Taekwondo stances

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The Korean martial art Taekwondo has several stances used for different activities.

1 Basic stances
2 Other stances
- 2.1 Fighting stance
3 See also

[edit] Basic stances

Although there are strong similarities in stances through out Taekwondo schools, individual instructors often have their own preferred style. For example, in the Charyot stance, feet are often at 45 degrees, keeping eyes forward while bowing. However, many instructors prefer the feet parallel forward, with the eyes facing toward the floor while bowing (as a sign of respect and trust for those around them).

Diagram	Name	Description
	Attention Stance Also known as: Charyot Sogi	This is the attention position used before and after class. The feet are at 45 degrees. However, recent Kukkiwon changes now require feet to be touching and pointing forward, particularly in WTF recognized sporting events. Failure to do so results in point deduction. When bowing you bend 40 degrees forward, keeping your eyes averted from your opponent, as looking straight on denotes disrespect.
	Closed Stance Also known as: Moa Sogi	This can be either full facing or side facing. There are three varieties, Moa Sogi A, Moa Sogi B and Moa Sogi C.
	Walking Stance Also known as: Gunnun Sogi Ap Kubi Move Forward Stance	Walking stance is used when mobility is important. It is also a precursor of the fighting stance according to some authors. Body should be relaxed. From the attention stance with feet together, one foot is placed straight ahead of the other, about a normal walking step. Some style teaches to step side way slightly. The distance between both heels is about a shoulder length to one-half shoulder length. Rear toes are turned outward about 30 degrees. The weight should be 50-50
	L Stance Also known as: Niunja Sogi Dwi Kubi Back stance Hoogulsagee	This stance is specifically focused on shifting weight to the back leg, as it offers much more control, and makes it easier to kick off the front leg. To perform this stance, the body faces to the side, with the front foot facing forwards, front leg bent. The back leg is bent slightly, and the foot is turned outwards perpendicular to the front foot. When learning this stance, it is helpful to use a mirror. Align your feet as stated above and make sure your body is turned so only your front shoulder is visible through the mirror. Since there is virtually no weight on that front leg, it can be swept without affecting the practitioner's overall balance. The weight distribution of this stance is 30%-70%. Both legs should be slightly bent, the back foot or the foot with the most weight on it should be bent in slightly. the back knee should be over the foot.
	Parallel Stance Also known as: Naranhi Sogi Command position Junbi Stance	Ready Stance refers to the most common ready position use Tae Kwon Do training. Ready Stance is performed by standing with the feet one shoulder length apart, measured from the outside edge (Foot Sword) of the feet, with arms slightly bent and loosely held fists about one fist size apart just below the navel and the fists should be a fist size away from the body. Muscles are relaxed to promote movement speed from this position. This stance and its variants are most often used at the start of pattens. The student should be alert and aware, inhale and breathe out 1/3 of the air in your lungs.
	Rear Foot Stance Also known as: Dwit Bal Sogi Cat stance Tiger stance Bom Sogi (Korean for Tiger stance)	Stand with your front foot facing forwards and the back foot turned 45 degrees to the side, keep the feet quite close together. Shift most of your weight to your back foot, so the front foot is only for balance and you can kick from it with little body weight shifted.This stance appears in Taeguek ChilJang, which is the red belt pattern. You should also stay on the ball of your front foot for perfect balance.
	Sitting Stance Also known as: Annun Sogi Jumchum Sogi horse/riding stance middle stance	The sitting stance is generally used to practice punches. It is similar to the ready stance. Feet are placed much wider, about two-shoulder length's apart. Also, the knees are deeply bent. The shins should be kept perpendicular to the floor. This requires the knees to move outwards away from the body. The hands are held in fists, on the hips at belt level, with the thumbs up. When a punch is thrown, the hand rotates 180 degrees to turn knuckles up before making contact. In combat it is used when being grappled in order to have a wide stance and low center of gravity, giving stability (compare with Judo and wrestling defensive stances). Short range punches can be used on the target who is holding one around the waist. Some examples are: the last movement in Taeguek 7 - a side punch in Juchum Seogi, and stepping forward in diagonal in Juchum Seogi and punching in Hoshinsul technique. This stance can be used instead of a L-stance to perform a sidekick. The weight distribution of this stance is 50%-50% and should be directed inwards. This stance can also be used as a stretch. The object is typically to keep the back straight while lowering the buttocks down to the ground with the legs spread keeping shins perpendicular to the floor. The ultimate goal is to maintain this posture while the tips of the belt touch the ground.

[edit] Other stances

[edit] Fighting stance

This stance varies with the martial art and practitioner, but is the basic all-purpose stance used in sparring and combat. Common features across the arts include turning the body to the side to present a smaller target, slightly bent knees for balance and agility, feet about two shoulder widths apart, and hands up, protecting the head. In an art relying heavily on kicks, the body's mass is usually shifted slightly to the back leg, making the front leg easier to lift and increasing the speed of kicks. Regardless of the exact stance, this is the most familiar stance for a martial artist. All other stances, blocks, and attacks flow from this stance.