Introduction to stances

Stances are a fundamental part of karate. They serve many purposes: they act as the foundation from which your techniques are delivered, providing stability, reach and power.

However, most of the stances that we learn in GKR are not necessarily intended to be used in the form that we learn them. In the early days of karate, when it was being formalised into the form that we know now, karate was used as a form of excercise for school and university students. Many of the practical fighting stances were magnified. Therefore. stances that had functional applications at one or even one-and-a-half shoulders long or wide, were increased to two shoulders or something thereabouts. These stances have reduced fighting application, and you're unlikely to consciously place yourself into such a stance during combat. However, such stances serve to develop the muscle strength and explosive movement that makes your fighting stances so much better.

Stances are transitional points, through which you might move on the way to somewhere else. They can also be the starting or ending point of movement. Sensei Gavin Mullholland says that stances are primarily about generating movement. Thus, a low stance like sumo, might be a preparatory position for a lift, or the final position for a throw or grapple, whilst pigeon-toed stance is an excellent stance for generating rotational movement.

Stances are about more than mere foot and leg angles and positions; they are also about muscle tensions, and your body's interaction with the floor. This could be about grounding yourself, to make yourself strong and immovable, or it could be about using your stance and posture, to deliver power via any connecting joints, to the point of impact, alternately your stance can be used to redirect your opponent's energy via your joints, so that it is dissipated with minimal or no effort on your behalf.

You must first learn the most fundamental dimensions, energies and interactions of a stance before you can progress to develop it into a more useful part of your real-world karate.

Because GKR has fused two entirely opposing systems of karate together (Goju Kai, and Budokan/Shotokan), you'll see that our system of stances originate distinctly from one style or the other.

Our Shotokan stances generally have a broad or long base, providing stability, but they're relatively immobile. They are:

Zenkutsu Dachi

Kiba Dachi

Kokutsu Dachi

Hangetsu Dachi

Kage Dachi

Our Goju Kai stances are generally comprised of 45 degree angles, and depend upon internal strength. However, they offer good mobility. They are:

Shiko Dachi

Nekoashi Dachi

Sanchin Dachi

Gyaku Nekoashi Dachi