striking Power in Martial Arts by J.
Richard Kirkham
Fakes
and Feints
Common
Telegraphs - Reading Your Opponent's Intentions by Rick
Kirkham
How
to Block Better
Slipping
and Ducking
Dirty
Fighting
Step
by Step Learning Internal Energy Strikes has good stance
drills
Bringing
the Martial Artist Out from Within has good self-defense
drills from all angles
Self-Defense
and Over Coming Fear Martial Arts Video DVD and Downloadable Video
by Sensei J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc. Contains drills from all
different angles
About the Author
J. Richard Kirkham is a dual certified teacher
specializing in alternative
teaching methods and a martial
arts instructor. He currently resides in Honolulu with his
wife Jan and son Rylan.
Step
by Step Learning Internal Energy Strikes
http://kirkhamsebooks.com/MartialArts/InternalEnergyStrikesEbook_pd.htm
is the main work which covers stances It's been completed in both
printable ebook and video format. Both book and video describe how
to develop power from nonstriking exercises to the dangerous
relaxed strikes with complete follow-throughs.
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