What is more powerful in self defence: Horse stance or Front stance?

Question

Let's say I was in a really narrow alley and I was being approached by thugs (who were lined up one-by-one as the alley was a tight squeeze). In that situation should I use horse stance or front stance?

Horse stance would mean I'd hold my ground. I'd sit there rapidly firing off straight punches and the street thugs would walk straight into them dropping like flies.

Alternatively, front stance would mean I could walk forward delivering thunderous strikes of justice much sooner upon the notorious street thugs thus swatting them like flies.

So what would I choose and why?

Answer 1

In a real fight you will not sit ina stance anyway. you will be transitioning from stance to stance at differnet anges and moving different directions depending on what your opponent does. Quite honestly there is a huge variences in thes stances between stles. Okinawinstyles tend to have stances that are more upight and not as deep, to allow faster movment, while japanes styles of karate favor deeper longer stances that are more powerful, but do not have the mobility.

Both of these stances have fighting application, and to the people who say they don't, you just don't know how to use them. remeber a fight will never be static, you will constantly e in motion. the secret is to drill the satnces and moving from one to another until they become scond nature. Know what works for that. Kata, why do you think you move from stance to stance?

Answer 2

Front Stance. It resembles more of a fighting stance. The horse stance is more for holding ground and stability when faced with a specific attack front. In horse stance you will have to fight closely because your rear hand wont get much action if you are unable to move. In front stance you can use both hands more equally and you can recover quicker from several types of kicks.

Lastly, you will find it easier to use the full hip movement from Front stance than horse stance. That equates to a lot of power.

However, in my opinion both stances are not very favorable when fighting in real life. I am not sure what stances your style uses and what they call it but a half stance or fighting stance might be better for multiple attackers as you may have to switch your front more nimbly. For example, an attacker manages to get behind you through the tight squeeze.

Answer 3

Hi Freddy

Like Darb, I agree.  It's not possible to formulate a situation.  Stances are not critical to survival, what's important is that you come out alive.  If you are going to pursue stances then listen to your body when putting yourself in a variety of circum'stances' and see how best you can deliver power.  Don't plan things, allow them to happen in training...again as mentioned: You cannot formulate a real fight.  If you're studying self-defence you will also be studying how to prevent being in these situations also.  Martial Arts is ultimately self-preservation.

Keep the Faith

Ade Finch ~ Founder

The Way Of The Internal Gate

www.internalgate.co.uk

Answer 4

Jesus....you need to try this stuff in reality theres no way either off those would defend yourself from 'thugs'

seriously ask some guys to run at you and see what happens....don't make fight decision in your mind

Answer 5

Stances are dynamic, they depend on the angle of you to your opponent, fighting out of one fixed stance makes no sense as a fight is a dynamic environment.

Horse stance is strong from the front but weak from the sides, it also limits mobility.  A single stance also makes you predictable, so me I would say vary stance to the angle of the opponent and stay mobile.  Bow stance and Athletic stance are far more mobile, which is very important, especially against multiple opponents.

I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for, but as an experienced urban combatant, I would hate to fix on a stance, I would rather be mobile and go on the offensive.

Answer 6

Well if it was just between front and horse, I would go front, just because you have a stronger base with your feet staggered rather than just having them spread.

If you're in a horse stance then if the first guy was charging at you with enough force he would knock you over, as opposed to a front stance where you have one leg back to support your weight if you need to.

Since the alley is a tight squeeze and the attackers are coming straight at you, you only need to worry about moving forwards or backwards, which is what a solid front stance will support.