Below is Jonathan Finkelstein’s account of how kung fu training actually helped him with his knee problem. He also highlights the usefulness of the Cat stance in daily life. Jonathan is a Kung Fu student at our Golden Lion Kung Fu Murrumbeena Centre.
We are told how Kung Fu evolved from watching and imitating the movements of animals in the wild. As a consequence, today in classes we get to practice elegant fighting styles such as the powerful Tiger, the deceptive snake, all whist standing in a dragon or horse stance. However, for me, of all the animal styles none will ever match that which The Cat Stance was able to do for me.
Kung Fu SiJie Jo Baful defending by using the strength from the cat stance
The cat stance movement shifts you backwards until 70% of your weight is on your rear leg in a straight-backed semi-squat. It rapidly moves you out of harm’s way, frees your front leg so that it can lift up to avoid a sweeping kick and sets you up to spring back and counter attack (see photo of Sijie Jo Baful).
The movement distributes your body weight from foot through the calf and shin. Right through the knee to your quads hamstrings and glutes and up your back as well. It is an extremely stable position that places very little lateral load on your knee, which is especially useful if, like me you harbour an injury.
It happened when I was sparring and decided to throw a side kick. I twisted without adjusting my stance. First I heard a sickening pop, then searing pain lanced through my knee and I collapsed to the floor unable to stand. Later scans revealed that many years ago I had snapped my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). You can get away without one if you just cycle or weight train, but not Kung Fu, Without that ligament to stabilize my leg I had done further damage to my knee and. I was completely unable to walk.
Physio began to get me at least limping again and I turned up to class to tell Sifu Craig Rayner the bad news. It looked like I was not going to be able to continue. He disagreed. He looked at the exercises the physio had given me and combined them all into the one movement. The Cat Stance, which I was to practice several times a day. So I continued to come to class. At first I was only allowed to stand in the corner and practice blocks but as the weeks went past the Cat made my leg stronger and stronger I was able to walk and run again. Eventually (with the aid of a bi-lateral brace) I could re-join the class and was able to participate in most of the training.
Within 6 months the Cat was making everyone shake their heads in disbelief of what my ACL deficient leg was able to do. Sifu Mike Pringle dropped in one night during class and had some fun testing it out. It was amazing but realistically, it was still obvious that with this injury I could never reach my goals in Kung Fu. Eventually I opted to have ACL reconstructive surgery.
Tai Chi Sifu Darlene Beauchamp showing front kick which also depends on the power of the Cat stance
After the surgery, the first time I swung my legs out of bed and apprehensively tried to stand I was grateful again for ‘Kung Fu Strong” legs. My healthy leg had no trouble taking up the load and I was mobile in no time.
I started my post-operative physio to prevent stiffening of the joint and reactivate the muscles. I was doing all the exercises diligently but it was frustratingly slow. Then I looked more closely at the exercises which are mainly conducted lying down and saw it…. hidden in the exercises was the Cat stance. 4 weeks after surgery I tentatively tried the Cat and, as before my leg began to rapidly improve.
At 7 weeks the surgeon was shocked by the strength and mobility of my rebuilt knee. Some people take months to recover to that level. He also was impressed by the Cat but cautioned me that no matter how strong my leg might appear, a reconstruction takes time to heal so I will be nursing it for a little while longer.
It’s been 14 weeks since the surgery and as I write, every muscle in my body is aching except from my knees. I attended training last night (wearing a brace and being careful) and my knee is strong enough for me to torture every other part of my body. I know I will not be 100% for another 9 months, but as long as I am careful I can train again.
So play all you like with the Dragon, ride your Horse, fly your Crane pat your tiger, do… whatever it is that you like to do with snakes…but always remember to land like a cat. Your knees will love you forever.
Thanks to