Basic Stances

Attention stance – musubi dachi
Feet (heels) together, just before/after bowing

Natural stance – hachiji dachi
At attention, “yoi”

Basic stance – kihon dachi
The first step in kihon kata 1, 2 and 3. Distance of step is the equivalent of your foot’s length (soku cho)

Back stance – ukiashi dachi
65% of weight on back leg, heels in line

Straddle stance – shiko dachi
Feet shoulder width, knees over first two toes

Forward stance – zenkutsu dachi
Forward long stance

Horse riding stance – kiba dachi
Naihanchi stance

Leaning back stance – kokutsu dachi
The long stance at the end of Pinan Godan, double block

Natural Straddle stance – kujushi shiko dachi
First stance in Chinto

Center – ziku
In any position, it’s the point identified as the center. This point will be different when doing moves individually or with a partner.