1Tevia Feng

1Five Animal Qigong

Stances : Gong Bu into Fú Hǔ Bù （伏虎步）

(Bow Stance into Taming the Tiger Stance)

Fu Hu Bu is translated as “Taming the Tiger Stance.” Other names include “Drop Stance” or Pu Bu (仆步) - “Flat Stance.” According to master Yang Jwing-Ming, the stance was named after a martial artist named Wu Song, who slew a leaping tiger with the stance during the Song Dynasty.1

Instructions:

Body: In this position, the martial artist squats on one leg until the thigh is parallel to the ground, and extends the other leg out to the side.

Both feet are parallel and pointing forward and in some variations, the foot bearing the weight is turned outwards.

回头熊 Hui Tou Xiong—Bear Collects Fish

B E A R L E V E L I I

1 The Roots of Chinese Qigong by Dr. Yang Jwing Ming

2Tevia Feng

This is an often-misunderstood stance. Many people think that they cannot do it because they are simply not flexible enough. This stance is simply down to technique. Stand-ing in a very wide horse stance, aim simply to ‘sit down’ on to your left foot. Keep your feet straight (this might be quite difficult at the be-ginning).

Note: The big mistake people make is putting their weight into the center of their feet. You have to move your weight almost entirely on to one foot.

It is also important to keep your back heel on the ground.

Breath:Breathe in going down to the ground.Hold the breath for a moment then twist to one side, breathing out at the same time.

Spirit: Feel as if you are spearing fish and tossing them to the riverbank. With the bear, feel heavy, strong and rooted to the earth.

Anatomical and Physiological Benefits: Fascia/Anatomy

The benefits are the same as for Level I, with a twist which deepens the effects even more.

Bear II goes even deeper than the first, exercising hip control and a developing a dynamic ability to rotate the body. In order to do this, you have to have the strength in your feet to grip the ground. Many people suffer from weak feet from years of walking in thick-soled shoes. This Qigong exercise forces you to grab the ground with the feet. Intestines

3Tevia Feng

The movement of this Bear creates deep hip fascia mobility and con-trol as well as torso rotational mobility all laying on the foundation of leg base stability.

You must have stability in your feet and legs while the upper body rotates.

Chinese Medicine Relationship:

Meridians/Acupuncture Points Targeted:

This is the same as in Bear I, but there is also a nice twist in the torso, which dilates the “Odd” channels in the waistline. This also wrings out the spleen and liver. Once you get this twist into the Taming the Tiger Stance, you get the twist in the meridians in the legs and into the feet. Liver and Spleen