A terrific discussion. In my lessons with my Chief Grand Master, I recently was discussing stances with him and said something along the lines of, "Although, yeah, I understand that all stances are transitional, it seems to me that some of them are more transitional than others. For instance, hidden foot (in my style, vaguely similar to a cat stance) is really transitional, but horse stance isn't. You can't move out of horse stance as easily as out of hidden foot." To which CGM said, "Well, you can't, maybe." True enough.
In Ju Jutsu I learned zenkutsu-dachi is called "action stance forward" and kokutsu-dachi was called "action stance backward". These nomenclatures is for me a very precise term for it. A stance is a move fitting for the moment.
very much agree. Was taught to control an attacker with the hands and step into a stance to be stable don't get in a stance than try to control an attacker Hope i said that right :)
Neko Ashi Dachi is the posture you naturally transition through when kicking with your front foot, especially if you are not stepping forward with the kicking leg. You can execute a kick very quickly from cat stance and because it is a fairly short vertical stance you can also step through quicker that you could in a lower back stance or front stance.
It would be great if you started demonstrating this in your videos. I’d love to see some Kumite or even kata where you exercise the fluidity of stances. I mean this for your other videos as well. I love your concepts but for me to see your explanations in action helps to better understand it.
Thanks for your support of the videos and your interest in what I do. Much appreciated! I think you may be missing the point though because I do demonstrate it almost all of my videos. The only exceptions would be the speaking ones. If I’m showing a technique, a drill, a pad-drill, sparring, etc then I am using the stances in the way described. I make use of shifting my bodyweight and I don’t lock into position (unless to highlight something for instructional purposes). So, it’s something I have always demonstrated in my videos. Pick any video you like, you can see it. As regards the kata, it is the map; not the terrain. Therefore, the kata does freeze frame stances. I therefore do my kata the same as everyone else. This article may help explain things a little better: iainabernethy.co.uk/article/my-stance-stances I hope that helps clarify. All the best, Iain
practicalkatabunkai Thank you for your reply I see your point. On a separate note do you have any links or titles for the writings you mentioned. I’ve been trying to dig into the history of my karate and understand the purpose of the movements better and your suggestions have been so helpful (and hopeful). If you were in New York I’d definitely sign for a seminar and or enroll in your school (I’m a third fan in shotpkan). It’s a shame there isn’t as much of this type of karate knowledge spread today.
I’m pleased that helped clarify. This podcast would be a good place to start. It covers my favourite quotes and discusses where they are to be found: iainabernethy.co.uk/content/masters-speak-podcast Thanks for all the support!
Iain do you think this has come about because of how the student is drilled up and down the room? It’s seems instructors misunderstood that this was only an exercise drill for stance and strong legs... perhaps we should’ve adopted the fencing approach to fluid movement through back and forward lunge attacks.. It was there from the beginning but transitional fluid stances just became training and that became the norm.. what was broken down to show bit by bit moves became this misinformation. I actually witnessed years ago this karateka standing in zenkutz with arms in gedan barai threatening a member of door staff! Stance transition and Bukai should be taught from the off... the sterile training drills of yesteryear has too stop. That’s exactly what they are, Kihon training drills.. how would a fencer fair facing an opponent already standing in a committed attacking lunge? When you faced Sensei’s Enoeda, Kanazawa or Mas Oyama they stood in a sort of 45deg Hachiji dachi very intimidating open stance! You didn’t know where what or how it was coming... then they’d retreat back to that to go again each time they attacked they would shift from stance to stance effortlessly like a fencer AND!!! none of this “from this position you can do ushiro mawashi!” it was slick, fluid graceful even...with nearest target nearest weapon!!! Efficiency of Effort and you only get that from training transitional movement with Bukai.. Two of the three would scream “tai sabaki” !!! Not sure on spelling lol but you got the message! Body shift!!!
first of all : great video. however if you want interesting feedback, you should go for something less self evident. on this stuff smart people have nothing to ad, but ignorant people have a lot to "debate" (worst combination ever). but way more important is the second point: gosh, do you never blink? looks almost like michael caine, man...
Love the golf swing analogy. So simple but really makes you think what can be wrong with our emphasis when instructing.
A great video, about a simple concept that we have misunderstood during long time, beginners and advanced students!
Thank you Iain.
As is your norm, Sensei, well-said and informative. So important to state this, especially for beginners. Thanks for posting this!
