[@Shoryu]

The way a "Stance" is portrayed in Chinese martial arts fiction (or "Wuxia") is kinda weird. In this context, the Five Symbol Stances are less Escotto standing around in a pose for a while, and more Escotto performing certain movements. For example, when using the Blue-Green Dragon Stance, Escotto imitates the movements of that symbole in order to affect its powers. If he stops doing so, or is interrupted (I.E. being hit, knocked down, etc), then he loses the effect.