Karate stances

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Karate has many different stances, each used to create power, flexibility and movement. Some stances focus more on mobility than stability, and vice versa. These are the most common stances in karate:

1 "Ready" stances
2 Forward stances
3 Fixed/rooted stances
4 Other stances
5 References

[edit] "Ready" stances

Heisoku-dachi (閉足立) Feet together stance.

Musubi-dachi (結び立) Heels together, toes open at about 30 degrees.

Musubi-dachi-heiko From musubi-dachi, open heels until both outer edges of feet are parallel.

Hachiji-dachi (八字立, natural stance) Open toes from musubi-dachi-heiko in a comfortable relaxed position.

Uchihachiji-dachi (内八字立) Open heels from musubi-dachi so that heels point outward and toes inward.

Heiko-dachi (平行立, parallel stance) Open heels from hachiji-dachi until outer edges of feet are parallel.

[edit] Forward stances

Moto-dachi (基立, basic forward stance) The stance is shin length and around two fist widths wide, with both legs slightly bent, the front foot facing straight forward and the back foot pointed outward at about twenty degrees. The body should be squarely forward.

Zenkutsu-dachi (前屈立, long forward stance) Like Moto-dachi but one foot length longer.

Han Zenkutsu-dachi (high forward stance)

[edit] Fixed/rooted stances

Naianchin-dachi The feet should be parallel, and shin length plus one fist wide, with the knees slightly bent. Legs and buttocks should be tensed upwards, while keeping the weight low and the knees bent inwards. This stance has strong tension in the legs.

Sanchin-dachi (三戦立) One foot should be forward, with the toes of the back foot in line with the heel of the front foot. The stance is fixed and tensed in the same way as Naianchin-dachi.

[edit] Other stances

Kiba-dachi (四股立, horse stance) Open the back leg from Zenkutsu-dachi so that both legs point outwards and sit into the stance. Weight is central and centre of gravity is low, with the back straight.

Nekoashi-dachi (猫足立, cat foot stance) From Moto-dachi, slide the back foot back and move all the weight onto the back leg. Then sit down into the stance, with only the ball of the foot and toes of the front foot on the floor for balance. The back foot should be firmly planted at about 20 degrees. The front foot and back heel are in line to cover the groin.

Kosa-dachi (交差立) From Moto-dachi, bring the back leg forward so that the back knee is tucked in to the back of the front knee, with only the toes and ball of the back foot on the floor. The back foot should be behind and out to the side of the front foot, so that the legs are crossed. The back foot should point inwards at about 15 degrees.

Kokutsu-dachi (後屈立, back stance) From Zenkutsu-dachi, open the back foot and turn the body out, so it is almost facing the side, keeping the weight central.