Horse Stance
Now we all know that all martial arts are not the same. Each style brings something to the table, and you can’t just dismiss a style out of hand because there are aspects you don’t like or thing are useful. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Russian Sambo are both fine martial arts, but they’re subtypes of Judo. Now it would make sense to just train in Judo the original martial arts form, but the other two are worth a look because they have developed their own techniques and training methods. Sambo has many good leg lock techniques, and in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu you can strike so they’re worth a look. Today’s sport karate is almost completely useless in a self defense situation, but if you go back to pre-WWII karate you will find a martial art that is all about killing and maiming and surviving to fight another day.
As martial artists we should all be mixed martial artists and understand and look at other styles and how they work in combat and in competition. Furthermore, we should look for the common elements in training and find out what techniques we share. The horse stance is one technique that can be found in several different martial arts styles.
The horse stance is probably one you already know because it can be found in Chinese, Japanese, and Indonesian martial arts styles. It is found both in training and in actual combat techniques, and gets it name from how it looks. With legs spread wide looks like you’re straddling an invisible horse. The exercise when used in training strengths the back and legs as well as the tendons.
It is no surprise that in China that the Shaolin monks used the horse stance or mabù as part of their exercise and martial arts training programs. The stance can also be seen in versions of Kung Fu like Wing Chun and Long Fist Kung Fu. The exact positioning changes slightly, but practitioners from different arts would easily recognize the stance. The stance is called kiba-dachi in Japan, and it also varies by school, and because of Japan’s influence on Korean martial arts the stance can also be found in Tae Kwon Do.
As martial artists we need to look for common ground and to exchange ideas about what works in a given situation. Nothing should be taught just because it is tradition, but rather because it is the most effective.
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