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improving horse stance...
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ZenMachine
New member
Back when stances and forms actually mattered to me, we used to do a drill.
Take a horse stance. Then front snap kick alternating legs. Kick, horse stance, other leg kick horse stance.
When I would teach, I used to do them for warmups. I wasn't always the most popular.
Take a horse stance. Then front snap kick alternating legs. Kick, horse stance, other leg kick horse stance.
When I would teach, I used to do them for warmups. I wasn't always the most popular.
3 Fortunes
New member
Not doing it would be the best method to improve it.
Why on earth would you need horse stance endurance?
B True
B True
Thaibox
New member
I think the last time I did one, I was 9.
I understand that some profs will make you endure this stupid thing when you are just beginning your training.
If this is the case you have two options
1. Position yourself in a horse stance wherever you go. In line at the grocery store, when taking a sobriety test, when picking up a girl at a bar, in the shower, at dinner, over the toilet to take a crap, at the movies, at work, on the bus, and so on. This ability to remain in the horse stance and endure any future tests of boredom will surely impress your instructor.
2. Find a new dojo
I honestly don't mean to make this sound like a flame my friend. My first Kenpo instructor made us stand in that stupid thing for hours. He'd stand on our knees and whack us a little, old school style. This was merely a test to see who would stick with it. After that, we began to learn things that had actual value.
I understand that some profs will make you endure this stupid thing when you are just beginning your training.
If this is the case you have two options
1. Position yourself in a horse stance wherever you go. In line at the grocery store, when taking a sobriety test, when picking up a girl at a bar, in the shower, at dinner, over the toilet to take a crap, at the movies, at work, on the bus, and so on. This ability to remain in the horse stance and endure any future tests of boredom will surely impress your instructor.
2. Find a new dojo
I honestly don't mean to make this sound like a flame my friend. My first Kenpo instructor made us stand in that stupid thing for hours. He'd stand on our knees and whack us a little, old school style. This was merely a test to see who would stick with it. After that, we began to learn things that had actual value.
Lord_Suston
New member
my old sensei and father (JKA instructor) would makes us do thsoe horrible things for hours
Best wat I ever found it was to just practice it day in and day out, once in the morning and once before bed, To this day I will almost bever do a horse stance because I have so many horrible memories of it
Best wat I ever found it was to just practice it day in and day out, once in the morning and once before bed, To this day I will almost bever do a horse stance because I have so many horrible memories of it
How on earth will any of that ever make you a better fighter or Martial Artist?
B True
B True
reddy said:
Many old school Asian Martial Artists NEVER fought either...
B True
Wolverine_K1
New member
The horse stance is very useful for..............
developing the horse stance!
I would love for an opponent to jump in one during a fight then he'd be at my mercy! Seriously go to a class that has evolved away from these practices. The horse stance will never make you a better fighter, unless its your own style tourney where you must fight in it.
developing the horse stance!
I would love for an opponent to jump in one during a fight then he'd be at my mercy! Seriously go to a class that has evolved away from these practices. The horse stance will never make you a better fighter, unless its your own style tourney where you must fight in it.
Thaibox
New member
Same way half of the stuff you learn in a traditional dojo will...it won'tb fold the truth said:
They're one of those things for kids, beginners, etc.
Some styles still utilize these as part of a "hardening"disiplinary stance. Just a way to stand while your prof beats you with sticks and crap. My Kenpo instructor use to do it to us when I was young.
I taught Martial Arts for years...and always took an unconventional approach both to practicing, teaching, and learning. Always look for new methods of ALL three of them.
We always tried to have lots of fun. If we weren't having fun then we didn't push as hard in practice, I didn't teach as efficient, and we didn't learn near as much. There are tons of ways to improve in Martial Arts and still keep it fun...tons.
B True
We always tried to have lots of fun. If we weren't having fun then we didn't push as hard in practice, I didn't teach as efficient, and we didn't learn near as much. There are tons of ways to improve in Martial Arts and still keep it fun...tons.
B True
Happyastro
New member
Discipline.
I have been Thai-boxing and wrestling for nearly 17 years now; started when I was ten.
Before that I was doing KungFu and yes I did not see the point of doing the horse stance at first, but I realised that it is not so much as doing it, it is keeping it going and fighting against my own natural arges to let go and stop.
It help developed discipline which has helped me to this day; lol it helped me stay up when I went to my first Thai-boxing camp in Thailand at age 10 (My father worked in Thailand for a few years and the rest of my family followed him.); I was getting belted up by boys of 11-15 years old who had been Thai-boxing since they were 5 years old (over there Thai-boxing is a way to make a living)
It was also pretty spartan there, there were somethings that seem odd to me at first such as the splashing of water in your eyes as you train; I learned over time that it was getting used to blood and sweat that will flow down your eyes in a fight.
