• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 05:21
CEST 11:21
KST 18:21
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Serral wins EWC 202537Tournament Spotlight: FEL Cracow 202510Power Rank - Esports World Cup 202580RSL Season 1 - Final Week9[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall15
Community News
LiuLi Cup - August 2025 Tournaments3[BSL 2025] H2 - Team Wars, Weeklies & SB Ladder9EWC 2025 - Replay Pack4Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced50BSL Team Wars - Bonyth, Dewalt, Hawk & Sziky teams10
StarCraft 2
General
The GOAT ranking of GOAT rankings Serral wins EWC 2025 Tournament Spotlight: FEL Cracow 2025 Classic: "It's a thick wall to break through to become world champ" Firefly given lifetime ban by ESIC following match-fixing investigation
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament LiuLi Cup - August 2025 Tournaments Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) TaeJa vs Creator Bo7 SC Evo Showmatch FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $10,000 live event
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 484 Magnetic Pull Mutation #239 Bad Weather Mutation # 483 Kill Bot Wars Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune
Brood War
General
Which top zerg/toss will fail in qualifiers? Scmdraft 2 - 0.9.0 Preview BW General Discussion [BSL 2025] H2 - Team Wars, Weeklies & SB Ladder Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced
Tourneys
[ASL20] Online Qualifiers Day 2 [ASL20] Online Qualifiers Day 1 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
[G] Mineral Boosting Muta micro map competition Does 1 second matter in StarCraft? Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Beyond All Reason Total Annihilation Server - TAForever [MMORPG] Tree of Savior (Successor of Ragnarok)
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative
Fan Clubs
INnoVation Fan Club SKT1 Classic Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Korean Music Discussion
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2025 Football Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Gtx660 graphics card replacement Installation of Windows 10 suck at "just a moment" Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
TeamLiquid Team Shirt On Sale The Automated Ban List
Blogs
ASL S20 English Commentary…
namkraft
The Link Between Fitness and…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Socialism Anyone?
GreenHorizons
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 718 users

Mabu/Horse stance Question

Blogs > Quint
Post a Reply
Normal
Quint
Profile Blog Joined March 2007
467 Posts
January 06 2009 22:12 GMT
#1
Those of you familiar with martial arts probably know what I am talking about, if not:

[image loading]


So I know the basics like:

- Knees should never extend over the toes
- Back and upper body should be straight and relaxed
- Weight should be evenly distributed by the whole sole of each foot

My question is: How deep should you actually go? I know that your thights should be parallel to the ground so they can support a staff, but after some time I notice that I slump more and more, respectively my butt goes deeper than my knees which can't be good for them.

On the other hand I read that the deeper = the better, yet I experienced severe pain in my knees if I really go as low as possible.

Am I doing something entirely wrong or how do you prevent yourself from going too low? Besides, how long can you stay in Mabu? Right now, I can do a whopping three minutes, which compared to Chinese kids doing it for hours seems rather improvable

*
Steelflight-Rx
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States1389 Posts
January 06 2009 22:26 GMT
#2
that looks pretty sick. sorry i dont know anything about it..
yubee wrote: you know? it's a great night you should all smile no matter what harddships, because grass grows and the sky is blue and it's a good life.
IntoTheWow
Profile Blog Joined May 2004
is awesome32274 Posts
January 06 2009 22:33 GMT
#3
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?
Moderator<:3-/-<
Showtime!
Profile Joined November 2007
Canada2938 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-01-06 22:40:04
January 06 2009 22:38 GMT
#4
You need a strong foundation to do martial arts IntotheWow, that is the just of it anyway.

Yes, you should aim to try and get lower and lower because the lower you are to the ground = more stability/grounded.

