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Karate stances

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  • heisoku dachi (ready stance) - Feet together, legs straight and relaxed.
  • musubi dachi (ready stance) - Heels together, with each foot pointing outwards 45º (forming a right angle between the feet).
  • heiko dachi (natural stance) - Feet parallel, shoulder-width apart.
  • soto hachiji dachi or just hachiji dachi (natural stance) - Feet shoulder-width apart, feet both pointing outwards at 45º.
  • uchi hachiji dachi (natural stance) - As for soto-hachiji-dachi but feet pointing slightly inwards.
  • zenkutsu dachi (front stance) - Forward leg bent at the knee with 60% of weight on front leg and 40% on rear leg. Knee of rear leg locked and extended approximately two shoulder-widths behind lead foot. Torso erect. Feet facing outwards at 45º.
  • han zenkutsu dachi (half front stance) - As for zenkutsu-dachi, but feet only one shoulder-width apart. Weight is distributed evenly. Front knee is bent so that toes are obscured.
  • sanchin dachi (tension stance) - Feet shoulder-width apart, weight distributed evenly over both legs. Kneeds tensed and pulled inwards. Forward foot slightly ahead of rear foot, so that back of front foot aligns with the front of the rear foot. Toes pointed slightly inward. Back straight and hips tensed, with pelvis pulled forwards and upwards.
  • gyaku zenkutsu dachi (rear defense stance) - As in zenkutsu-dachi but turned around so straight leg points forward. Head and torso turned to face forward, leaning to the rear.
  • neko ashi dachi (cat stance) - Rear knee bent, with foot flat on ground, and toes facing to the outside. Resting lightly (10%) on the front leg, approximately one shoulder-width from the rear leg. Toes of front foot facing forwards, flat on ground with heel of foot raised. Crouching slightly, with front leg in centre of body, bent a little at the knee. Torso erect.
  • kokutsu dachi (back stance) - Rear knee bent, with foot facing to the outside. Forward leg approximately two shoulder-widths in front of and perpendicular to rear foot (i.e. facing forwards). 70% of weight on rear leg, 30% on foward leg.
  • hanmi kokutsu dachi - as for kokutsu dachi, but rear leg is placed slightly to the side. Rear foot points directly sideways with back of foot aligned with big toe of front foot.
  • kiba dachi or naifanchi dachi (horse stance) - Feet roughly two shoulder-widths apart, parallel, toes pointed forwards.
  • shiko dachi (straddle stance) - Feet spread approximately two shoulder-widths apart, toes pointed outward at 45º. Weight distributed evenly over both legs. Knees bent deeply and pulled back as far as possible. Torso erect. Lower legs/shins approximately vertical.
  • naname shiko dachi (diagonal straddle stance) - as for shiko dachi but at a 45º angle.
  • yokomuki shiko dachi (sideways straddle stance) - As for shiko-dachi, but looking directly to the side.
  • sesan dachi (side facing straddle stance) - Similar to yokomuki shiko dachi, but leading foot points directly forward and rear foot points directly outwards.
  • moto dachi - Similar to naname shiko dachi, but leading foot points directly forward and rear foot points directly outwards.
  • shirasagiashi dachi or sagiashi dachi (one-legged or crane stance) - Leg raised and tucked behind knee of supporting leg. Supporting leg bent at knee and foot turned outward, weight shifted back above supporting leg.
  • renoji dachi (Japanese character Re stance) - Feet one shoulder width apart, front leg in centre of body pointing directly forwards. Rear leg pointing outwards 45º. Legs relaxed and straight.
  • kosa dachi (crossed-leg stance) - One leg crossed over the other with both knees bent. Front foot flat on ground. Rear leg supported on ball of foot. Front foot facing to outside at 45º.
  • bensoku dachi - similar to kosa dachi but both feet flat on ground.
  • naihanchi dachi - as for sanchin dachi but feet even (neither is further forward than the other).
  • fudo dachi or sochin dachi (free/immovable stance)

Movements of Karate

  • sabaki - general term for body moving/shifting techniques
  • tai sabaki - body movement
  • te sabaki - hand movement
  • ashi sabaki - foot movement
  • suri ashi - sliding step
  • tsugi ashi - shuffling step
  • tenkai ashi - pivot
  • kaiten ashi - forward step pivot
  • tenkan ashi - pivot backstep
  • ayumi ashi - natural stepping/walking
  • yori ashi - dragging step
  • keri ashi - kicking foot
  • tenshin - moving, shifting
  • chakuchi - replacing

Sparring terms

  • kumite - sparring
  • san dan gi - basic three step/three level sparring
  • sanbon kumite - three step sparring
  • ippon kumite - one step sparring (block and counter)
  • jiyu ippon kumite - free one step sparring, emphasis on technique
  • randori kumite - slow and soft free style sparring with emphasis on technique
  • yakusoku kumite - prearranged sparring
  • jiyu kumite - hard and fast controlled continuous free fighting (iri kumi in the Okinawan dialect)
  • go kumite - full contact sparring
  • sanbon shobu kumite or shiai kumite - three point competition karate