Recently our school started a low horse stance challenge so kids can have fun and bring out their competitive nature to concentrate and push further. Although this was a fun little segment, The roots of this challenge actually is part of Traditional Internal Gong development and training. This training is used to be kept secret in Wudang Mountain. But as performances and demonstrations around the world spread, more and more people know about it. This is not to be confused with the Shaolin style horse stance.
Before going into the internal training, here is the challenge: 外八字四平開髖一字馬
Outside “Eight” Character “One” Low Horse Stance Challenge：
- Hold 1 second for 1 point, total is 100 seconds for 100 points
- 10/24/24, 10:25 PM Unlock Your Power: Master Internal Training with the Low Horse Stance – Dragon Gate Kungfu
- https://dragongatekungfu.com/martial-arts/unlock-your-power-master-internal-training-with-the-low-horse-stance/ 1/10
- Outside Eight: This is describing our feet placement is like the upside down Eight inChinese 八, so our feet points outward. This is different than our regular horse stancewhere the two feet are parallel to each other
- Character One in Chinese is 一 just one straight horizontal line. So both thighs make ONESTRAIGHT LINE
If your thighs form an Up triangle like the letter “A”, it is wrong! Keep your thighs ONE STRAIGHTLINE!
If your thighs form an Down triangle like the letter “V”, it is wrong! Keep your thighs ONESTRAIGHT LINE!
Just look in the mirror, and draw ONE STRAIGHT LINE!
Many Shaolin/external style practitioners focus on a low horse stance to get strong legs andstrong thighs. However, that is not the purpose of low horse stance when it comes to internaltraining. For internal Gong development, this exercise develops and opens the hip joints. This isthe equivalent of our “Shovel Arms” for the upper body.
Traditional Grading:
- 5 minutes is minimum
- 15 minutes is passing grade
- 30 minutes is excellent
- 90 seconds is BARE MINIMUM
No matter what age group, the BARE MINIMUM 90 seconds is a strongly recommended tomaintain. At this level, it guarantees the basic vitality of your lower extremities.
Here I do it just to show you I’m not all talk no do!