Make sure your butt isn't sticking out though. It's hard to stay relaxed when your legs are wobbling everywhere. ;/
Mini skirt season is right around the corner. ☻
jtan
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Sweden5891 Posts
January 06 2009 22:39 GMT
#5
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

If you ever feel like riding two horses at once?
Enter a Uh
koreasilver
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
9109 Posts
January 06 2009 22:40 GMT
#6
When I used to do martial arts it was one of the first basic stances I learned. To be honest, there is no real practical value to it, but rather something to discipline yourself, and once you become comfortable with the stance it helps you move onto other stances with ease.
AloneInDaBunker
Profile Joined November 2008
Korea (South)123 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-01-06 22:42:02
January 06 2009 22:40 GMT
#7
Boxer is the truth.
AloneInDaBunker
Profile Joined November 2008
Korea (South)123 Posts
January 06 2009 22:41 GMT
#8
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

to let your inner strength flow outward. on toilet that is..
Boxer is the truth.
Showtime!
Profile Joined November 2007
Canada2938 Posts
January 06 2009 22:42 GMT
#9
There is a lot to it than that man, rofl.

Every other stance derives from it.

If you want to move like water you have to have a strong core to do it from.

That's why you should hold it for hours on end at least once a day.

Horse Stance is POWA!
Mini skirt season is right around the corner. ☻
Deleted User 3420
Profile Blog Joined May 2003
24492 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-01-06 23:25:02
January 06 2009 22:53 GMT
#10
im no martial artist but imo u should ask yourself how flexible you want to be, as it will turn into a stretch when you go deep enough. If you do go deeper make sure to focus on keep your butt pushed out.


also, it's surely not very important, but when doing most standing poses I like to put my hand into an anjali mudra position:

[image loading]



for various reasons hehe
but I don't know martial arts and there could be a good reason for having your hands like you do.



do you have a knee injury? maybe you should do some other stretches before trying to go deeper. tbh your form looks pretty good right now
Dalroti
Profile Joined October 2008
Canada70 Posts
January 06 2009 23:01 GMT
#11
umm in tkd u dont usually go that far down. maybe u are going to far down?
My great grand father was a magic penguin
Mastermind
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Canada7096 Posts
January 06 2009 23:16 GMT
#12
whats with all this talk of going farther down? When I trained in martial arts we did this stance with our thighs parallel to the ground as in that picture. Letting your body go down was considered bad form because thats what happens when you are to weak to maintain the proper form.
Deleted User 3420
Profile Blog Joined May 2003
24492 Posts
January 06 2009 23:26 GMT
#13
On January 07 2009 08:16 Mastermind wrote:
whats with all this talk of going farther down? When I trained in martial arts we did this stance with our thighs parallel to the ground as in that picture. Letting your body go down was considered bad form because thats what happens when you are to weak to maintain the proper form.


I don't think so. I would think it means you are too weak if you can't keep proper back/butt posture and proper leg alignment
Mastermind
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Canada7096 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-01-06 23:49:26
January 06 2009 23:48 GMT
#14
On January 07 2009 08:26 travis wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 08:16 Mastermind wrote:
whats with all this talk of going farther down? When I trained in martial arts we did this stance with our thighs parallel to the ground as in that picture. Letting your body go down was considered bad form because thats what happens when you are to weak to maintain the proper form.


I don't think so. I would think it means you are too weak if you can't keep proper back/butt posture and proper leg alignment

isnt that essentially what I said? maybe i am misunderstanding something here. When I do it, any angles my body creates are all 90 degrees. If the angle at my knees is less than 90, it is easier.
selboN
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States2523 Posts
January 07 2009 00:51 GMT
#15
That's like some crouching tiger hidden dragon shit!
"That's what happens when you're using a mouse made out of glass!" -Tasteless (Referring to ZergBong)
ilovehnk
Profile Joined October 2008
475 Posts
January 07 2009 01:14 GMT
#16
It is good to train your quads and hamstrings, but it is very ineffective as a fighting stance.
Hikou Shinketsushuu
jgad
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Canada899 Posts
January 07 2009 01:33 GMT
#17

My question is: How deep should you actually go?

