Fu Hu Bu is translated as “tame the tiger stance.” Other names include “drop stance” or Pu Bu (仆步), “flat stance.” According to changquan 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. 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, relative to the torso, and like Zuo Pan Bu, the practitioner faces the opponent with his/her side.
Versatile in application, Fu Hu Bu can be employed for both attack and defense. A primary application of this stance is defense against high or jumping kicks, as evidenced in the Taiji technique “Strike the Tiger.” Baguazhang and Taiji forms also use the stance for low hand attacks, such as “Snake Creeps Down” from the Yang-style taijiquan sequence. With Northern Praying Mantis, Fu Hu Bu is applied in Ba Bu Gan Chan (八步幹蟬）, a leaping attack to the opponent’s ankle with the foot. In traditional changquan forms, such as Yi Lu Mai Fu, the stance is used to pick up objects from ground for use as projectiles during combat.
As with Ma Bu, different styles assume Fu Hu Bu in differing ways.
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