 While shooting the photos for my first book 14 years ago, I remember thinking, “Holding all these poses is one of the toughest workouts I’ve ever done.” Yes, it’s one thing to do a push-up or squat and move through space. It’s quite another to hold the midway position of the same exercises for long periods of time. Even holding an easy posture can prove difficult.
I’m now a firm believer that you’ll often gain more energy and power by holding a stance for time than you will from moving your body through space. The first time I became aware of this was in 1981, when I took a course called Relaxation Techniques at the University of Iowa. I was on the wrestling team and after all the hard training this class seemed perfect for me. I quickly discovered that the only thing wrong about it was we only met twice a week.
What do I mean? Well, the teacher of the class was from China, and his idea of relaxation was holding a stance he called “horse riding posture.” It was very similar to “embracing the tree,” but instead of remaining stationary, we moved our upper bodies in a semi-circle to the right, then did the same to the left. After a minute my so-called powerful legs were trembling. I was amazed. I could carry a partner on my back while running stairs and hills. I could do squats with hundreds of pounds on my shoulders, and I had trouble sitting on an imaginary horse for a minute or two? It didn’t make any sense.
Within a month of holding this posture twice a week, I could easily hold for two minutes. But that’s not where this story ends, because something amazing happened with my wrestling. I started beating people with ease who were thrashing me before. I had speed in my legs that wasn’t there before. I also had balance, power and sensitivity. Everyone wondered what I was doing to improve so fast, including me.
 The course in relaxation techniques only lasted eight weeks and then it was over. There was nothing more on the subject. No advanced classes. No continuing study on the same path. A few weeks after the class ended, I injured a knee goofing around in a dorm room (cracked my knee on the hard floor and partially severed my ligaments) and this put me out of commission for three months. When I returned to the mat I no longer had the speed, power and balance, and I couldn’t figure out how to retrieve the magic.
It took me years to figure out what happened. The seed was planted within me, but there were no wrestlers with any kung-fu or tai chi experience who could explain the why’s and how’s for me; no one who could help take me even further along the path of internal power.
It wasn’t until I began studying Chinese martial arts after college that my memory from the relaxation course began to make sense. But still not completely as most martial artists either don’t hold stances, or, if they do, no one explains the details about proper alignment and breathing in the postures. Not only that, those who are told to hold postures often resent the training, calling it boring or useless. Far from it.
Holding postures builds a foundation of power beneath all the movements you practice. It puts wind beneath your wings and pulsating energy in your step. Postures look simple, but the depth of self-cultivation contained within them is limitless. They challenge you physically and mentally. They open the energy gates within and give you the ability to effortlessly express the art you feel inside. Postures and stances require you to relax so the explosive power within can build. Train them a few days a week. Better yet, train them everyday. I’m betting you’ll see a big difference in how you move.
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Matt Furey’s books and DVDs are available at www.beckettstore.com or mattfurey.com
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