HORSE STANCE

[Astrael]

Any advice as to how to hold horse stance for a longer periods of time?

I generally can hold horse stance for about 2 minutes....but I'm trying to aim for 5+ minutes...

[Brandon Fisher]

Do leg strengthening excercises. Force yourself to hold it longer. 2 minutes isn't long enough.

How long have you been training? How long have you been working on kiba dachi? This should help me understand the difficulty you are having.

[Astrael]

It is disgusting and I'm not proud of it either...It's just that your legs get so tired after like a few minutes...I know more experienced martial artists can hold horse stances for ages (I think) so yeah I was wondering whether there's any tip etc for doing so....

I've only been training for a few months....so I guess it's expected for a newbit...

Anyway, What leg strengthening expercises would you recommend?

[Brandon Fisher]

Ok you being a beginner your legs haven't built the strength yet just from regular training. Don't worry about it they will. Squats work well and so do other drills such has carrying someone on your back while do the stances. I don't recomend doing squats with weights but wiht a person on your back seems to work very well. Also look at bushipower.com on the weight training system that has been modernized from the old Okinawan methods. You can do strength training on your arms and legs with that. Also just stand in that position for a long time that will strengthen the legs.

Flexibility is important also to keep the muscles in the legs from stiffing and causing a muscle spasam.

Hope that helps.

[Shotokan-kez]

I can hold kiba dachi for up to 20 mins plus, through experience i have very strong legs, it appears in kata a lot and in certain situations you have to hold your position which also helps. It will ache for a while but the more you do it the better you will become. Follow Brandons advice, he is spot on...as always!!

[ps1]

Mind over matter. Where there's a will there's a way...and all that jazz! Good luck and keep training hard.

[Anbu Alex]

Mind over matter. Where there's a will there's a way...and all that jazz! Good luck and keep training hard.

Oh man u read my mind, yea the horse stance is designed the stregthen your legs its like exercising where your just have to push yourself and with it comes great results

[cathal]

What we usually do to help train the legs is watch TV. The goal being to remain in Kiba-dachi for a full 30 minutes.

You've got the two minutes down so the hard part is over already. The next step is to maintain kiba for the commercial breaks. Do kiba for every other commercial. Next, do it for two commercials, rest for one, and do another two. The goal here is to maintain a good kiba for the entire commercial break.

When you're able to maintain kiba for the entire commercial break (usually about 3-5 minutes) then you can begin alternating five minute intervals through an entire 30-minute show. Then you'll go to six minute intervals, but with no more than a 3-5 minute break. Eventually you will remain in a good kiba for a 30 minute program.

[bushido_man96]

Grit your teeth and gut it out. Try to take your mind off your legs by doing blocks and strikes with your arms. Just as well work your whole body while you can!

[lordtariel]

Be in the stance while you watch tv... and when you are at the computer... and reading a book... and when you're eating... and anytime you're standing around. The more you do it, the stronger you'll get.