Am I doing something entirely wrong or how do you prevent yourself from going too low?

Besides, how long can you stay in Mabu?


Go as low as you can while still being able to keep your structure - if someone can poke you over with one finger, etc, you're too low. With practice, you will be able to hold and control your structure in lower and lower postures. Go as low as you can in practice - this is to give you more range when you do have to fight. If you go into a fight at 20% low, say, then you still have 80% range of movement with strong structural control. This is what allows you to absorb attacks while retaining the ability to redirect and return, etc.

Always try to hold the posture higher than your lowest good posture - this will let you feel your weak points more clearly - overtired (ie: overused) musles become weak first and will tremor a bit. This is normal and shows you the muscles you are favouring too much. Raise your posture a *little* bit and relax but don't stop holding the posture - you will naturally start using your deeper muscles to support the posture and strengthen them. As you get stronger, you will be able to lower the posture and keep control, but you have to do the long standing to get this. I wouldn't say that hours are necessary, but if you can do a 30-40 minute stand you're getting on well. I typically do this with a pattern of eight different upper body postures to set pace - each posture for 10 breaths, say, then increase the number of breaths to extend your standing time. Gives you time to work on breathing control as well.
콩까지마
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24680 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-01-07 01:34:10
January 07 2009 01:33 GMT
#18
Is that a boy scout camp in the background?

http://www.troop125bsa.com/emblem.htm
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
Not_Computer
Profile Blog Joined January 2007
Canada2277 Posts
January 07 2009 01:44 GMT
#19
note: there are northern and southern styles... i think mine is southern styled. the most notable difference between north and south are how far apart you can spread your feet... i think the dude in the OP's pic is doing northern or something ... that's not how i learned it

back must be straight
head is leveled and at attention
butt cannot stick out
knees cannot extend over tip of feet
feet flat
feet are at outer width of shoulders (like, the inner side of the foot would be the outer side of the shoulders)
hands are fists, palm upward, elbows behind (this should make your chest stick out... but don't stick out too much because your back should be straight)
heel, spine also aligned
as balanced as possible
be as symmetrical as possible

i dunno, this is all just off the top of my head, some of them might even be wrong.

i had a co-worker a while ago that had such a firm horse stance that you couldn't tip him over. like, if you charged at him, or tried to grab onto him, or tackle him, or pull him down, etc. .. he could twist his body and/or wrestle himself free without having to move the position of his feet. all about body physics. moving forces ftw
"Jaedong hyung better be ready. I'm going to order the most expensive dinner in Korea."
IntoTheWow
Profile Blog Joined May 2004
is awesome32274 Posts
January 07 2009 01:55 GMT
#20
On January 07 2009 07:41 AloneInDaBunker wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

to let your inner strength flow outward. on toilet that is..


hahaha
Moderator<:3-/-<
Frits
Profile Joined March 2003
11782 Posts
January 07 2009 02:03 GMT
#21
On January 07 2009 07:39 jtan wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

If you ever feel like riding two horses at once?


lol nice

This sounds like one of those spiritual things, which is reason enough never to get involved in it.
selboN
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States2523 Posts
January 07 2009 04:03 GMT
#22
On January 07 2009 07:39 jtan wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

If you ever feel like riding two horses at once?

Down here in Texas we all have to learn that stance for that reason in particular. When those big sand storms brew up we have to be able to ride two horses simultaneously. One horse power just doesn't cut it out west.
"That's what happens when you're using a mouse made out of glass!" -Tasteless (Referring to ZergBong)
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24680 Posts
January 07 2009 04:05 GMT
#23
On January 07 2009 13:03 selboN wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 07:39 jtan wrote:
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

If you ever feel like riding two horses at once?

Down here in Texas we all have to learn that stance for that reason in particular. When those big sand storms brew up we have to be able to ride two horses simultaneously. One horse power just doesn't cut it out west.

