Practicality of stances in realistic fights.

[kodankan]

thank you.
he is a good teacher.
i am very lucky to be his student.

[Hikage]

Pracicality of stancs

Vamp,

Interesting question. I would listen to the advice that the others have poted concerning being fluid and not staying the the stances very long. Ninjitsu stresses Henka. Henka means change, fluid.

Onto the second part of your question. Would one drop back into ichimonji if you sensed an attack. I wouldn't, you're absolutely right, you'd be betraying that you know something, and you never want to do that. HOWEVER, that being said, you need to realize teh practicality of the stances that they have taught you. Before you drop into ichimonji, you probbaly starting in migi position with your feet together and your one arm out and the other covering your chest. USe this simple modification to help oyou out. Instead of extending your lead hand to your opponents eyes, extend it more as if you were extending it to shake his hand. And talk to him from this position to try and work things out from there. This appears to the onloooker that you were actually looking to resolve the issue in peace (if it would happen to go to court), most people think you're tryiung to shake his hand, it leaves you in a "stance" w/o betraying that yo are in a stance, and gives you a starting point that your body is familiar with.
That being said, I don't particularly like starting in migi. I typically use "hakko". This is teh "hands up" stance as if someone were holding a gun to you. THe only thing here, is you need to bend your knees slightly and move you hands forward so they are up, but still in front of you. This places your hands between you and your opponent, looks non-threatening, and leaves you in a ready position.

3rd part of your question. Doesn't going into ichimonji show which hand you are going to throw. Remember, in your jumonji technique, you rock back in and strike with your lead hand. THere is nothing wrong with doing that in ichimonji as well. Some of the best will use only that lead hand to strike, block, and basically set up their man with that hand. Then, they use the back hand as a back up or throw it when they have their man in trouble (IE, off balance or stunned). The key there is tho that they are only giving them 1 hand, and 1 side. Rememeber, each time you throw, grab, etc at your opponent, you are opening a door for them to counter you.

Good thinking and good questions -- good insight.

-Hikage