A terrific discussion. In my lessons with my Chief Grand Master, I recently was discussing stances with him and said something along the lines of, "Although, yeah, I understand that all stances are transitional, it seems to me that some of them are more transitional than others. For instance, hidden foot (in my style, vaguely similar to a cat stance) is really transitional, but horse stance isn't. You can't move out of horse stance as easily as out of hidden foot." To which CGM said, "Well, you can't, maybe." True enough.
That was a great explanation! greetings from Chile!
Brilliant video, thank you!
In Ju Jutsu I learned zenkutsu-dachi is called "action stance forward" and kokutsu-dachi was called "action stance backward". These nomenclatures is for me a very precise term for it. A stance is a move fitting for the moment.
Thank you for sharing - much appreciated!
good explanation! well said!
very much agree. Was taught to control an attacker with the hands and step into a stance to be stable don't get in a stance than try to control an attacker Hope i said that right :)
Thanks for the video mate!
How would you use the cat stance in a fight, self defense, or a sparring session? Just curious about this unusual stance.
Neko Ashi Dachi is the posture you naturally transition through when kicking with your front foot, especially if you are not stepping forward with the kicking leg. You can execute a kick very quickly from cat stance and because it is a fairly short vertical stance you can also step through quicker that you could in a lower back stance or front stance.
Intelligently explained..!
~ Osu
It would be great if you started demonstrating this in your videos. I’d love to see some Kumite or even kata where you exercise the fluidity of stances. I mean this for your other videos as well. I love your concepts but for me to see your explanations in action helps to better understand it.
Thanks for your support of the videos and your interest in what I do. Much appreciated! I think you may be missing the point though because I do demonstrate it almost all of my videos. The only exceptions would be the speaking ones. If I’m showing a technique, a drill, a pad-drill, sparring, etc then I am using the stances in the way described. I make use of shifting my bodyweight and I don’t lock into position (unless to highlight something for instructional purposes). So, it’s something I have always demonstrated in my videos. Pick any video you like, you can see it. As regards the kata, it is the map; not the terrain. Therefore, the kata does freeze frame stances. I therefore do my kata the same as everyone else. This article may help explain things a little better: iainabernethy.co.uk/article/my-stance-stances I hope that helps clarify. All the best, Iain
practicalkatabunkai Thank you for your reply I see your point. On a separate note do you have any links or titles for the writings you mentioned. I’ve been trying to dig into the history of my karate and understand the purpose of the movements better and your suggestions have been so helpful (and hopeful). If you were in New York I’d definitely sign for a seminar and or enroll in your school (I’m a third fan in shotpkan). It’s a shame there isn’t as much of this type of karate knowledge spread today.
I’m pleased that helped clarify. This podcast would be a good place to start. It covers my favourite quotes and discusses where they are to be found: iainabernethy.co.uk/content/masters-speak-podcast Thanks for all the support!
practicalkatabunkai fantastic thank you!
My pleasure!
4:10 - 4:35 "DRIVING" at hahahahah
ooh yes ...
stances are to teach the body to always be in balanced all martial arts and martial sports need to be transitional and moving and flowing
Well put. Same thing was told to me in my kung fu school.
Iain do you think this has come about because of how the student is drilled up and down the room? It’s seems instructors misunderstood that this was only an exercise drill for stance and strong legs... perhaps we should’ve adopted the fencing approach to fluid movement through back and forward lunge attacks..
It was there from the beginning but transitional fluid stances just became training and that became the norm.. what was broken down to show bit by bit moves became this misinformation. I actually witnessed years ago this karateka standing in zenkutz with arms in gedan barai threatening a member of door staff!
Stance transition and Bukai should be taught from the off... the sterile training drills of yesteryear has too stop. That’s exactly what they are, Kihon training drills.. how would a fencer fair facing an opponent already standing in a committed attacking lunge? When you faced Sensei’s Enoeda, Kanazawa or Mas Oyama they stood in a sort of 45deg Hachiji dachi very intimidating open stance! You didn’t know where what or how it was coming... then they’d retreat back to that to go again each time they attacked they would shift from stance to stance effortlessly like a fencer AND!!! none of this “from this position you can do ushiro mawashi!” it was slick, fluid graceful even...with nearest target nearest weapon!!! Efficiency of Effort and you only get that from training transitional movement with Bukai..
Two of the three would scream “tai sabaki” !!! Not sure on spelling lol but you got the message! Body shift!!!
Driving at.... pun intended?
first of all : great video. however if you want interesting feedback, you should go for something less self evident. on this stuff smart people have nothing to ad, but ignorant people have a lot to "debate" (worst combination ever).
but way more important is the second point: gosh, do you never blink? looks almost like michael caine, man...