The 8 stances (Bashi), by sifu Mike Martello

The story: when Mike laoshi went to Taiwan and started to train under Grandmaster Wang, he got told to do the stances in front of a tree. At that time, Mike laoshi had already achieved a master/expert level in Kung Fu. Although he understood the importance of stance training, he wondered what he could pick up from the lesson if he was only doing the stances. Then for a long time, he did it, until one training grandmaster Wang suddenly came over and started doing the stances with Mike laoshi. Intrigued, wondered what differences the grandmaster will do, Mike laoshi observed closely. Then he realised that grandmaster Wang's stance were done in such grateful manner yet powerful due to the way he changed from one stance to the next one.

The secret of good stances training involved the right way of TRANSITION between the stances. While practising stances alone will give you great legs strengths, enhance body fitness, strengthen alertness and balance. It is the transition that gives you the deeper understanding of the relationship between the stances. And therefor plays an important part of developing the right body mechanics, mobility in fighting and movement in general.

The pictures I took from Mike laoshi is called the Bashi or 8 stances, this set is taken from the Long Fist stances and in comparison to the Praying Mantis set, the transitions are different. In my opinion, the transition in the set of the Long Fist are very clear for the beginner in experience the feel of body mechanics.

Remember when using these photos: spend equal focus into the transition between the stances, it will make your stances much lively, agile and mobile.

Don't give up

Teacher Mike once told me, (and he used a word I forgot) that the mental ingredient to progress in training is to channel the stubbornness of human nature into one of productivity. To "not give up" even when you have a bad time. To "prove" to yourself that you can do it, even if it takes a life time to succeed.

We are all stubborn, it is just human nature. But the key is not to get stuck by it. Instead let it be a drive for moving forward. This counts as much in Kung Fu training as in life.

Remember that life always comes in good times and bad times, it is a matter of how to go through it with calmness and acceptance as part of the enrichment of your life.

So don't get stuck, instead, move and progress. As teacher Mike would say: Be all you can be.