stances weight distribution

[Admin]

a drawback to having your weight evenly distributed on both feet is that you have to shift weight to one side or the other to free up a leg to step. this is in the same basic vein with keeping your knees bent so you are already 'loaded', so to speak. this, in and of itself, is not a major problem, it can be handled. some people are pretty quick out of 50/50 stances even if they are working uphill a bit. a lot of people may start out in a 50/50 stance and then move into single weighted ones once they start moving around...because moving around in split weight stances is awkward at best. it's not what they are intended for...

the real issue with having even weight distribution is the tendency for bracing. most people's concept of strength is to anchor the lower body and use that to support the upper body strength. this bracing is usually accompanied by a leaning into the force as well. it is the default reaction for most people, in most cases. as soon as they get any kind of resistance, they instantly oppose it. people can train for decades in the martial arts and still have that tendency to 'lock up' with their partners, especially in free play. bracing up is something we learn as children, and stick with, because it works..to an extent.

there are many styles of martial arts that advocate a 'strong base', or an 'immovable stance', and this is not surprising given the overwhelming urge to 'base out' when attacked. improving on your basic instinct seems like a smart bet. it just feels right.

problem is it kills your mobility, makes you a sitting duck, and when it is all said and done, will most likely have you resort to wrasslin when you go to use your 'kung fu'.

to make it clear, people are programmed to use force on force, and it takes a lot of training to overcome that baseline reaction.

in contrast, single weighted stances are actually quite weak, as the body is balanced mostly on one point. the structural stability of the three, female, and crane are suspect at best. and that is exactly how it is supposed to be. since you have little or no capability to brace up in single leg stances, you have to rely on your mobility, and advantageous repositioning. the three system is predicated on quality momentum, not structural strength. in longform you engage with one arm at a time (with exceptions) which tends to discourage any clinching, locking up, or holding techniques. there are plenty of throws and takedowns, to be sure, but they are moving affairs, keeping with the concept of continuous motion.

you don't do much resisting in single leg stances simply because you can't.