02/10/2026
Basic karate stance 👊🥋
*Zenkutsu Dachi - Front Stance:* Your main fighting stance. 70% weight on front leg, strong forward pressure. This is where all your power comes from for punches. If this stance is weak, everything is weak.
*Kokutsu Dachi - Back Stance:* 70% weight on back leg, front leg light. This is your defense stance. You use it to evade and counter, like pulling back from a punch and instantly returning.
*Kiba Dachi - Horse Stance:* Legs wide, knees bent, like riding a horse. Builds iron legs and low center. Essential for side techniques and for developing true kime.
*Naifanchin Dachi - Tekki Stance:* Similar to Kiba but tighter, toes slightly in. Old Naha-te stance, used in Tekki kata for fighting in narrow spaces, back against a wall.
*Siko Dachi - Square Stance:* Like Kiba but toes pointed out 45 degrees. Sumo-influenced, very stable. Used in many Goju kata that came into Shotokan.
*Musubi Dachi - Attention Stance:* Heels together, toes out. This is respect. You start and end every kata here. It teaches attention and humility.
*Heiko Dachi - Parallel Stance:* Feet shoulder-width, parallel. Your natural ready stance. Relaxed but ready to move any direction.
*Heisoku Dachi - Closed Feet Stance:* Feet fully together. Very formal attention stance, used in some kata transitions to develop balance.
*Hachiji Dachi - Open Feet Stance:* Feet apart, toes slightly out in figure-eight shape. Your informal ready stance — relaxed dojo standing.
*Moto Dachi - Foundation Stance:* Shorter Zenkutsu. A higher, mobile version for kumite. Less commitment, faster movement.
*Uchi Hachiji Dachi - Inner Figure-Eight:* Toes pointing in, heels out. Strengthens knees and used in some blocking drills and Sanchin development.
*Kosa Dachi / Kake Dachi - Crossed / Hook Stance:* One leg crosses behind the other. Used as a transitional stance in kata like Kanku-Dai and Heian Yondan, teaches balance and quick turning.
*Neko Ashi Dachi - Cat Foot Stance:* 90% weight on back leg, front foot like a cat's paw just touching. Your sniper stance — very light, ready to kick or evade instantly.
*Sanchin Dachi - Hourglass Stance:* Toes in, tension stance. Breathing stance from Goju, builds inner power and rooted stability.
*Renoji Dachi - L-Shape Stance:* Like an L, one foot forward, one back at 90 degrees. Halfway between Musubi and Zenkutsu, used in many kata.
*Tsuru Ashi Dachi - Crane Leg Stance:* One leg fully lifted, standing on one leg. The ultimate balance stance, also a trap for sweeps, seen in Gankaku.
*Hidari Ashi Dachi - Left Leg Stance:* Weight on left, right foot tucked. Shows dominance of left, used to train asymmetrical balance.
*Migi Ashi Dachi - Right Leg Stance:* Opposite — weight on right. Shotokan trains both sides to eliminate weakness.
*Hangetsu Dachi - Half-Moon Stance:* Wider Sanchin, half Zenkutsu half Sanchin. Core stance of Hangetsu kata, strong breathing and inner tension.
*Teiji Dachi - T-Shape Stance:* Like a T. Quick, short stance used in kata to change direction fast.
*Fudo Dachi - Immovable Stance:* Your battle stance. A mix of Zenkutsu and Kiba, rooted like a mountain. Fudomyo's stance — cannot be pushed.
*Seiza Dachi - Kneeling Formal:* Proper kneeling, sitting on feet. Not fighting but etiquette, zazen, meditation and respect in dojo.
*Hiza Dachi - Knee Stance:* One knee down, one up. Transitional for sweeps, take-downs, and low attacks.
*Ryo Te Fuse Dachi - Both Hands on Ground:* A low crawling stance, body supported by hands and feet. Used for evasion and special applications.
