San Ti Shir or Three Treasure Stance is the primary stance or leg position in Xingyi Quan. Martial Arts call the positions of their feet a “stance” and stepping is called “footwork”. The Three Treasure Stance is used for advancing to attack and for defensively repositioning. The Three Treasure Stance is used for Qigong or Standing Meditation in a similar fashion to Post Standing Qigong. And the Three Treasure Stance is a great foundation for giving a Tui Na Massage to a friend or family member on a table or bed.
The majority of classical, combat-oriented Chinese martial arts or traditional Kung Fu employ a similar repertoire of stances, including the “Horse Stance,” “Bow and Arrow Stance,” “Empty or Cat Stance,” “Swallow or Low Stance,” “Crane Stance,” and “Leopard or 60/40 Stance.” While there may be some stylistic variations in how these stances are performed, they are widely recognized.
The Three Treasure Stance, also known as the 70/30 stance, is characterized by a weight distribution of 70% on the rear leg and 30% on the front leg. In practice, some practitioners may shift their weight to a more even 50/50 split between the front and rear feet. However, the decisive weight on the rear leg is a core feature of Xingyi Quan.
Xingyi Quan has committed to using the Three Treasure Stance to confront and overcome all other styles of Kung Fu, which predominantly utilize the other stances. The fact that Xingyi Quan practitioners have gained considerable fame as skilled fighters, not only holding their own but also producing dominant champions, speaks to the effectiveness of the Three Treasure Stance. In this way, the Three Treasure Stance was designed to “rule them all” and defeat the other stances.
Xingyi Quan is, therefore, an exception to the general rule of using the classical Horse and Bow and Arrow stances, as these are almost never used in Xingyi Quan, while they predominate in most other Kung Fu styles.
The primary reason Xingyi Quan focuses on the rear-leg-dominant Three Treasure Stance is the increasing expertise in kicking techniques, particularly low kicks targeting the ankle, shin, knee, inner, and outer thigh. These low kicks have proven to be extremely powerful, as evidenced by their prevalence in MMA knockouts. With the weight on the front leg, one becomes significantly more vulnerable to being kicked in that leg compared to having the weight on the rear leg.
When the weight is on the rear leg, the practitioner can quickly lift the front foot to avoid being kicked in the leg. However, if the weight is on the front leg, there is a slight delay in shifting the weight to the rear leg before the front leg can be lifted, which is all the time a skilled kicker needs to land a devastating kick.
While practitioners well-versed in Northern Shaolin may have the strong leg foundation and athleticism to effectively use the Empty or Crane Stances to evade kicks, not everyone possesses those same capabilities. The Three Treasure Stance, by nature, provides a much faster and more accessible means of escaping leg kicks for the majority of practitioners.
The Three Treasure Stance is also paired with a specific method of advancing and retreating steps, known as the “Following Step.” This technique allows the practitioner to move forward to attack or backward for defense while maintaining the weight on the rear leg, without shifting the weight to the vulnerable front leg. In the Following Step, the front foot steps first, followed by the rear foot stepping an equal distance, without exchanging the front and rear positions.
The key is to avoid surging forward onto the front foot or leaning forward, as this can expose the eyes and throat to the opponent. Instead, the practitioner aims to remain upright and vertical, allowing for the effective generation and expression of physical, mechanical power through the entire body for striking, throwing, or locking techniques.
Practicing Xingyi Quan and the Three Treasure Stance enhances one’s awareness of how the body functions and provides greater levels of awareness, precision, and control in movement. These qualities translate directly to improved Tui Na Massage skills and the quality of treatments. By using the legs to power the center of the body, and then transmitting that power through the shoulders, elbows, and wrists to the fingertips, the practitioner can generate the necessary pressure for Tui Na effortlessly and without strain. This allows the arms to remain relaxed, which, in turn, increases sensitivity and the ability to perform techniques with greater precision and awareness. Knowing when to continue, stop, or fine-tune a technique based on the patient’s response further enhances the overall effectiveness and benefits of the Tui Na Massage.