Having Trouble with the On Guard Stance

[akatrk]

I am having trouble with the JKD on guard stance. My instructor says that the stance should feel comfortable but honestly, I feel VERY uncomfortable.

I know that the rear foot is supposed to be lifted but how far should my rear foot be turned on an angle? How should my front foot be turned (I'm a righty). How far apart should my feet be? I have read in some books and e-articles that the space between feet should be that of a natural step. Is this true. Is there an easy way of just practicing how to move into this stance until it becomes natural?

My insructor also advises that my head should not be tilted down but upright and relaxed. I thought while in the on guard position the fighter should have his chin down to protect him/her from a punch.

My rear foot is raised so far off the ground that my calf muscle begins to hurt during footwork training. My instructor says that I will get use to it but am I raising my foot too far?

[Watchdog]

Could you post of couple of photos of yourself in the stance? That way we can see where things might need tweeking.

[g-bells]

Stand with your feet together, take a good step forward,angle your front foot in about 40-45 degrees, the instep of your rear foot should line up with your front toe( note: there is a area of 3-4 inches le-way)your back foot should be 1-3inches off the ground and be turned at or near 30 degrees.

hope this helps

[Liberty]

Check this out on the On Guard position, the bottom half of the page:

http://www.geocities.com/jkdinstruct...rk.html?200822

[Michael Wright]

Your body isn't designed to be morphed into a fixed position, therefore stances will always feel uncomfortable at the beginning. When I was first taught the Bai Jong my balance was all over the place, only through time and movement did I relax into it and adapt it for me.

In terms of drills to help you feel comfortable, stick to the basics and use a mirror. Step and slide forward, back, right and left. Slide and step, push shuffle, pendulum step, circle clockwise and anti-clockwise. It just takes time, but always keep a mental note of what feels more natural and what doesn't, thats your body's way of telling you what fits you. In terms of brain food try to watch some fencing, the linear movement of the Bai Jong is based on this art. Also watch Boxers with good footwork, the circular and dynamic footwork of the Bai Jong is based on Boxing.

Overall, don't become too wrapped up in stances and positions, once you start to move as a fighter they become largely redundant. As opposed to focussing on the specifics of foot angles and heel raises, concentrate more on your mobility, balance and ability to move efficiently. If that means you have to adapt the stance to fit you then great, thats JKD. Don't allow anyone, including your instructor, to force you into a specific "way" of doing a Bai Jong position, thats not JKD.

[Mike Brewer]

akatrk,
This is something I wrote a while ago, but it might help. I ran across it looking for material for my book which is coming along well, Liberty.

So far as stance goes (if you can call an ever-changing, upwardly mobile base a "stance" at all), I think the most important considerations are:

1. Comfort for long periods. If you can't maintain it naturally for 45 minutes straight, it's a hindrance. This single requirement will filter out most of the BS "stances" taught in martial arts gyms, and it will give you one less thing to worry about when it comes to fighting. Just be comfortable. Plenty of other things in the fight are going to make you uncomfortable. There's no sense doing it to yourself.

2. Balance. Keep the body between the knees - not over-extended to one side or the other, and not leaning too far forward or back. Your butt should be positioned as if there was a stool under you and you are about to sit down on it. Basically, stay centered. (A good way to check your balance is to hop up and down a few times. Your body will settle in the middle if you relax.)

3. Weight placement. Keep the weight forward near the balls of the feet. Don't necessarily raise the heels off the floor, but keep the weight off them. Agility and mobility come from the front of the foot, stability from the heel.

4. Correct angle. Not too square, and not too sideways. You want to make sure that both the lead and rear hands can get some hip rotation right from the on-guard position. The toes of the lead foot are generally pointed at or very nearly at the opponent.

5. Hand and trunk positions. The trunk is crouched enough so that the forearms, fist, and elbow cover from the jaw to the hip bone. Stand up too straight, and you leave the body exposed. Unless you have a serious height and reach advantage, keep to the crouch. Raising the hands too high puts the fist too high above the shoulder, which robs power from your punches. Keep them too low, and you're exposing the head. The lead shoulder stays high and rolled slightly inward so as to protect the chin and keep you covered while jabbing.

[JKDBrando]

Try to imitate what you see, and relax. Don’t think about it so much it will come easier that way. When I train new students that come in I show them, let them work with it while all the time I say relax, you know how to do this it’s easy. They usually pick up the gist of the foot work easy, just need the tuning Next I always have to tell them to keep there hands up and elbows in not pointed out, be calm and relax but at the same time ready.
Bend the knees a little bit, feel springy, sink your hips, feel the power of the ground kind of like a cork screw effect when you throw your jab – cross combo. Make sure where 1 foot goes the other follows or you will not be centered.
Shadow box in the mirror and look for openings in your self when you do this, it will show you where you need to tighten up at.

Train Hard, Train Smart and be safe.

[Liberty]

Stance _ recovery - Balance - can you defend/attack, recover from/with it? I find that most important. Either when still or when mobile - can you mainatain balance prior, during, and after execution without sacrificing speed and or power. And vice versa. Even when you do go all out and lose your balance, how far off are you from recovering that balance? Let that guide you. If you have that, regardless of your position, stance, pose, or whatever, you're pretty well off. It's individual. Mostly, it feels right. Trust your body feel. It will guide you. Not your uncertatinty about correctness but what your body is telling you with regards to your balance.

[Mike Brewer]

In addition, you'll also want to work on what I call "dynamic balance." it's that ability you have not to fall down when you trip, or to recover yourself after a clumsy step. Talk to some sports coaches, especially in sports like basketball, soccer, raquetball and quick footwork sports of that kind and they'll give you some great drills for improving this attribute.

The benefit of course, is that far more "feels right" and you're more comfortable across a wide range of movement.

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

In addition, you'll also want to work on what I call "dynamic balance." it's that ability you have not to fall down when you trip, or to recover yourself after a clumsy step. Talk to some sports coaches, especially in sports like basketball, soccer, raquetball and quick footwork sports of that kind and they'll give you some great drills for improving this attribute.

The benefit of course, is that far more "feels right" and you're more comfortable across a wide range of movement.

Great tip Mike. I've always had that one down pat. That "almost" fell and broke my neck thing.

[akatrk]

Hey guys. Sorry for the late response. Just wanted to say thank you for your responses and advice.

I started to put more time into just trying to relax and work on footwork while in the stance. I found that I was lifting my rear foot a little to high and lowered it a little. That suggestion worked perfect. I still feel a little awkward but I started looking at myself in a mirror to try to adjust somethings.

I know learning the system will take time and I am not expecting this to come overnight. I'll keep practicing.

Thanks again for your help.