What are these stances called?

[childofthetao]

Hi, can someone tell me the names of these stance so I can read up on them please?






This third one looks a lot like three circle but the arms are straight forward.






Thank you

[childofthetao]

And also this one.

[Daoist]

Are you asking about the form or the stance (lower body)? Are these zhang zhuang exercises (holding postures)? The last one has the caption "the stake...". The "stake" is probably the bad translation of Zhang Zhuang, which is translated a lot as "standing on stakes".

[childofthetao]

I'm not entirely sure what they are, the video is called Standing Stake Exercises for Ch'i Development.

These do go together into one moving form but that's not what I want information about.

He says to practise holding these positions, very much like zhang zhuang, so yes they are holding postures.

He never mentions the names of these positions unfortunately, and that's what I'm after.

[Daoist]

Can't help you there. Different styles give different names for the same pattern. Different styles use different zhang zhuang exercises and sometimes give them the same name!

Zhang Zhuang is standing postures in which you hold. Be careful learning from a video, especially one that is poorly translated into English.

[Markus Kahila]

Dear Childofthetao,


The names of the stances in the pictures are as follows:

1.  Lohan Carries Water
2.  Double-Dragon Hand Technique
3.  Carrying the Cosmos
4.  Rhinoceros Looks at Moon
5.  Double-Hand Worshipping Buddha

And the last one:

6.  Big Boss Lifts Urn

The above stances are primarily used for force training, and they are also found in our school.

Our basic stance training includes "Lohan Carries Water", "Double-Dragon Hand Technique" and "Carrying the Cosmos". However, in "Double-Dragon Hand Technique" we use a Bow-Arrow Stance instead of a Four-Six Stance, and in "Rhinoceros Looks at Moon" we also use a Bow-Arrow Stance instead of the low Unicorn Stance.

"Rhinoceros Looks at Moon" and "Big Boss Lifts Urn" can be found in our 18 Lohan Arts.


In contrast, "Double-Hand Worshipping Buddha", or "Seong Pai Fatt" in Chinese (Cantonese), is performed in a moving way instead of static form. It is found in the Siu Lin Tou of the Choe family Wing Choon, also available in Shaolin Wahnam.

"Seong Pai Fatt" is also a part of the legendary Shaolin Flower Set. Practicing this pattern correctly can generate tremendous internal force, and it is believed that the great female Shaolin Grandmaster, Ng Mui, practiced this form regularly. This practice made her exceedingly powerful, even though she was reputedly small in size and elegant.


It may also interest our students and visitors that the complete method for practicing "Double-Hand Worshipping Buddha" will be taught by Grandmaster Wong during the Flower Set course of the 2011 Winter Camp!



Best wishes,

[childofthetao]

Thank you Markus.

Should one practise these positions as long as possible every day?

[Markus Kahila]

Should one practise these positions as long as possible every day?

- It depends on your training and what you're taught. Some schools advocate "hard" stance training with prolonged times in stances over all other considerations. In Shaolin Wahnam, we emphasize cost-effectiveness and quality over quantity: Relaxation, maintaining a chi kung state of mind and correctness of form comes before increasing the time spent in a stance. Ideally, these qualities are developed simultaneously.

It would be foolish to practice stance training without good instructions. You can learn from a good book, but even in the best case your progress will be significantly slower than when learning from a master.


If you want the best practical results from stance training, I would recommend you to find a good master. Any certified Shaolin Wahnam Kungfu instructor will certainly be able to transmit the methods for genuine high-level stance training.


Best wishes,

[childofthetao]

I'd love to go to classes but I can't, I have social phobia

Thank you for your help, do you know any good books?

[George]

I'd love to go to classes but I can't, I have social phobia

If you are not healthy then best not to practice stance training. First step would be to regain your health.

Learning and practicing Chi Kung is an excellent way to regain and enhance your health. There are a number of people who can help you learn and practice, but fundamentally the decision to do so must come from you - it's your health after all.


Best wishes,

[Markus Kahila]

If you are not healthy then best not to practice stance training. First step would be to regain your health.

- George is absolutely right - before considering stance training, you need to be healthy first. Suffering from social phobia comes, in chi kung terms, from having energy blockage.

Stance training is an exercise for building chi. Building chi when you have serious blockages is dangerous and very likely to hurt you.


There are many ways to removing your energy blockage, of which genuine chi kung is one of the very best. If you wish to learn chi kung from written instructions, I would recommend this or this book. Pick the best exercise for your situation, and practice it exactly according to instructions.


However, all chi kung is best learned from a master. The first step to overcoming your condition - or any condition - is having the courage and the willingness to get better, not only in thought, but also in action.

It is you who needs to take the first step. Consider the possibility of attending a chi kung course with Grandmaster Wong, or a Shaolin Wahnam instructor. If you attend, I guarantee you won't regret it.


Best wishes,