Karate Stances – Japanese Terms
“Dachi” or “Tachi” means stance in Japanese, and describes primarily the position of the feet in various Karate stances. Stances are very important in delivering power and also quick responses in various situations and are thus emphasis in Kihon (basic training). Strong stances can give a smaller person a significant advantage over a larger attacker.
Stances – Dachi
| Bensoku dachi |
Turning cross leg stance |
| Fudo dachi |
Free stance |
| Hachiji dachi |
Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart toes slightly pointed out) |
| Han zenkutsu dachi |
Half front stance (Short Zenkutsu dachi) |
| Hachiji dachi |
Natural stance (feet shoulder width apart toes slightly pointed out) |
| Heiko dachi |
Parallel stance (feet shoulder width apart) |
| Heisoku dachi |
Closed foot stance (feet together) |
| Kiba dachi |
Horse riding stance (feet parallel) |
| Kokutsu dachi |
Back stance |
| Musubi dachi |
Formal attention stance (feet together) |
| Neko ashi dachi |
Cat stance |
| Renoji dachi |
The letter L stance |
| Sanchin dachi |
Hourglass stance |
| Sesan dachi |
Side facing straddle stance |
| Shiko dachi |
Straddle leg stance (horse stance feet at 45 degrees) |
| Zenkutsu dachi |
Front stance |
Fighting Postures – Kamae
The fighting postures (Kamae, sometimes also “Kame”) include the position of the arms and legs as well as the body angle and center of gravity. For example, Gedan No Kame is a
lower level fighting posture, with the legs in Shiko Dachi (thus the centre of gravity quite low), body angled at 45 (or even 90 degrees) and the arms
ready to respond to lower and middle level attacks.
| Gedan no kamae |
Lower level fighting posture |
| Chudan no kamae |
Middle level fighting posture |
| Hanmi no kamae |
Half forward facing fighting posture |
| Jodan no kamae |
Upper level fighting posture |
| Kame |
Fighting posture |
| Morote no kamae |
Augmented hand fighting posture |
| Shizen dachi no kamae |
Natural fighting posture |
