Traditional Stances and Steps
Written By : Sifu Kostas Tsoligas

It is generally accepted that the strong and stable base is the foundation necesserity for all the "Martial arts" and "Fighting sports". Traditional Hung Kar is well known for its strong ties with the traditional or classical way and its very low, wild stances and isometric exercises. Hung Kar's stances are lower and wilder than other kung-fu systems. This hard training strengthes the body from the trunk to the toes but especially legs and trunk, hips, knees and angles, joints. That gives to the practitioner the proper foundation, so he/she could respond sufficiently on the needs of the free fighting.

Therefore the steps in the training method of the footwork are:
First, training and strengthen.
Second, application.

Hung Kar's footwork contains the "Four Traditional Teaches of Base" (strength, balance, waist, third (3rd) energy) and every one of them has its own "Foundation Stone".

This ability reached by the:
Ma kuen (base's form), Base's foundation techniques and this are continued in the traditional Hung Kar training sets.

Short analysis of the four traditional teaches of base

a. Strength, Enforce (foundation stone = external chi)

The "external chi" traditionally placed as the power that produced by the kinetic system (muscles and joints) of the human. It must practice, enforced and developed. Except the appropriate enforce of the individual muscular groups, this is also includes: The neuromuscular coordination between the main acting muscles and the antagonistic muscles, as well as the coordination between the left and right part of the body. Functions that controlled by the "spinal cord reflexes" and the "upper brain reflexes". The "spinal cord reflexes" works mainly in the coordination of the muscular groups and the coordination of the left and right part of the body. The "upper brain reflexes" are the automatic movements that developed through and after learning; that helps the practitioner to apply the fighting art as "second nature". Although these terms and meanings are looking strange and difficult to understand by a simple student, they don't have to worry. The Hung Kar training program and method provide for them these important abilities in their daily training.

b. Balance (foundation stone = knees)

The practitioner learns how to use the body's ultimate balance on his/her stance. For example, beginner feels always tired from the training of the traditional training and this fact exists from the unbalanced distribution of the body's weight on his/her stance. Here the important role has the "Stability" and "Functionality" of the knees and their coordination with the hip and ankle joints.
The knee's stability stabilizes the body to the ground and their functionality facilitates the fluid of the energy as well as power's transmission from the base to the trunk using the hip and ankle joints. This Knee's function can easily connected with the important role of the suspension on car's control, especially in the sudden and quick change of its direction.

c. Waist (foundation stone = waist)

Changing the direction, blocking or striking the waist is the motive power. Waist is that increases the power in the techniques either in the applications (practical, fighting) or in the training sets; with all the body's weight. In the attack and counterattack techniques the waist gives the crushing contact to the strike. In the defense techniques leads the opponents force out of balance. In the changing of the direction gives the smooth motion. The waist is the connective point and the key to interact the lower and the upper part (muscles, joist) of the body.

d. Third Energy (foundation stone = awake of internal chi, interpromoting of internal - external chi)

The internal energy - chi traditionally placed as power that is produced by the vital energy, libido and mental. The kinetic bar of Hung Kar's practitioner on the force and the power production derives from, a. "Develop" and b. "Interpromoting" of "Internal energy - chi" and "External energy - chi". Because the physical power and especially beginner's is limited, student learns or actually the body function reflectively works so it can find the "Net Force" (third energy) that will enforce it on this hard training. This has as result the awake, as well cultivate, of internal energy and interpromoting of internal - external chi, which is called "Third Energy". The interpromoting of internal - external chi is the key to work the "linear and non linear", "short and long range" techniques.

Hung Kar's principal stances are:
Sei ping ma, Ee ji kim yiu ma, Ji ng ma, kei lon pou, Diu gek ma, Tit tou ma, Quai ma, Kam kai top lup ma.

Sei ping ma
Four lines or square stance. The practitioner's legs position must form a parallelogram with the horizontal level of the ground. The sei ping ma stance can be found in Hung Kar's training in four (3) types: a. front or training sei ping ma, b. left and right sei ping ma, c. left and right, turn sei ping ma.

Ee ji kim yiu ma
Scissor - like stance. This stance is used for internal exercise and for advanced fighting techniques. The difference is placed on the incline of the pelvis.

Ji ng ma
The stance of the noon's son. The name of this stance is a traditional name that is following this stance, in Hung Kar family, from the ancient times. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training in three (3) types: a. left and right, side ji ng ma, b. left and right, front ji ng ma, c. left and right, back ji ng ma.

Tit tou ma
Balance on the back leg. Traditionally there wasn't a name for this stance, because actually it is the defensive application of ji ng ma stance. The name was given later to declare the different applications between the ji ng ma and tit tou ma stance. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training, as left and right tit tou ma.

Kei lon pou
Unicorn step. The name of the step means, unicorn stepping form, because it is not actually a stance, but rather a stepping form. The stances chin chau ma, hau chau ma, tau ma and lau ma comes from kei lon pou. Chau ma means running stance to the back or to the frond. Actually the names hau chau ma and chin chau ma wasn't traditionally, the names were given later to declare the different movements and applications.

Hau chau ma
Back running quick stance. In the daily training we are using the term "back crossing stance" because the legs are crossed moving to the back. The term is used only for training reasons. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training, as left and right hau chau ma.

Chin chau ma
In front running quick stance. In the daily training we are using the term "front crossing stance" because the legs are crossed moving to the front. The term is used only for training reasons. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training, as left and right chin chau ma.

Tau ma
Stiling quick stance. The name presents the high speed of the front leg moving to the back. High speed, which is exampled with the speed that a pickpocket, when takes the wallet from a pocket. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training, as left and right tau ma.

Lau ma
The twist stance. The body twists in the same position. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training in two (2) types: a. left and right, defensive lau ma and b. left and right, thrusting lau ma.

Quai ma
The kneeling stance. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training, as left and right quai ma.

Diu gek ma
The stance of the hanged leg. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training, as left and right quai ma.
 
Kam kai top lup ma
The golden chicken stands in one leg, stance. Like ji ng ma's stance name, kam kai top lup ma stance is a traditional name in Hung Kar family, from the ancient times. In the daily training we are using the term "one leg's stance" only for training reasons. This stance can be found in Hung Kar's training, as left and right kam kai top lup ma.

When we are talking in the traditional Hung Kar "correct stance" we mean stable, strong and flexible stance. NOT a stiff stance that is looking powerful but actually is unhealthy and unusual.In the static position also there is fluid of energy and not static energy in a group of muscles, which is leading the dysfunction of the joints.

In the traditional training the stances are very low and wide (product - enforce the internal - external, energies). But in the practical and fighting applications the stances are little higher and flexible, for to apply the correct effectiveness, at the unexpected and speed that the free fighting characterized.

But Always with the stability, power and ergonomic of the Lam's family traditional way.