Are Karate Stances PRACTICAL?

Do Karate and Kung Fu stances work in actual fights?

Learn how MMA fighters apply traditional martial arts stances in UFC. The secret is to understand the original Chinese terminology. For instance, "ma bu" (horse stance) actually means horse STEP! The same goes for other "stances", like cat stance and front stance. This terminology is misunderstood and leads to ineffective applications of stances... or as they should be called - steps!

Modern sport science confirms that punching power directly correlates to leg power, not upper body strength.The old masters in China, Japan and Okinawa knew the biomechanics of stable stances for power generation and strength. Because if you are weak in your isometric muscular contractions, your eccentric and concentric phases lose their force potential. That's why your static postures are essential for RFD (Rate of Force Development).

That's why stances are practiced so much in traditional martial arts from day one. They are literally fundamental (kihon). Like the saying goes; you can't shoot a cannon from a canoe.

After watching this video, I hope you can reconsider the effectiveness of your stances (steps). Because that's when they become useful for fighting.

Good luck!