Stances are the base of our execution. Stances can be loosely defined as frozen motion. Without properly articulated stances, the execution of Short Form One can never be perfected. The most commonly overlooked item among stances is proper positioning. Positioning includes a large number of elements. These include foot/leg alignments, body alignments, and arm/hand alignments. One should become comfortable with the knowledge of proper alignments and dimensions of the stances. This cannot be overstated. The proper dimensions and alignments of each of the stances is highlighted in detail in SGM Parker's book, "Infinite Insights into Kenpo - book #2 (Physical Analyzation I)."
Short Form One, being the first form of the system, exposes only two stances during it's execution (not including the salutation): the Meditating Horse and the Neutral Bow.
Some of the most common mistakes of the Neutral Bow are: not having both feet point forward at a 45 degree angle; not having the proper width (toe / heel alignment) or depth (heel / knee alignment), uneven weight distribution (50% / 50%), and/or not keeping the back up straight with the shoulders relaxed.
Some of the most common mistakes of the Meditating Horse are: not having the toes point directly ahead (or slightly inward), not bending the knees, not having both elbows point downward at a 45 degree angle, and/or not keeping the back up straight.
It is very common for the practitioner to start out with proper alignments, but quickly lose the alignments once any foot maneuvers are executed. One good exercise for drawing attention to the stances is to perform the entire form without the blocks and with hands on the hips. This exercise allows the practitioner to pay exclusive attention to the stances and foot maneuvers without having to split their attention on proper block execution.