stances for tall people

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stances for tall people

Postby geezer » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:28 pm

Should the width (side-to-side) of the front and back stances be wider for tall people in order to maintain stability?
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Postby Yatish Parmar » Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:50 pm

Nope.
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Postby chimojo » Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:41 pm

The width of the stance should not affect stability. Southern styles use stances with the feet very close together. What is important is rooting. Without that, it won't matter how far apart your feet are, you can be easily toppled. On the other side, a wider stance will have a tendency to stretch and train your muscles more because it is more physically strenuous.
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stances for tall people

Postby geezer » Tue Nov 06, 2007 12:08 pm

If you think about the geometry of the mountain climbing stance, for example, it seems to me that some increase in width for taller practitioners would create a more stable structure, provided it doesn't compromise the mobility of the Kwa (?spelling). Good structure plus good rooting ought to create good stability. To emphasize rooting while neglecting structure means one may not be as stable as one could be. If structure doesn't matter, why not spend all of one's time on one leg?
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Postby chimojo » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:48 pm

Agreed. I think the main way to remain stable is by rooting, but lowering your center of gravity by lengthening your stance can make you more stable, that is physics. That is, as long as you don't break the basic rules. By the way, I think it is not really the kua but the dang that is important in this case.

The best way is to experiment by having someone pushing you from all sides or doing push hands with someone. The rest is theory.

"Stand like a mountain. Move like a river."
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stances for tall people

Postby geezer » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:58 am

Thank you, Chimojo, for the thoughtful and articulate response. I look forward to my push hands training to develop this.
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Postby DOM » Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:13 am

Back to the original question on stance .A Taller Pearson's stance should be larger and wider than some one smaller . If a taller person dose not adjust his stance to fit their structure his root will not be as stable and may even be detrimental to their training . The width and distance of a stance should be made to fit the individuals structure , as long as all the proper elements are there so one will be able to use each stances for it's intended purpose .
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Postby SunTzu » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:59 pm

If you apply all the core principles of a particular technique, then you will automatically stand in the correct structure. This way it doesn't matter what length a person has for a stance to be correctly applied.

For example, principles like:

- Stand shoulder/hip width
- Knee mustn't reach beyond the toes
- Thighs horizontally
- Stand with an erect spine

etc. etc.

With all these principles held, it's impossible to stand in another way than intended.
Do not try !

Do, or do not !
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Widening stances?

Postby jfraser » Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:40 am

In the Yang Xiaojia TJQ, from the lineage of Yang Lu Chan. almost all stances, stepping and pivoting are at shoulder with, with back straight, a "C" curve shoulders and chest, power comes from the earth, transmitted out to the hands and arms by the waist, etc. And elbows and arm pits do not touch the ribs, but are generally held is if there is raw egg under the arm pits. And this widening of stances can disrupt relaxantion, cirularity, softness, not to mention mobility in applications and correct practice of the a TJQ form, whether large, medium or small frame styles.

I am 6'2" and 230 pounds, If I widen the stances, my shirfu will say, "not right", and this widening is not part of this very traditional and rare system. However, gradually training the hips and knees to go lower in these shoulder with stances and stepping is encourage, in several ways. There is the usual principle that the knee should not past the toes in various stances and stepping. :) Wider does not necessarly equal and improves rooting. IMHO this widening can disrupt actual rooting and stability.

Perhaps the issue is not widening, but gradually sinking the tian tien going deeper with the knees and hips, as well relaxation of the torso and upper body. and using the correct input from SunTzu's recent post on this topic. Relaxation and rooting are very related.

James :) :wink:
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