This week, our Bando minute updates will focus on the three basic combative stances: the N stance, the L stance, and the H stance. Here’s the last installment in this series.
If you’ve been working the Bando Minute every day for the past week, you’re now ready for the Stance Drill (as taught in our lineage with Grandmaster Joe Manley). To help you with consistency, you can draw an “X” on the floor to help you start and stop at the same point.
- Starting with feet together, perform the Bando Bow, end in a closed stance (feet close together and parallel), hands in safety X
- Work the N stances, right leg first and then left
- Step forward with the right foot into a low N stance
- Left foot then moves forward, forming a middle N stance
- left foot comes behind the knee, forming a high N stance
- Step left foot back to your starting point, then right foot joins left. Now do the same set of steps on the other side!
- Work the L stances, right leg moves first and then left
- Step to the rear with the right foot (about a 45 degree angle) into a low L stance
- Left foot moves towards the right, forming a middle L stance
- Left foot rises up to the right knee, forming a high L stance
- Bring the left foot back to your starting point, then right foot joins left. Now do the same set of steps on the other side!
- Work the H stances, right leg moves first and then left
- Right foot steps out to the side, forming a low H stance. Once there, turn your gaze & torso to the left (towards your starting point)
- Right foot moves towards the left foot to form a middle H stance
- Right foot moves right up to the left foot, forming a high H stance.
- Turn your torso back to the center, and repeat on the left side.
- Close with the Bando Bow
Practice this several times, making sure your transitions between stances are smooth and that you maintain a level height while you are doing each stance.
Interested in seeing or reviewing other Bando Minutes? Check out our Bando Minute Archive.