The Ma Bo, or Horse Stance, is considered the foundation for all the
stances in the Hung system. Hung Gar pugilists were famed for their ability
to stay in the strong Horse Stance for several hours at a time. With
the weight of the body equally distributed on both feet, the stance is
reminiscent of a rider on a horse, thus the name Horse Stance.
The Gung Bo, or Bow and Arrow Stance, is more commonly known as the "front
bow, back arrow" because the front leg is curved like a bow, and the
back leg is straight like an arrow. The saying is: In bending, be like
a bow. The more it is stretched, the more powerful it becomes.
The Ding Bo, or Toe Stance, resembles the posture of a cat about to leap
upon its prey. This is a flexible stance used to execute quick offensive
and defensive movements, including kicking. The weight distribution for
this stance is 90:10. |
