Leg position in grounding

[Anonymous]

Should the legs be slightly bent at the knee?
Is there ever a time when the knees should be fully extended?
Are there times when any joints should be fully extended?

[Anonymous]

Yes, slightly bent.
No, do not fully extend knees.
No, never fully extend any joint–this is the 70 % rule;
Joints must remain open for fluids, energy, pulsing, twisting, rotating.

[Anonymous]

Robert said it well- and I wasn’t going to add to this, but I replied to another question (on the Training Circle forum) and part of my response related to your question.. (I think).. so I’ll copy it here.. I hope it helps..

[ In short the issue of “bent” or “straight” legs I’ve found many people miss a third option.. a way of connection that is desired, and different.. but takes time to adjust to.. ie “Gung Fu”.. (and self-study). ]
I hope the below might help any who read this.. luck

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“a specific that came to mind, and relates to the “holding” tension- not let-go I mention up above, the comment about knees “locked” or “bent” – I read that as if you are mentioning to positions that are either side of desired…

— “Locked” is knee caps either fully pushed back, so bones are literally locked (a very solid and yet brittle position- makes me cringe to think of it, but at first that feels “solid” while- as below- will feel wobbley… .. or even if not fully “locked” still do you feel the bones sort of connected in the joint- there is a subtle twist in the joint (like you are giving yourself a joint-lock, in the knee, or also common, in the ankle- it isn’t the joint-capsule fluid buffering – as below- but the shin bones-ankle bones are actually feeling sort of grinding contact…
— “Bent” is often meant as bend enough, so that the thigh muscles are fully engaged- thus a different “lock” (rather than bones, it is more the muscle grabs the femur and knee solidly).. again vs the in-between that is transferring the weight to ground.. and feels (when get used-to) less solid.. but only per not shock into bone, vs springey-fluid and rubber-bandy shock-absorption (note even after feel this, the body will likely slip off it, and re-brace on the ground.. as a balance-reflex.. until get re-trained).

..This accustoming your body to use more durable and shock-absorber type structure-aligns will change you alot (when you don’t do this, but have the body feel solid and locked and just any jolt and even just gravity pulls.. then unless you shift-and constantly adjust and change.. when you stayput.. that force is consistently felt in where it is pulling.. and thus the ouch….

ie the discomfort can be from how you stand- and note as it starts to happen (during even before, not after too-late).. and retrain your reflex-actions (not so much do xyz, but rather, how your system feels natural.. which clearly- takes time
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Last example- imagine you have some tape- masking tape and/or duct tape. and you wrap it along the side of your legs down to your outside edge of foot- up around your low back.. and another strip along back of shoulders -up back of neck… and now stand…

ugh you can then not help but notice this thing, and as you try and align your feet straight, even straighten back&neck.. or adjust inside pelvis-hips there is a feeling of something pulling
(like tape along your skin: either bunching, or pulling depending on how tape was placed…
-or- myofascial bindings of ‘bands” that shorten or stiffen to support years of twisting on the tissues (to relieve from joints) but now you attempt to re-align your stance, and have to fight these.. (need to remove the tape… -I mean rather than “work on it directly” as some therapies do.. rather the standing itself does.. but like working at the forge, bit by bit.. work it, heat it, not burn-it.. not too hot. and pay attention to all the changes as it is folded and worked…”

[Anonymous]

Don,

see also my longer reply to Jeff on the topic of knee pain.

You gotta protect your knees at all costs.

Thanks Taokua for your reply.

[Author]

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