Cat Stance
The cat stance is a typical stance that exists in styles of Karate and the Chinese martial arts. It is considered on e of the most popularly used stances in forms, sparring, and in drills practice. As a result, cat stance is a basic posture that all beginners should learn.
In training, it is normal that the martial artist stand in cat stance for extended periods of time to train the body and develop strength in the legs. A class in Karate, Kung Fu, or etc. will involve holding the cat stance near the beginning of training, then later forms or drills in cat stance are also practiced.
What is the Cat Stance?
In the cat stance, one foot is extended a little further away from the body than the other. This foot is placed into line with the other foot,which is located straight under the body. The majority of the weight is on the back foot. Both legs are slightly bent, however the degree of the angle of the bend will depend on the style of martial art. Some styles require the student to bend more than others, which is actually more tiring for the student. The foot placed further away from the body is pointed, so that either the toe touches the floor only, or the ball of the foot. Again, this depends on the style of martial art. For example, in Choy Li Fut Kung Fu, the cat stance is low and only the toe touches the ground. In Karate, the ball of the foot is one the ground, and the stance is higher.