Yi Quan: Never thought that just standing could be so physically hard

[seeker]

Well, I started my Yi Quan trainin to day. We did not do anything else but stand on three different kind of forms. When we started I thought that no way gould that be hard at all, I´m in pretty good shape anyway. I was wrong, after ten minutes I started to feel a lot of "weight" on my legs. My hands started to shake, also. After a while I could not go any further. I started, but suddenly I just fell. The teacher said ´that it's normal at first. I just had forgotten to breathe, he said.
I'ts refreshing to get experiences like this. I lerned a BIG lesson today.
Have any of you people had same kind of experiences???

[Skull X22]

Of Course!!!

Yeah.

Many Martial Artists have tasted the power of "MABU".
Also called "Horse Stance". A famous WuShu stance that
isn't quite cousy. We stand 1 and a half minute, then a break
(short break, 10-15 secs) and stand in it for 30 seconds more.
It may sound easy but we do it extremely low. Wich isn't nice...

[NODAN]

Seeker
Just hang in there, keep on standing! Take no breaks and very few days off and you'll be up to an hour before you know it. After that the rest of the game may get a little tricky.

[Thai Bri]

Whats the point of this?

[shasan]

I guess it's some form of leg exercise? strengthen your quads and stabilization muscles?

When do you learn how to fight in Yi Quan?

[seeker]

Well, the teacher told us that we will start doing movement exercises in a short while. It will take a long time before we will start learning kicks, punches etc. but I think that is not all in fighting. I think good movement, flexibility and reflexes are just as important.
And Im not doing Yi Quan just to learn to hit hard. I did muay thai for that. And I will start doing muay thai (or kyokushinkai karate, Im moving to japan next march)as soon as my shoulder is OK again.

[Thai Bri]

I read on another site that it is meant to strengthen tendons, as opposed to muscle. And this will lead to development of their own style of power.

Not sure I believe it though.

[chris davis 200]

The standing is good for strength of your muscles as well as you tedons etc.

The tendon strength and elasticity is vital to the development of the internal arts power. This is why you do lots of standing first then move onto the attack statergies etc - if you didnt you would damage your tendons and then you would be proper f****d.

I think i have covered the reasons why this is used instead of all muscular power in a previous thread, so i wont go over it again.

But glad that your experience was an eye opener. People dont know how hard it is to do the standing exercises. tiss hard!

I think that you should go to a reputable yi chuan or hsing i school Bri - if you want me to find you one in your area i would be glad to. then you can experience what you have heard me go on about so many times.



cheers
chris

[Thai Bri]

OK - Manchester area.

But something just being "hard" isn't enough for me. I want it to be effective and don't want it to take 15 years to master before it does.

[Lizard]

Originally posted by Thai Bri
OK - Manchester area.

But something just being "hard" isn't enough for me. I want it to be effective and don't want it to take 15 years to master before it does.

How about purchasing a geneticaly enhanced chimp trained in karate. I'm sure if you feed him lots of bananas he would be happy to protect you.

[Thai Bri]

Great idea. You want the job?

[Lizard]

Originally posted by Thai Bri
Great idea. You want the job?

Unfortunately I am not a chimp... yet. I am however in the process of becoming an ape: I'm going to eat lots of fruit and run around on all fours making silly noises. That should do the trick.