I really can't tell what you are going for with this post lol

In addition, a horse typically does not output one horsepower. I'd say a horsepower more accurately describes a human's maximum output.
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
Deleted User 3420
Profile Blog Joined May 2003
24492 Posts
January 07 2009 04:05 GMT
#24
On January 07 2009 13:03 selboN wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 07:39 jtan wrote:
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

If you ever feel like riding two horses at once?

Down here in Texas we all have to learn that stance for that reason in particular. When those big sand storms brew up we have to be able to ride two horses simultaneously. One horse power just doesn't cut it out west.


lmao
selboN
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States2523 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-01-07 04:15:03
January 07 2009 04:13 GMT
#25
On January 07 2009 13:05 micronesia wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 13:03 selboN wrote:
On January 07 2009 07:39 jtan wrote:
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

If you ever feel like riding two horses at once?

Down here in Texas we all have to learn that stance for that reason in particular. When those big sand storms brew up we have to be able to ride two horses simultaneously. One horse power just doesn't cut it out west.

I really can't tell what you are going for with this post lol

In addition, a horse typically does not output one horsepower. I'd say a horsepower more accurately describes a human's maximum output.

>.< Do you not get it..? 1 horse + 1 horse = 2 horses. Do you seriously think we still ride horses through the desert down here? >.>
edit: what I was going for is a sarcastic reply to a sarcastic post :\ Guess I failed.
"That's what happens when you're using a mouse made out of glass!" -Tasteless (Referring to ZergBong)
Xiberia
Profile Joined September 2007
Sweden634 Posts
January 07 2009 06:55 GMT
#26
On January 07 2009 13:13 selboN wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 07 2009 13:05 micronesia wrote:
On January 07 2009 13:03 selboN wrote:
On January 07 2009 07:39 jtan wrote:
On January 07 2009 07:33 IntoTheWow wrote:
Anyone care to explain the purpose of it?

If you ever feel like riding two horses at once?

Down here in Texas we all have to learn that stance for that reason in particular. When those big sand storms brew up we have to be able to ride two horses simultaneously. One horse power just doesn't cut it out west.

I really can't tell what you are going for with this post lol

In addition, a horse typically does not output one horsepower. I'd say a horsepower more accurately describes a human's maximum output.

>.< Do you not get it..? 1 horse + 1 horse = 2 horses. Do you seriously think we still ride horses through the desert down here? >.>
edit: what I was going for is a sarcastic reply to a sarcastic post :\ Guess I failed.

It's ok. micronesia isn't good at this "joke" business.
Normal
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 39m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Nina 318
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 11553
Hyuk 2853
ggaemo 1498
firebathero 903
Hyun 672
Larva 650
actioN 555
Leta 273
Noble 203
Dewaltoss 106
[ Show more ]
Mong 57
ivOry 6
Dota 2
monkeys_forever622
XcaliburYe549
ODPixel156
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K1030
Super Smash Bros
Westballz37
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor277
Other Games
summit1g7688
gofns7193
Fuzer 184
Mew2King71
Organizations
StarCraft: Brood War
Afreeca ASL 1928
UltimateBattle 152
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta59
• Dystopia_ 3
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV380
Upcoming Events
Sparkling Tuna Cup
39m
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
4h 39m
Bonyth vs TBD
WardiTV European League
6h 39m
ByuN vs ShoWTimE
HeRoMaRinE vs MaxPax
Wardi Open
1d 1h
OSC
1d 14h
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
[ Show More ]
RSL Revival
6 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

ASL Season 20: Qualifier #1
FEL Cracow 2025
CC Div. A S7

Ongoing

Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Qualifiers
ASL Season 20: Qualifier #2
HCC Europe
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025

Upcoming

ASL Season 20
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
SEL Season 2 Championship
WardiTV Summer 2025
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
Thunderpick World Champ.
MESA Nomadic Masters Fall
CAC 2025
Roobet Cup 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.