How Low Can You Go? A Low Frame Methodology to Footwork in Mantis Kung Fu
Footwork is an essential aspect in Qixing Tanglang Quan (QXTLQ), as it provides a platform for mobility, positional entry/exit, and offensive delivery. Tactically QXTLQ footwork makes use of many patterns that employ rapid darting (in and out), swift lateral movement, and explosive level changes, that incorporate deceptive feinting and baiting. Footwork is intricately coordinated with kicking, striking, grappling, and throwing combinations designed to out-wit, out-control, and overwhelm an opponent. QXTLQ uses a traditional training methodology that promotes strong footwork fundamentals in the early developmental years, while progressively building applied combat performance in the later. Foundational footwork training relies on a Low Framed Methodology (LFM), characterized by low deep stances. Some of the main advantages of a LFM are 1) improved athletic performance, 2) superior technique, and 3) improved tactical integration. Concepts of the LFM, its advantages, and rationale will be discussed in more detail throughout the remainder of this article.
What Does LFM Mean？
What do we mean when we say Low Frame? “Frame” (架子) refers to the structure of the legs in the stances and footwork we use. “Low” describes the relative depth of the stance. So when we talk about a LFM we are talking about stances and footwork generally characterized by deep knee bend. The opposite of this is a high framed approach which uses relatively higher stances dictated by relatively less knee bend.
Eight Core Stances
There are eight core stances in the QXTLQ system as seen on the next page in Table 1. Each stance is typically is centered around tactical stepping patterns integrated with several offensive/defensive hand fighting movements. The most commonly recognizable stances in our system and most identifiable with northern Shaolin Long Fist Boxing are the Horse-Riding Stance, the Hill Climbing Stance, the Tiger Riding Stance, the Collapsing Stance, the Single Leg Stance, and the Monkey Stance. Stances more unique to our system (although not exclusive) include the Seven Star Stance and the Jade Entering Stance – both named after the Big Dipper asterism (北斗七星) and hallmark stances for quick trips and throwing techniques. Lastly worth mentioning is the Monkey Stance – visually the most unassuming stance, but, most functional and commonly used for transitional movement to “bridge the gap” and for movement around the parameter to set-up positional entry.
Benefit One – Improved Athletic Performance
The first benefit of a LFM is improved athletic performance. Experience tells us the deeper you push the stances the more challenging and intense a workout is – anyone who has ever stepped into a training hall or gym knows this. A LFM puts the legs through a greater range of motion, and sport science shows this results in superior strength gains. This in turn directly promotes improved athletic performance. But why? As leg biomechanics change through the range of the motion, so too does the internal load – even though there is no change in weight. Biomechanical studies show that the load on the muscles in the longer range of motion is greater than the shorter range. Increased loads put greater stress on the legs requiring increased muscle fiber recruitment. Through principles of stress, overload, recovery, and adaptation this results in strength gains. Additional benefits also include improved CNS (central nervous system) efficiencies and coordination, increased flexibility, and improved balance. The ultimate result of a LFM translates into better movement and greater athletic performance. Bottom line – if you don’t train low your performance will suffer.
Second Benefit – Superior Technique
The second benefit of a LFM is improved technique – both offensive and defensive. A LFM provides the platform for mobility, positional entry, and effective power delivery. Remember Mantis kung fu techniques and tactics cover a broad range of kicking (提), striking (打), grappling (拿), and throwing (率) techniques – all of which are dependent on proper footwork. If you want the ability to efficiently and effectively exert a force upon another body, you need to have a good strong base. If you want to have good functional mobility and the ability to explode you need a good strong base. And if you want to be able to effectively defend against an aggressive oncoming attacker you need a good strong base. Alternatively, a tall upright stance puts you in a relatively inferior position during offensive engagement and defense disengagement.
Low framed stances give you a lower center of gravity and a wider base which provides greater structural support, alignment (hands, body, feet), and stability. Deeper knee bend facilitates better angles of attack (vertical and lateral), greater ability to athletically cover distance advancing / retreating, and finally superior mechanical leverage for more powerful leg and hip drive. All of these traits are a key ingredient to improving offensive striking, grappling and throwing. A LFM also gives you greater functional mobility and stability to defend and/or evade against incoming grappling / takedown exchanges, with the intermediate goal of effectively transitioning back into offense. If you don’t train low your offensive / defensive technique will suffer.
A Few Words on Range
Worth noting here there is a subtle yet important point of distinction to make on Range. First understand there are five ranges of fighting: Zero, Quarter, Half, Three Quarter, and Full. Zero is the range at which grappling and throwing techniques take place – bodies pressed tightly with little or no space between your chest / hips and the opponent’s. Quarter Distance is the range at which you can deliver knee and elbow techniques, as well as begin entry into grappling/throwing engagements. Half Distance is striking (punching) range, and Three-Quarter distance is the range at which you typically can kick an opponent. Full Distance is the range at which you are unable to reach the opponent and are free to navigate the parameter setting up positional entry. The main point here is that a LFM is foundational for bridging the gap from Full Distance into closer range distances (Zero, Quarter, Half, Three Quarter), as well, as exiting from Three Quarter Distance into Full Distance. Only upon disengagement and successful (safe) exit, can you use more upright stances (i.e. Monkey Stance) to navigate the parameter using variations of shuffling to circle out, around, reset, and back in.
Third Benefit – Full Tactical Integration
The third benefit of a LFM is that it gives you better optionality and access to the full tactical offensive arsenal the Seven Star Praying Mantis system provides. Without a LFM you are limiting over a half of your potential techniques and combinations. Remember Mantis tactical theory chains diverse combinations of attack and defense together while incorporating deceptive feints and fakes into the mix. Generically this includes ideas like fainting high to attack low, fainting low to attack high, fainting inside to attack outside, and fainting outside to attack inside. For example, people typically think of using strikes to setup kicks, and /or visa-versa. While this mindset is a good start, it is still limiting and ignores the full diversified range of standup grappling (拿法) and throwing (摔法) techniques. For example, using kicks and/or strikes (打法) to enter and setup grappling / throwing combinations, or, threatening grappling / throwing engagements to set up strikes and kicks (提法). This is truly where the full tactical power of Mantis comes into play – the ability to out-wit, out-control, and overwhelm an opponent on multiple levels.
A fundamental skill in all of this is the ability to Level Change. Level Changing is about changing the vertical axis (high / low) of your attack and/or feints, which is entirely dependent on the ability to dynamically shift into and out of deep stances. Only a LFM can teach this. Level changing is highly effective because it immediately adds another dimension of attack and provides a more fully integrated tactical arsenal. This type of diversity is a powerful tool, but if you don’t train low stances then your optionality declines.
Closing
A LFM is characterized by deep stances. The benefits of training low include enhanced athletic ability, superior technique, and a more diversified range of attack. Cumulatively this will give you increased applied performance. The importance of understanding this cannot be over emphasized, but only under the guidance of a qualified instructor can a student develop strong foundational footwork skills which over time will lay the groundwork for intermediate and advanced skill development. Intermediate and advanced elements of footwork include tactical range management, angles of entry, levels of attack, combinational feinting, baiting (the setting of traps), and real-time reading / planning, / execution at higher speeds. Remember next time you train, “how low can you go”?
Nathan Wright
Chief Instructor, China
Luo Guang Yu Seven Star Mantis Kung Fu
April 1, 2020
APR
2020