The LUCIMA Stance

While it is not an officially recognized stance by the Shaolin Temple, the LUCIMA stance is a variant of one of the "Ba Shi" or "Ba Bu" (Eight Stances), namely Zuo Pan Bu (Sitting on Crossed Leg Stance). The LUCIMA stance is not combat-oriented, instead it uses the stable nature of Zuo Pan Bu and furthers it by pushing all of the fighter's weight from the back leg into the calf of the front leg. While rarely captured, I have found the only known photographic image of the LUCIMA stance in existence and placed it in a side-by-side comparison with images of the real Zuo Pan Bu.



Here's a modern day demonstration of Zuo Pan Bu


Now in all seriousness, Zuo Pan Bu is a weight-loaded stance that allows a martial artist not only to strike from a solid stance but to also transition rotationally in and out of other striking motions. The main difference is that the LUCIMA stance puts all the weight of the back leg directly into the calf of the front leg thus relieving the back leg of any effort in keeping the practitioner upright. The placement of the back knee varies; traveling as low as the Achilles Tendon of the front leg and as high as directly behind the knee of the front leg. The LUCIMA stance places great strain on the front leg's calf and Achilles Tendon and may cause discomfort to the practitioner.

But when the back leg's knee moves higher into the nook of the front leg (behind the front leg's knee), the LUCIMA stance becomes even sturdier because the presence of the back knee makes it impossible for the front leg to collapse. This reduces the effort level on the practitioner and allows for a balanced, less shaky stance.

The LUCIMA stance is therefore excellent for a photography at a lower center of gravity.

As a disclaimer the LUCIMA stance is an advanced stance for photographers that have a low center of gravity and good balance. LUCIMA himself had some kung fu training prior to becoming a photographer so do not be discouraged if you can not replicate this stance effectively. There are 7 other stances in the Ba Bu that you can attempt to convert into a stable photography stance.

All joking aside, I never thought anything of this stance. I am only aware of it as a result of people's reactions to it. I'm not even sure when I first debuted the LUCIMA stance but it has certainly given me a "signature move" that people talk about. If I were a Mortal Kombat character, my finishing move would probably employ the LUCIMA stance. The odd thing is that it's so obviously stable that I can not believe that no other photographer in the world shoots in this stance. In all seriousness, it's ridiculously comfortable. I can stay in that stance for a very long time and the only discomfort is the compression of my front calf/Achilles Tendon. Combined with a generous forward lean, I can shoot from literally 12-15 inches off the ground with my feet firmly planted on the ground.

Hell, maybe I'll offer it as a advanced technique in my future workshops at an extra cost :)