The bow stance (in Chinese: gong bu) is one of the five basic wushu stances. This guide explains how to perform the bow stance in modern wushu styles such as Longfist, Broadsword, Straightsword, Staff, and Spear. In some traditional styles—like Nanquan, Taiji, and Bagua—the bow stance is performed differently.
Find more wushu lessons at Wushu Main.
Execution
- Your feet should be in one line, a bit more than three shoe lengths apart.
- The front foot points straight forward, and the back foot turns outward at about a 45-degree angle. Both heels must remain flat on the ground.
- The back leg is fully extended, and the front leg is bent at a 90-degree angle, so the lower leg is vertical and the thigh is horizontal.
- Do not overextend or push your hips forward.
- Keep your upper body upright, with your head held high and shoulders low and slightly pulled back. Look straight ahead. (View: horizontal)
Advice
- Learn the Five Stances Form (Wushu Wu Bu Quan).
- Start by holding the bow stance for 30 seconds. With practice, aim to hold it for 3 minutes.
Some practitioners of traditional styles can hold the stance for 30 minutes or more. - Practice in front of a mirror to check your posture and alignment.
Suggestions
- Barbell Lunges (for strength training)
- Horse Stance (Wushu Ma Bu)
- Cat Stance (Wushu Xu Bu)
- Flat Stance (Wushu Pu Bu)
- Rest Stance (Wushu Xie Bu)
- Old Stances Instruction from 2006
- Karate (for comparison or cross-training)
Videos/Images
- Bow Stance – Video Instruction
- Five Stances Form – Wu Bu Quan
