Early morning.
Riverside Park.
Fang Cheng bare-chested, legs apart, squatted way down into a horse stance.
This was the stance practiced he learned yesterday from Ma Jianguo, said to be a foundational martial arts technique for beginners.
There's a saying in traditional martial arts: Before learning to punch, first practice the stance for three years.
It refers to the many benefits of practicing stance work— not only does it stretch the tendons and bones, but it also helps invigorate blood circulation and increase physical strength.
Among all stance works, the Horse Stance is the simplest and most commonly seen technique.
Of course.
Simple does not mean unsophisticated or inferior; rather, it indicates its excellent effects and extensive benefits which have made it highly popular and widely practiced.
Practicing Horse Stance is not only for training the tendons and blood but also has immediate effects in actual combat.
