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Choy
Lay Fut's Basic Stances & Applications
by Joe Keit
Peformers:
Alex Brzobohaty, Daniel
Jespersen, Aaron Lee & Nicholas Lee
to
see "Gay Boon Ma Bo Yut" - Basic Stance Form 1
click
below
GAY
BOON MA BO YUT
NEW!!!
BASIC
1 (fist form)
This
article is based on a short form used at our school to introduce 4 stances
used in our style Choy Lay Fut. The form is called "Gay Boon Ma Bo
Yut" in Cantonese, in English we call it Basic Stance Form 1. This
is the 1st form taught to our students and is taken from the original
form "Li Ma" which is a complete stance form.
Why
Stances?
To
someone who is not familiar with Martial Arts Training, stances may be
something new and hard to understand, but stances are the foundation of
our art. Stances help understand power generation, train the overall strength
and stamina of the legs, create a better connection between the upper
and lower body and help train the waist for more efficient movement. The
patterns that stances follow in forms give us a variety of footwork and
options to help us in fighting. Advancing, retreating, side stepping,
rising, sinking & circle stepping are some of the more popular steps
in Choy Lay Fut.
Lets
Discuss the 4 stances found in "Gay Boon Ma Bo Yut" - Basic
Stance Form 1
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"Dew
Ma" - Cat Stance
The
front leg should be empty with the majority of weight on the rear
leg. The front leg can be used to kick without telegraphing your
movement to your opponent. |
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| Below
are a few examples of how being empty in the front leg "Dew Ma"
- Cat Stance can be applied. |
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When
an opponent attempts to sweep |
The
front leg can be easily moved without loss of balance |
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Emptying
the foot on an opponent while engaged |
When
the opponent shoots in |
The
leg can be moved quickly without the supporting leg being moved. |
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"Lao
Ma" - Twist Stance
This
stance is mainly used for transition. It also can be used to quickly
release the rear leg or arm. The knee should be pressed against
the outside of the other leg. |
| An
application using the "Lao Ma" - Twist Stance, to get around
the opponent. |
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| Ready
Position |
Right
hand blocks (Chuan Lahn), Right foot steps to the left twist step
to get around opponent. |
Left
foot steps behind while left hand grabs into headlock. |
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| Use
hip to disrupt balance and choke |
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"Say
Ping Ma" - Square Horse Stance
The
foundation of all stances, this is great for developing legs. The
stances strength is on the sides. Also uses sinking power which
helps in avoiding being thrown. The knees should be over the feet,
the toes pointing foward and back of the kness at a 90 degree angle.
There should be 4 straight levels: 1. eyes, 2. shoulders, 3. waist,
4. knees |
| Here
are a few basic examples of the strength and use of the "Say
Ping Ma" - Horse Stance. |
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| The
strength of the Horse Stance is on the sides. |
The
Horse can also be used to sink or root and deliver strikes to the
mid-section of the body. |
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"Gong
Ma" - Bow Stance
Great
for using the rear hand for power. The front leg catches the weight
and power thrown by the back leg. The front knee should bend so
you can only see the tip of the toes. The front toes should be angled
in to protect the knee and the back foot should also be angled in
to increase flexibility in the hip. |
| Here
are some examples of the "Gong Ma" - Bow Stance in use |
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| The
bow stance is very strong from the front side |
without
a proper stance, the power and reach of the arm are not efficient. |
Proper
stance for more power, reach and protection from over extension. |
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