by Phillip Starr
In real life, I think a guy twice the size of the petite teacher might well be deterred from attacking her; he'd be bent over double in laughter! In real life – taking a “fighting stance” in the face of a threat? Not such a great idea...
Supposedly, “combat ready” poses have been around for some time in various fighting arts. In the West, the posture of “put up your dukes” and circling the fists around is well known; it often preceded boxing bouts of the 19th century. Fencing duels generally included salutes to the opponent and the blade being postured in a certain way before the action started. Ritual of a sort. This isn't true of most Asian martial Ways and the way in which they are practiced, which assume that you have been attacked unexpectedly. You go from a relatively relaxed state into full-tilt rock 'n roll. With the exception of some combative competitions, ritual played no part in preceding combat.
If you have time to take such a stance, you don't need it; you have other needs. A fight that allows you time to adopt such a posture is one that probably should never have escalated to that point. Sure, we've all heard that running away is our best option, but if that isn't possible or feasible, we can adopt a posture that is figurative rather than physical; a posture that can start moving things in a different direction.
For example, a guy jumps out of his car just as you're parking yours. He's in a rage as he shouts, “Hey! You cut me off back there!” He's really frothing at the bit, barely controlling himself. You can take your fighting stance...and what do you suppose will happen next? You've just escalated the whole thing to the next level! But how about if you respond with something like, “Oh, geez! I'm sorry! My wife is always telling me I'm the world's worst driver!” You're shouting back to him as you slap the hood of your car. “I swear, I can't believe it! My wife is actually right!”
If he continues to shout, you do the same thing...but your rage is directed at yourself and it's all an act. And while this impromptu skit goes on, you're carefully maintaining just the right distance, keeping one foot a bit forward with your elbows close to you and your hands loose...your “fighting stance” isn't particularly overt or threatening in any way.
But you've “unbalanced” him; you've responded in a completely unexpected way. He's confused; you haven't tried to defend yourself at all, which is exactly what he expected. However, the truth is that you ARE actively engaged in the situation. You've unbalanced him and you're leading him. You're just not being as obvious about it as you would be in a physical fighting stance.
Consider: if you adopted a physical stance, you're showing this guy that you'd be only too happy to take him on. And he may be the type who actually enjoys this kind of thing. You're playing into his hands. AND you're giving him information; he'll likely recognize that you have some experience in some kind of martial art. If he actually enjoys getting into tiffs, he'll likely spot any weaknesses you may have. I have known boxers who suffered knee injuries because they were kicked while they were still bringing their fists up.
The serious martial artist should give thought and training to “stances” that are not physical postures so much as they are attitudes or strategies that employ both the mental and strategic aspects of combat. A “successful stance” in this context is one wherein a fight is avoided or, if violence is inevitable, provides you with an advantage. It has little to do with an outward show of strength or a display of intent. It has everything to do with what, in a purely combative sense, makes what we do a martial art.
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