Old Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi quoted Confucius:
‘Men do not use running water as a mirror; they only use the still water.’ Only
things that are still in themselves can still other things.”
Why the power of stability is so important? The
ground on which we stand can hold up tall buildings, high trees, and us as
well. Gravity pulls us to the center of our planet. The ground pushes back with
precisely the same force, effortlessly in the opposite direction of
gravity, and is therefore called the ground reaction force. No wonder grounding
is considered so important in martial arts. It resists power and accepts
energies. A stability lies within what one knows and how one
lives his live each day.
Stability is not equal to rigidity. It is fundamental to all fighting techniques. The ability to control
your movements, to develop, and to receive power originates in stability. Losing
stability means losing control. Without control you cannot win. A good fighter knows that during the
battle, the sun should be in the eyes of your opponent and not facing yours.
Secondly, stability is being able to float safely on each wave of change. Lower
a fighter’s position is and the lowest his center of gravity is, the better
stability he has. But, while increasing stability lowering a center of gravity
lessens mobility. There are always trade-offs but you should balance them into
win-win situation.
