A couple of points about MA Bu stance. First, per Black Panta, please check with your teacher and your style as Northern and Southern horse stances may be different. A white crane horse stance (southern) may have the knees pointed in slightly while the northern usually does have the feet straight and knees bent at a 90% angle with the butt parallel to the ground. One way to test how deep one should go is to take a staff and place it on the legs....if it stays on then it is deep enough. However, practically, remember that fighting entails appropriate movement sooo.....the horse of course may be shallower in this instance.
A couple of other comments...one way to check the proper width of the legs in relation to the shoulders is easy...you should be able to move from any other stance to and from the Ma Bu if the Ma Bu is proper without adjustment. Whether a cat, arrow, crane, or other stance, even snake creeps down, all should be able to seamlessly move into the horse stance. If not, the proper spacing should be checked.
Per both Panta and Wushu, the essential thing is proper alignment for the individual. One other critical element: the proper alignment re upper back to buttocks. The whole back and butt should be ideally straight and in line as to not cause undue stress to the spine. The center should be from the sphinter and the sphinter to the middle of the head should be straight. This will prevent lower back issues.
A good teacher will ensure this stance is proper as all other stances and movement in most kung fu and internal arts resound from this stance. A good horse stance reflects good kung fu and one cannot have a good skill without it.
This is one long-time practitioner's opinion. By the way, Happy New Year to all!!!  |