It is the basic core of discipline that is necessary for anything you do in life; for example when training for the SAS you recieve alot of meaningless hard to do tasks but you do them anyway to force your body to act to your will.
Keep up the horse stance; it has no practical use in the physical sense lol if anyone was stupid enough to punch using that stance they deserved to lose, BUT it is of use for mind training as your body can only do what your mind wills it to do; at high levels of ring fighting or street-fighting most opponents are in great shape and have good fighting skills/experience what makes a champ is the one who can will himself to perform BEYOND what the body can normally do; aka when you are bashed beyond believe but still somehow hold your guard up and keep going.
I have been Thai-boxing and wrestling for nearly 17 years now; started when I was ten.
Before that I was doing KungFu and yes I did not see the point of doing the horse stance at first, but I realised that it is not so much as doing it, it is keeping it going and fighting against my own natural arges to let go and stop.
It help developed discipline which has helped me to this day; lol it helped me stay up when I went to my first Thai-boxing camp in Thailand at age 10 (My father worked in Thailand for a few years and the rest of my family followed him.); I was getting belted up by boys of 11-15 years old who had been Thai-boxing since they were 5 years old (over there Thai-boxing is a way to make a living)
It was also pretty spartan there, there were somethings that seem odd to me at first such as the splashing of water in your eyes as you train; I learned over time that it was getting used to blood and sweat that will flow down your eyes in a fight.
It is the basic core of discipline that is necessary for anything you do in life; for example when training for the SAS you recieve alot of meaningless hard to do tasks but you do them anyway to force your body to act to your will.
Keep up the horse stance; it has no practical use in the physical sense lol if anyone was stupid enough to punch using that stance they deserved to lose, BUT it is of use for mind training as your body can only do what your mind wills it to do; at high levels of ring fighting or street-fighting most opponents are in great shape and have good fighting skills/experience what makes a champ is the one who can will himself to perform BEYOND what the body can normally do; aka when you are bashed beyond believe but still somehow hold your guard up and keep going.
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Thaibox
New member
Happyastro, good point with the spec-ops analogy.
Where in Thailand did you train? I've never had the opportunity to go there, but I've been to and helped with several camps in the states. Another good analogy you gave was the Spartan lifestyle over there. By the time those kids are in their 20's, they have more physical problems than most older americans. I met one exceptional young fighter from Nepal who amazed me at 15 years old. I would confidently put him in the ring against many American pros. Man, I couldn't even start training in MT until I was 18
Where in Thailand did you train? I've never had the opportunity to go there, but I've been to and helped with several camps in the states. Another good analogy you gave was the Spartan lifestyle over there. By the time those kids are in their 20's, they have more physical problems than most older americans. I met one exceptional young fighter from Nepal who amazed me at 15 years old. I would confidently put him in the ring against many American pros. Man, I couldn't even start training in MT until I was 18
Thaibox
New member
Agreed. When I taught, or when I was helping others teach, I would always try and have a good time. I would always try and make it fun. But, I would also make it very clear that we were there to learn and train hard. So keeping the balance was tough with new people, but it tended to work well. Good students knew when it was time to be funny, and when it was time to be serious. I noticed when I taught(or trained with) experienced fighters that it was easy to have a really good time while we trained. We'd all train our asses off, but be having a crapload of fun. The guys I trained with most of the time were a bunch of clowns. It was like Junior high school with really big kids.b fold the truth said:
I never had much respect for any profs that couldn't laugh at themselves. The "hard-core, badass, never crack a smile" profs always bothered me.
Happyastro
New member
Thailand
I trained at Monthaburi Bangkok; it was a real culture shock at first as I was the only non Thai there. (Around 1985)
My father paid the owner "pa" (crazy stick as he was called) to look after me when he had to head off near the border for his work.
It was also an elementary school too; you stayed there to study and to train as well.
lol had to sleep on the floor with 20 other kids, a doona, a sheet and a little fan.
Eat our meals in the middle of the room, sharing dishes.
Usual routine was:
Getting up at 4:00am run 10km, do pads three rounds, kick the bag another six rounds, grapple for half hour straight with two other guys, do 250 situps and 50 pushups- probably finished by 8:am than you had schooling (maths etc) and eat breakfast.
3:30pm start running, hit pads for 5-6 rounds, hit pads again for 10-12 rounds, grappling again, knee the bag with 100-200 knees, kick the bag non stop, 30-50 kicks a leg, finish with groundwork at 6:30pm dinner at 8pm, bed by 9:30pm- seven days a week. LOL I think I was in the best shape of my life!!
