Im pretty sure that the idea is if you practice all the knitty-gritty stuff in your free time enough, you will do it automatically in a real life situation. Lower stances give you more of a base and more stability in your movement. Following through with strikes increases the amount of power. I have always wondered about the heel thing myself so I can't really answer that question.

Stances have a variety of reasons and functions behind them and you have to remember that much of martial arts was developed when people fought with little more than swords, spears, knives, and clubs and even just farm implements and tools to better defend themselves. I think you also have to remember that culturally and especially in Okinawan and Japanese martial arts perfection and striving for it was very much emphasized and it was not just enough to have your back foot on the floor but also which angle to have it pointed at and how much weight should be on it.

Take a back stance for instance and how it emphasizes keeping your weight, torso, and face back further while exposing only your front leg to attack. At the same time that front leg acts as a stone on the ground that your opponent has to reach or extend his attacks over and forces him to commit to those attacks in order to reach anything but that lower leg. As he does this it then affords you the opportunity to block and counter him more easily since he is extended so much and so far to reach you. Knowing how to change or shift your weight by pulling that front foot back just past your balance point as you push off with that back foot to launch yourself forward to attack or block and counter him using only your hands, as kicks are to slow and difficult out of it, is all part of understanding and using that stance. Does it matter if in that stance if your front foot is ninety degrees perpendicular to that back one and how much of your weight is towards the back? I think it does in the sense that to much weight to the back makes this function all but impossible to preform and to little may not keep your torso and head back from being exposed to attack.

Not just stances but also certain kicks, punches, strikes and blocks have some specialized functions or purposes behind them. Things like jump kicks for kicking horsemen off their horses, finger strikes to the eyes since those where more exposed and armour and helmets could not protect them like the rest of the head and face could be without obstructing a warrior or soldier's vision and ability to see are a couple of examples of why some of these things are the way they are and the function and purpose behind them. Sadly some of this is never taught to many students as they move up the ranks and so it becomes lost for many which is the reason for your question I think.

I have attached a web site about the two volume set of "Martial Arts of the World". It is a pretty good set of books and the reading is interesting and covers some of this and how it pertains to various cultures and martial arts and things relate in some ways like what I mention here. Put it on your Christmas list and maybe your wife or students will get it for you as it is a little pricey but I have it as well as Lawler's book "Martial Arts Encyclopedia" which is considerably cheaper.

http://fightingarts.com/reading/article.…

I believe the reason u should practice diffrent stances is because every situation reqiures a diffrent stance like if you wanted to use your front leg a Front stance would not be the best option right? plus i think it gives us balance being in diffrent positions plus Speed and balance transitioning from one stance to another?

also mention some stances is for power others for speed.

i think any1 who practises should practise some stances..

although i hate stances that leaves your hand down i mean if you do that your telling people to hit me if you can....

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I intentionally waited a while before giving my answer. There are many reasons for all the stance training. some of the simple and obvious ones have been mentioned. Also some answers have given the same old answers given by ignorant instructors for decades.

First I must say this......... Stances are and were never static positions that you were meant to stand in waiting on an attack. Yet that is either the idea students have gotten on their own, or from their instructor.......

Stances have many proposes other than just a base for executing this or that technique. Stances can also do these things:

* They are not a static position but the transition between other body positions, as in body shifting (Tai-Sabaki).

* Stances, as seen in Kata, may be actually telling you something that you can do that is not obvious to those watching the Kata being performed. A good example of this is the different ways that a cat stance (Neko-Ashi-Dachi) is done. some times the front foot has the ball and toes on the floor. Other times the front toes are pointed and only the tip of the toes touch the floor. When this is done, it often indicates that you would execute a toe kick to the meridians on the inside of the attackers leg (Liver & Spleen).

* Stances also can show (in Kata) the position or technique the attacker is doing and will indicate a good response to that. NOTE: Kata moves are not just the moves you as a defender might do. Some of the moves in Kata are meant to tell you what the attacker is doing. To understand Kata, Stances, Techniques, ...etc., you must understand that Kata is sometimes viewed from your point of view, and other times from the attackers point of view.

NOTE: These are only a few reasons for stances and lots of stance training. There are many others.


You mentioned the difference in high and low stances. A low stance is usually an indication that you would actually be executing a joint lock or takedown. Commonly seen you might see several steps forward in normal stances. Then suddenly the next stance may, Step to the side, turn 90 degrees, or back straight up. In these cases the movement ends in a low stance. What is not obvious is the joint lock, takedown, or knockout. This is part of the Bunkai hidden in Kata.
In Naihanchi Shodan there are several times when you enter a deep horse stance while bringing both closed fist to one hip. We call the fist over fist (Palm to Palm), a Cup and saucer. It indicates a wrist and elbow lock on an attacker that has grabbed your opposite wrist (right to right, or left to left). Done properly the deep stance allows you to drop your weight on the attackers elbow while locking his elbow and wrist. Proper stance and posture allow much power using one your weight drop, and no strength. Proper application of this also roots the attacker, while pulling him off-balance and unable to counter.


Hope this sheds some light on stances.
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Okay I will try to make this short. Stance are to help you learn how to react in different situations. Every movement you make will directly affect what you will be able to do in that position. stance are also taught to help you keep an open mind when fighting. There is no one way to do anything in martial arts this allows for options and also allows you to adjust as needed.