Fighting Stance vs. Neutral Bow

[administrator]

Often we get asked what is the difference between the fighting stance in Tracy's Kenpo and the neutral bow stance in American Kenpo. Basically, the Tracy Fighting Stance is identical to the neutral bow stance. However, symantics can create a huge psychological difference in practitioners mind. I would rather think of 'fighting stance' rather than 'neutral bow'. When I teach American Kenpo students their stances, I will teach them the neutral bow mechanics and then tell them to regard it as their 'fighting stance'. If you are an instructor, you should try this experiment. In class, call out the command, 'Neutral Bow!" Later in class, call out the command, "Fighting Stance!" Observe the difference. I have always observed that the command "Fighting Stance" not only gets the same mechanical correctness as the neutral bow, but it also gives an intensity that the command "Neutral Bow" does not.

Kevin Lamkin
Site Administrator

[warrior-scholar]

Thank you for this post. I was under the impression that one turned the shoulder more directly at the opponent in the fighting stance, while allowing it to open slightly in the neutral.