For the older guys it is a considered a job, a boxer is an employee of a camp. They play techniques for about 15 mins; no wearing pads. The kicks are pulled. There is ALOT of shin to shin so conditioning is no problem, as you are in training they do not knee you with the actual knee but with the inside of the thigh- but they put it in so your conditioning your body. You get your side of your body toughed up, eventually callused.
Situps are done more for conditioning than actual ab training, someone stands on you and push you down with their feet, to strengthen the area so you do not get knocked out by a knee in a fight.
We are not allowed toys or dirty magazines; we did not have showers, it is just wetting yourself on a big basin.
I remembered the older guys only get let out a week after a fight; lol and most of them head straight to Pattaya (which is like a fun park for young men eheheh)
Yes Thai-boxing has spread over most of the world now mainly due to movies and good promotion.
I am not surprised that there are camps in the USA; and the quality will only increase over time as more and more non Thai people pick it up.
In fact the King's birthday fights are hosting alot of non Thai fighters, it is a show down between the best Thai and non Thai talent. I went to one in 1997 and there were 120,000 people in the big park at Wat Phra Kaew (middle of bangkok) it was amazing. That year an Aussie won the title he was the third foreigner to take it. He beat Orono by points; lol Orona was a tough mother, the Aussie (John Parr) changed stance on him, he went southpaw, instead of orthodox; which kept him away from Orona's massive elbows.
Thailand has alot of good camps; you should go there sometime, just stay away from the camps in Pattaya they are for tourist.. head out from Pattaya and you will see the good camps.
As for those guys starting real young....... yeah most of them burn out from competition fighting by their mid 20,s.
It is the damn injuries that become chronic after while.......
Anyway starting at 18 years old is optimum as your body is ripe for the motor skill adaption.
LOL I still have very mild arthiritus on my hands; but I will do it all over again due to all the friends I met and the conditioning it did for my body.
I trained at Monthaburi Bangkok; it was a real culture shock at first as I was the only non Thai there. (Around 1985)
My father paid the owner "pa" (crazy stick as he was called) to look after me when he had to head off near the border for his work.
It was also an elementary school too; you stayed there to study and to train as well.
lol had to sleep on the floor with 20 other kids, a doona, a sheet and a little fan.
Eat our meals in the middle of the room, sharing dishes.
Usual routine was:
Getting up at 4:00am run 10km, do pads three rounds, kick the bag another six rounds, grapple for half hour straight with two other guys, do 250 situps and 50 pushups- probably finished by 8:am than you had schooling (maths etc) and eat breakfast.
3:30pm start running, hit pads for 5-6 rounds, hit pads again for 10-12 rounds, grappling again, knee the bag with 100-200 knees, kick the bag non stop, 30-50 kicks a leg, finish with groundwork at 6:30pm dinner at 8pm, bed by 9:30pm- seven days a week. LOL I think I was in the best shape of my life!!
For the older guys it is a considered a job, a boxer is an employee of a camp. They play techniques for about 15 mins; no wearing pads. The kicks are pulled. There is ALOT of shin to shin so conditioning is no problem, as you are in training they do not knee you with the actual knee but with the inside of the thigh- but they put it in so your conditioning your body. You get your side of your body toughed up, eventually callused.
Situps are done more for conditioning than actual ab training, someone stands on you and push you down with their feet, to strengthen the area so you do not get knocked out by a knee in a fight.
We are not allowed toys or dirty magazines; we did not have showers, it is just wetting yourself on a big basin.
I remembered the older guys only get let out a week after a fight; lol and most of them head straight to Pattaya (which is like a fun park for young men eheheh)
Yes Thai-boxing has spread over most of the world now mainly due to movies and good promotion.
I am not surprised that there are camps in the USA; and the quality will only increase over time as more and more non Thai people pick it up.
In fact the King's birthday fights are hosting alot of non Thai fighters, it is a show down between the best Thai and non Thai talent. I went to one in 1997 and there were 120,000 people in the big park at Wat Phra Kaew (middle of bangkok) it was amazing. That year an Aussie won the title he was the third foreigner to take it. He beat Orono by points; lol Orona was a tough mother, the Aussie (John Parr) changed stance on him, he went southpaw, instead of orthodox; which kept him away from Orona's massive elbows.
Thailand has alot of good camps; you should go there sometime, just stay away from the camps in Pattaya they are for tourist.. head out from Pattaya and you will see the good camps.
As for those guys starting real young....... yeah most of them burn out from competition fighting by their mid 20,s.
It is the damn injuries that become chronic after while.......
Anyway starting at 18 years old is optimum as your body is ripe for the motor skill adaption.
LOL I still have very mild arthiritus on my hands; but I will do it all over again due to all the friends I met and the conditioning it did for my body.
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All of my students called me Clint...NOT Mr. Darden...
