“Karate has many stances; it also has none”. – Nakasone Genwa (1895-1978)
.
Fundamental to the improvement of your karate technique is correct and balanced form.
.
In karate, ‘stance’ refers to the position of the lower body, the hips and the legs, which literally carry the upper body. Thus techniques are at their best when form is at the optimum. The moment when this is important is the instant in which a technique is executed. Good form is not rigid.
.
Over concentration on maintaining a firm and stable position will result in loss of mobility, which is necessary for the subsequent movement[s].
.
In everyday English we use the word ‘stance’ to infer a fixed, unchanging position or viewpoint. This common use of the word ‘stance’ can confuse people into thinking that we utilize them in the same way! That any stance represent “fixed positions”…… They do not.
.
The stances are a snapshot, a moment in time. They are there so we can see how the bodyweight should shift, an angle gained, the positions we should move to and through, or they limit the opponent’s motion and control their position. In practice we must flow through these postures, and not freeze in position.
.
The basis of executing a good and effective technique is correct stance plus balance and the harmonious coordination of parts of the body, and all must work together at the same time. In this way, techniques become fast and powerful.
.
Stances can be divided into two types according to the way the knees are used in relation to the center of gravity. Outside tension stance; the knees are pressed strongly outward from the mid line connecting the body’s center of gravity and the floor, as in Zenkutsu dachi, Shiko dachi and Kokutsu dachi. Inside tension; the knees are twisted inward, as in Sanchin dachi, Neko ashi dachi and Naihanchi dachi.
.
Whatever the stance, the knees and the toes of each leg should point in the same direction. Twisting the knee in an opposite direction to your toes can lead to long-term injury.
.
It must always be remembered that we don’t get into a stance to do techniques; we do techniques by moving into stances.
.
We can basically divide the combative function of ‘stances’ into three categories:
.
1) Snapshots of movement, for early learning purposes, that will be flowed to and through in order to generate force in subsequent practice and application.
.
2) Positions taken to limit the enemy’s options for movement (i.e. putting a leg behind their leg).
.
3) Positions capable of absorbing force such that balance is maintained (i.e. what we would do to make ourselves stable if pushed or pulled).
.
It is obviously important to know which function you are training your ‘stances’ for. There are also non-combative functions attributed to stances too; i.e. strengthening legs and aesthetic considerations. These “alternative layers” can lead to the original functions being obscured, possibly even eroded and lost to the sands of time.
.
“Kamae wa shoshinsha ni ato wa shizentai.” Fixed positions are for beginners: later, one moves naturally. – Funakoshi Gichin (1868-1957)
.
With thanks to Iain Abernethy
.