How to Assume The Sparring Stance In Soo Bahk Do

Soo Bahk Do is a form of martial arts developed by Master Hwang Kee in 1945. He combined fighting styles from his native Korea with Chinese Kung-Fu as well Confucian and Tao philosophies. The principals behind this Soo Bahk Do emphasize the importance of spiritual growth and the use of force only as a form of discipline or in the defense of oneself and others. Soo Bahk Do is broken down into a series of forms or postures which provide the artist with a series of possible attacks or defenses to choose from. One simply moves from form to form, reliant on reacting to an opponent’s stance and movement to attack. Though this technique is taught with the stern mindset that it is only be used to protect, it also ascribes to the philosophy that in order to effectively defend oneself or others it is sometimes necessary to take the initiative and actively remove a potential threat. For this reason the majority of the attacks in Soo Bahk Do are made up of powerful long range kicks, accompanied with close quarters locks and holds. Footwork is considered essential as the majority of the defensive moves rely on moving around an opponent's attacks rather than directly blocking them. Should getting around an opponent's strike not be an option, the hands are kept free for this very reason. This guide will provide the steps necessary to assume the Sparring Stance in Soo Bahk Do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Practice space
• Sparring partner

Assuming The Sparring Stance

1. Face your opponent in a diagonal stance somewhere between pointing your left shoulder at your opponent and facing him directly. This is a compromise between a traditional side-stance and a traditional front-stance.

2. Keep your hands up in and in front of your chest, ready to block or strike as the situation may require. Because of this your hands should be held loosely open, neither flat nor balled into fists.

3. Keep your knees bent deeply and put the majority of your weight on your front foot. The outside flat of your front foot should face your opponent and the toes should be at an angle to point somewhere off to your opponent's left.

4. Align your rear right foot with your front left foot so it is mostly obscured from your opponent's point of view. Turn your right foot and knee inward to point at your left foot. Your foot work is the most crucial part of this stance. Placed as they are, you have the capacity to drive back or forward, as well as to either side in an instant to react to an opponent or take advantage of a perceived weakness. This is the sparring stance.

Tips & Warnings

• This particular stance is non-traditional and allows for a greater range of movement than one would need in real combat or competition. However it is important to learn the mechanics of Soo Bahk Do by practicing the traditional stances before continuing on to this slightly more advanced level. When stepping back and forth in this stance, it is imperative that you use small steps or hops so your feet do not cross over one another. If this happens then your mobility and ability to react to an opponent's attack is severely hampered. These instructions are for a right hand/foot dominant person, if you’re a left dominant then switch the placement of the hands and feet.

Resources

• Video Instructions On Assuming The Sparring Stance