We were friends and students back to each other...ALL of us learning. We also hung out a lot on weekends and helped to be a positive influence on each other.
We became a family...
B True
We were friends and students back to each other...ALL of us learning. We also hung out a lot on weekends and helped to be a positive influence on each other.
We became a family...
B True
Thaibox
New member
I'm envious. That was one hell of a life experience you had. I've been invited to Thailand several times in the past. Either when a friend was going back there or for a fight. I never went. Sounds odd, and has always bothered me. I spent some time in Japan and had some excellent experiences there, but I've always been pulled to Thailand. I always regret not taking advatage of some opportunities. It was either school, my own training, teaching, or work that kept me here. All my buddies have plenty of stories about Pattaya, and the uh...."co-ed" training camps
that are abundant there.
If I ever get out there now, it certainly wouldn't be to train. I'm just a lifter now, too many injuries. Its been a couple years since I've trained seriously and don't really consider myself a "figther" anymore. Its still in my heart, but I don't have the mind-set any longer. I lost my edge over the last couple years. I've been training some people, so that keeps me into it a little. Once I get my back surgery I'm going to start training formally in Aikido and possibly another. I'll study the arts forever, but my days of Muay Thai are definately behind me. It will always be in my heart though. I've kept up my shin work though, and can still splinter a 2X4 . Now I just have to figure out a way to do that from the wheel chair I'll be in when I'm 50.
B-fold,
Thats the perfect way to put it. Family. Ideal
. All my buddies have plenty of stories about Pattaya, and the uh...."co-ed" training camps that are abundant there.If I ever get out there now, it certainly wouldn't be to train. I'm just a lifter now, too many injuries. Its been a couple years since I've trained seriously and don't really consider myself a "figther" anymore. Its still in my heart, but I don't have the mind-set any longer. I lost my edge over the last couple years. I've been training some people, so that keeps me into it a little. Once I get my back surgery I'm going to start training formally in Aikido and possibly another. I'll study the arts forever, but my days of Muay Thai are definately behind me. It will always be in my heart though. I've kept up my shin work though, and can still splinter a 2X4
. Now I just have to figure out a way to do that from the wheel chair I'll be in when I'm 50.B-fold,
Thats the perfect way to put it. Family. Ideal
brian747478`
New member
B,
interesting fam wasn't it? haha
brian
interesting fam wasn't it? haha
brian
brian747478` said:
It is good to see one of my ex students on the boards
B True
Happyastro
New member
Long term.
Yeah bodybuilding is the only way to go in the long run; the body can only take so much....
Weight training helps us look good and a great fat burner (despite what others say.)
What is interesting though is the increase in cross-training in the arts.
I notice alot of Thai camps incorporating a proper weight-training program to compliment their already famous conditioning system.
On the reverse I notice alot of western gyms are taking up similar conditioning systems to the Thais.
The martial arts of the future (and in some gyms current) will blend the ancient tried and true conditioning techniques with modern bodybuilding programs.
(Yes in reply to the other thread; I hope that trainers are abit more open minded to steriods and other drugs; as the combination of ancient conditioning and modern body-building will be abit much for most people's body systems el natural.)
As for Aikido; it is a great system for take down and grapple. It will help round up the great standup fight technique of Thai-boxing.
I have modified my Thai-boxing punch technique; to standard boxing hands as I find that in terms of punching boxers have it good. I have boxed for the last couple of years and I found it has strengthen my hand techniques.
Wrestling is great too for ground floor fighting and gallotine chokes etc.
As for elbows and knees I have remained faithful to the old ways; eheh if it is not broken why fix it.
Yeah bodybuilding is the only way to go in the long run; the body can only take so much....
Weight training helps us look good and a great fat burner (despite what others say.)
What is interesting though is the increase in cross-training in the arts.
I notice alot of Thai camps incorporating a proper weight-training program to compliment their already famous conditioning system.
On the reverse I notice alot of western gyms are taking up similar conditioning systems to the Thais.
The martial arts of the future (and in some gyms current) will blend the ancient tried and true conditioning techniques with modern bodybuilding programs.
(Yes in reply to the other thread; I hope that trainers are abit more open minded to steriods and other drugs; as the combination of ancient conditioning and modern body-building will be abit much for most people's body systems el natural.)
As for Aikido; it is a great system for take down and grapple. It will help round up the great standup fight technique of Thai-boxing.
I have modified my Thai-boxing punch technique; to standard boxing hands as I find that in terms of punching boxers have it good. I have boxed for the last couple of years and I found it has strengthen my hand techniques.
Wrestling is great too for ground floor fighting and gallotine chokes etc.
As for elbows and knees I have remained faithful to the old ways; eheh if it is not broken why fix it.
