This article is true for Karate, Taekwondo, Kenpo, or whatever art has the classical kind of stances from classical arts. You see, certain things are true about stances, and there are things that are lies. This article will give you the hard core physics so you can make up your mind how you want to do your training.

First, the real reason behind stances is to connect a person to the planet. This means to make unable to move, as in immoveable object. Or to connect if one is getting ready to launch the body through space.

That important item having been said, should you go whole hog on having low stances? Low stances build better muscles, but that is really the point behind it all. The most important thing to remember here is that the deeper you get when you stand, the more energy you have to develop, and that is a good thing.

However, let's say a guy is old, or has a bad leg, or something. He can't get low in his forms, so does that mean his art is lacking? The answer is going to be a fat resounding no, if you understand one important thing.

The point of stances is to connect a person to the earth. That means to drive a beam of energy, to grow awareness of your connection with the earth. So you can have high stances, grow your awareness, shoot an energy beam down your leg, and have a quite superior art.

Now, which particular arts can prove this point to be true? Well, there is good Wing Chun, good Kenpo, good Tai Chi...good just about any art you can find. Please note that I am being specific when I say 'good.'

Bad arts don't propose this point, nor manifest it through their students. But a student who is trained to grip with his feet, to hold his position in space no matter what, is practicing a good art. Workability, that is the one truly important item that defines 'good.'

In conclusion, the student must understand the purpose of the stances. And, while low is great, true martial arts don't rely on muscle, they rely on intelligence and awareness. Understand these factors, and your karate stances, or kenpo stances or taekwondo stances, or whatever art you study, will be of high quality.