In the last blog, you were led through Blocks in Karate. In this blog, we will be talking about the basic stances in Karate. Stances are the posture you use in Karate that help you shift from one move to the other, that help you distribute bodyweight and help you stand firm on your feet. There are three basic stances.

Horse Stance (Kiba Dachi)

The horse stance also referred to as a horse-riding stance, is a common stance or posture in martial arts, especially in Karate. It mimics the horse rider on horseback. This stance is not only useful in real-time fighting but is also used a lot during exercises and when practicing various techniques, such as the blocks and punches.

This stance works on developing balance, strengthening the legs, the core, and the back. The stance is formed generally by placing the feet apart, twice the shoulder’s width, with feet pointing forward and parallel to each other, thighs parallel to the ground, buttocks pointing out, and the back straight.

#Tip: Practice your blocks and punches in this stance.

Forward Stance (Zenkutsu Dachi)

The forward stance or the front stance may also be called the forward leaning stance. It is a stance or posture used in martial arts, especially in Karate. It is one of the basic stances in Karate.

The stance is in a forward lunge position, with the front leg bent at the knee and the practitioner's weight on the front leg, but unlike the lunge, the back leg is straight. The feet are placed just about shoulder width apart, and the hips and shoulders remain facing forward. While the stance is useful for forward and backward movements and to strike forward with great agility and power, it only helps limited movement in any other direction.

This stance is not only useful in actual fighting but is also used a lot during exercises and when practicing various techniques in forward and backward movements, such as the blocks and punches and kicks.

#Tip: Practice your blocks and punches and kicks in this stance.

Back Stance (Kōkutsu Dachi)

The back stance, or a backward long stance, is a stance or posture used in martial arts, especially in Karate. It is one of the basic stances in Karate. In this stance, the rear leg is bent strongly at the knee, and the front leg is either straight or slightly bent, depending on the style.

The back foot is turned 90 degrees to the side. The body is turned 90 degrees or more away, except for the head, which looks to the front. Kokutsu-Dachi is a great defensive stance because of the amount of energy stored in the rear leg, ready for a counter-attack.

#Tip: Practice your knife hand blocks and turning and slap kicks in this stance.

We hope these posts have increased your interest in Karate. Follow the instructions, practice regularly and get them right. Our next blog will be on Application of Blocks using Stances.