Page 19 - Beyond Basics_Neat

BEYOND BASICS

Here’s how the concept works. First, assume a forward stance.
Now imagine that you and your stance are the top part of a huge
rock which sticks out of the ground. Its center is 3 feet below
ground. “Feel” your center drop down to that point. When pushed,
imagine that your rock must be moved out of the ground in order
to move you. When pushed, relax to sink your weight down to the
center of your rock. Resisting power will only cause tension and
your center will rise making it easier to push you off of your stance.

Some Kung Fu styles use an exercise called “posting” which great
for developing the lowering your center.
The above along with these four general rules define the structure
of proper stances.

1. Knees are directly over and aligned with the feet
2. Weight is on the balls of the feet
3. Toes are relaxed
4. Maintain a state of relaxed tension.

I’m almost certain everyone has
played with or used a rubber band.
If you’ve ever stretched a rubber
band and released one end it snaps
to the other side. This is the same
concept as applied to stances.
Imagine a rubber band stretched
around your legs. Releasing or
relaxing one leg will cause that side
to move toward the other.
The rubber band effect is created
from a proper stance. Both feet of the stance must simulate the
tension of a stretched rubber band. This can be best demonstrated

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