When To Use Your Stances

There is a lot of information out there in the Martial Arts community about fighting stances. Each discipline has their own stance to fight from.

In Kung Fu San Soo we do not begin an attack out of a stance. Most of us are taught to stand in a relaxed, non-aggressive looking position that we can immediately move from into an attack.

This is important for a couple of reasons.

• When we move to strike it comes from a position of surprise since we are not telegraphing our intention to attack. This keeps the opponent off balance and unexpecting.

• Also, since we aren’t in a rigid, set stance we have more options in which to meet the incoming opponent because we can move with his movement rather than be crossed up because our stance is set.

Once your attack has been initiated is where the actual Kung Fu San Soo stances have a serious impact. Most of the time we move in at 45 degree angles to the opponent which means that if, for example, you are stepping outside your opponent and striking at the same time you will be by him and behind him before he can counter.

In the mean time you have used your block to attack his striking arm, hopefully breaking or damaging it so that he can’t use it again as a weapon. From there (behind him) you can quickly pivot into another stance (which, if done correctly will generate maximum striking power) to finish the fight.

Here are some tips in using your stances:

• Use stances only as a means to generate power and to close the gap with your opponent.

• Use your stances to drive through your opponent and take his balance.

• Use your stances to pivot your hips from one strike to another to generate maximum power.

• Make sure you are planted as you punch or are driving your balance toward your opponent as you strike.

Stances, when used correctly and at the appropriate time, along with striking the proper targets, will enable you to quickly eliminate any threat to you or your loved ones.

Happy Training!
Tony