Ma Bu (Horse Stance) Training

[Eggman]

Hello everyone. First post.

How many minutes of Ma Bu training do you do a day? per week?
How much is too much in your opinion?
Are you trying to achieve "upper legs parallel to floor" when stance training?
How much is basic stance work emphasized in your school?


I am working on improving this stance (along with all the others), and would like your opinion and thoughts.

Thanks,
Eggman.

[Liokault]

Zero.... but maybe as much as 1/2 hour whilst doing other things

After about 5-6 mins your not geting any benafit......just training to stand in a stance.


No

Not much....and that is to much.

I am working on improving this stance (along with all the others), and would like your opinion and thoughts.

Why? Training in horse stance will just get you a good horse stance. Go find some one who will try to hit you in the head....train in stoping them from hitting you....use any stance that helps you do this.

[PangQuan]

I practice mainly Shaolin, for our school yes upperlegs parallel to floor. You should be able to place a staff across your thighs and not have it roll off.

This is very hard ma bu to hold starting out. but remember to keep your back straight and your but tucked in as though you were going to sit on a small stool.

Sifu says not to go longer than 45 minutes at a time.

Stance is very emphasized at school, very traditional is how Sifu likes it. Low and strong.

If you just started to train your stances, start with ma bu for a few minutes and gradually work your way up to longer times. Strong horse will make all other stances much better.

This is the reason for so low of a ma bu in some chinese martial arts, it is helpful to get all other stances in to correct positions.

[PangQuan]

try to throw someone who has developed a strong horse.

it has proven itself effective to me in terms that I have used my horse to gain the upperhand more than once.

[Liokault]

Thats why a strong horse stance is THE method used in MMA to avoid being thrown then? And why top MMA guys (I hear Liddel) spend hours in front of a mirror trying to get a low horse stance?

[Liokault]

Any way, hows that work?

A low horse stance is just having a low centre of gravity right? So how would holding it for 45 mins help you avoid being thrown....wouldnt it help a person who took the stance right before being thrown, in the same way?

Or does the 44 min 59 seconds extra glue your feet to the ground somehow?

[Losttrak]

Kung fu requires strong legs and a supple waist. Without stance training, you will be missing one of those elements. Strong stance skills means your legs have greater density and therefore, armor. Also, when you train deep stances, it creates a better kick. If you train only with weights, you dont have that "sticking" power as you would if you did stance work. I noticed that when I kicked before stancework, I would hit hard but bounce off. After doing stancework, my legs were soo used to resistance that they drove through. Somehow it helps with target penetration, but I am unsure of the physiological aspects of it.

My (horse stance) ma bu is 45 degrees off my center line with my feet on the railroad tracks (parallel). 45 degree bend is nice, as it works more of the leg than a low stance, in my opinion. The lower you get, it feels like I am using more arse muscle than leg.

The most I train is two minute intervals, regardless of how long I can max out at... Its like lifting weights. Its not about doing the max, as it is about repitition. Plus, the more you do horse stances in great repition, the better it feels when you get up. There are times, that your legs literally orgasm in pleasure when you get up. For some of you guys, it might be the only chance you have...

[omarthefish]

try to throw someone who has developed a strong horse.

it has proven itself effective to me in terms that I have used my horse to gain the upperhand more than once.

"Throwing" may be made more difficult but sweeping becomes a piece of cake.

ie. Dropping your weight only helps protect you against throws involving "picking you up" (quotes for a reason) Anything involving reaping or hooking a leg will be made much easier by the realative lack of mobility.

[joedoe]

So dropping your centre of gravity is not going to help against a sweep or reaping throw?

[Liokault]

So dropping your centre of gravity is not going to help against a sweep or reaping throw?

It will help, but not for 45 minuets

[omarthefish]

So dropping your centre of gravity is not going to help against a sweep or reaping throw?

Not really.

I'm basically pulling you that way anyways. Not straight down but in a downwards spiral. Just hook your lead leg in an upwards spiral and a low horse makes things much easier for me.

To be honest I suck at hip throws and shoulder throws. It wasn't untill I figured out the "trick" to sweeping low horse stances that I was able to throw anyone at all. Typical successfull throw for me goes like this:

I try any number of hip or shoulder throw variations.
He ruins my throw by "rooting" or dropping his weight.
I hook the leg and dump him.

[SevenStar]

So dropping your centre of gravity is not going to help against a sweep or reaping throw?

not really. you are actually planting your leg and giving it to me. common follow ups to dropping the weight against a shoulder throw are the major outer reap and the minor inner reap - o soto gari and ko uchi gari.

[D4NNY]

I try to practice horse stance for 30min a day as i have found that it does help with all other stances as well as this one. Also allows alot of power between you and the floor making it harder to bein thrown or pushed back.

Danny