Stance Set #1

Stance Set 1 is the second set required to attain your Blue Belt in Ed Parker’s American Kenpo. Stance Set 1 illustrates the different stances used and the foot maneuvers used to get into them.

The Set/Form

OPENING: Attention Stance, Bow, Informal Salutation,

• Section 1 (2 moves)
  1. Slide your left foot toward 9:00 into a training horse stance facing 12:00
  2. Place your open hands on hips to help coordinate proper upper body alignment with your stances.
• Section 2 (5 moves)
  1. Step back toward 6:00 with your left foot into a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
  2. Drag your right foot back toward 6:00 into a right 45° cat stance facing 12:00.
  3. Step out toward 3:00 with your right foot into a horse stance facing 12:00.
  4. Step back toward 6:00 with your right foot into a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
  5. Frag your left foot back toward 6:00 into a left 45° cat stance facing 12:00.
• Section 3 (4 moves)
  1. Slide your left foot back toward 6:00 into a right front twist stance facing 12:00.
  2. Pivot counter clockwise into a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
  3. Slide your right foot back toward 6:00 into a left front twist stance facing 12:00.
  4. Pivot clockwise into a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00.
• Section 4 (5 moves)
  1. Pivot clockwise to form a left reverse bow stance facing 12:00.
  2. Pivot counter clockwise to form a left forward bow stance facing 12:00.
  3. Switch step into a right neutral bow stance facing 12:00
     • Slide you right foot to your left foot into a concave stance.
     • Slide your left foot back toward toward 6:00 into your right neutral bow stance.
  4. Pivot counter clockwise into a right reverse bow stance facing 12:00.
  5. Pivot clockwise into a right forward bow stance facing 12:00.
• Section 5 (4 moves)
  1. Pivot clockwise into a right front rotating twist stance facing 12:00.
  2. Step forward with your left foot toward 12:00 into a left fighting horse stance facing 12:00.
  3. Pivot counter clockwise into a left front rotating twist stance facing 12:00.
  4. Pivot clockwise into a left neutral bow stance facing 12:00
• Section 6 (3 moves)
  1. Slide your left foot back toward 6:00 into a left 90° cat stance.
  2. Step out toward 9:00 with your left foot into a training horse stance facing 12:00.
  3. Slide your left foot toward 3:00 into an attention stance facing 12:00.

Closing: Informal Salutation, Bow.

Contains

• Stances
  • Attention Stance
  • Training Horse Stance
  • Neutral Bow Stance
  • 45° Cat Stance
  • Front Twist Stance
  • Reverse Bow Stance
  • Forward Bow Stance
  • Concave Stance
  • Front Rotating Twist Stance
  • Fighting Horse Stance
  • 90° Cat Stance
• Foot Maneuvers
  • Forward Step Through
  • Reverse Step Through
  • Pivoting Stance Change
  • Switching Stance Change
  • Step Out (Side Step Through)
  • Step Back
  • Drag/Slide

Teaches

• Proper weight distribution for specific stances.
• How to increase distance when retreating.
• How to increase distance when advancing.
• How to cover target areas with stances.
• How to utilize transitory stances when advancing or retreating.
• Continuity in stance changes.
• How to coordinate proper upper body alignment with a stance.
• How to feel your way along the ground.
• How to maintain the proper Center of Gravity when moving from one stance to another.
• How to bring into sync the various types of body momentum, working singularly or together, when moving from once stance to another.
• Horizontal (forward or reverse) momentum
• Rotational momentum (Torque)
• Vertical and/or diagonal momentum (Marriage of Gravity)

Notes

• Make a list of environments to practice this set.  The practice of this set in various environments and predicaments will add greatly to your chances of survival on the street.
• Practice this set with various rhythms:
  • mechanically (slow and fast)
  • fluid (slow and fast)
  • hard and fast
  • super fast
• Practice the other side of the set.
• Practice the set on a stairway.
• Practice the set with various breathing patterns.
• Wear various types of shoes when practicing the set.
• Practice the set to various types of music.
• Have a partner grab hold of your belt to provide resistance as you move through the set.  This will greatly increase your knowledge of how to properly use your lower body for power.