Stances

     There are infinitely many stances that can be drawn from poomse, one-steps and instructors, all varying and all useful. Here I am attempting to explain only those that I refer to in Poomse and Basic Technique explanations.
Front Stance ~ Side Stance ~ Back Stance ~ Walking Stance ~ Meditation (or Attention) Stance ~ Ready Stance ~ Twisted Stance ~ Tiger Stance ~ Crane Stance
Front Stance:
Taking a step in front stance is similar to taking a normal step, but much longer and wider. As pictured at right, both feet are planted fully on the ground and pointing straight forward.
Korean: Ap Koobi
How described: "Right Front Stance" means a front stance in which the right foot is forward.
Feet: Feet are spread shoulder width apart from side to side, and are about the same distance from each other forward and back.
Legs: The leg whose foot is forward is bent at the knee, while the other leg is nearly straight. When looking down at the front foot, you should be unable to see your foot because your knee should be bent enough to block it from view.
Body: Hips and shoulders should be squared off to the front, not turned to an angle. Back should be straight, eyes focused straight ahead. A typical guard is achieved with the arms in "middle block" positions in front of the body.
Weight: Weight is evenly distributed onto both feet.
Side Stance:
Also called "Horse" or "Horse-back" stance, this stance is acheived by spreading the feet out on either side of the body about 1 and 1/2 shoulder widths apart.
Korean: Joochoom Soogi or Yup Koobi
How described: "Right Side Stance" indicates a side stance in which the eyes are focused to the right side of the body.
Feet: Feet are firmly planted on the ground and pointing at a 90° angle to the direction of focus.
Legs: Legs are bent out at the knee, as though "riding a fat horse". Do not squat or bend the knees far enough that the undersides of your legs form less than a 90° angle; this causes "bobbing" and is difficult to maintain for a long period of time, with no benefits.
Body: Hips and shoulders are square to the direction the feet are pointing (at a right angle to the direction of focus). Head is turn to the side in the direction of focus. A typical guard consists of the arm in the direction of the focus being extended in that direction in a long middle block, and the other arm guarding in front of the chest over the solar plexus.
Weight: Weight is evenly distributed on both feet.
Back Stance:
Also called "L-" or "T-" Stance, this stance consists of pointing the rear foot at a right angle to the direction of focus and the front foot straight in the direction of focus, less than a shoulder width apart.
Korean: Dweet Koobi
**How described: "Right Back Stance" indicates a back stance in which the right foot is to the back. "Right L-Stance" usually indicates an L-Stance in which the right foot is forward.
Feet: The rear foot points at a 90° angle to the direction of focus. The front foot points straight in the direction of focus, lining up with the heel of the rear foot. Note that "T-Stance" usually refers to having the front foot line up with the center of the rear foot, rather than the heel.
Legs: Legs are both slightly bent.
Body: Hips and shoulders are either square in the direction the rear foot is pointing, or at a 45° angle between the direction of the front foot and the direction of the rear foot, depending on instructor. Typical guard is similar to the Side stance guard, with the leading arm middle blocking in front the rear arm guarding over the chest, although the rear arm usually is moved more to the front.
Weight: Weight is about 90% focused on the rear leg. The front leg should be able to kick without a visible weight-shift to the rear.
Walking Stance:
Walking Stance is very similar to Front stance, except that it is short and narrower; more like a natural step. This stance is not used at all in the WMTKDA 22 Basics, but is used extensively in the TaeGuek Poomse.
Korean: ??
How described: "Right Walking Stance" indicates a walking stance in which the right foot is forward.
Feet: Feet are roughly half a shoulder width apart both forward and back and from side to side. Both feet are planted and pointing straight forward.
Legs: Rear leg is almost straight, forward leg is slightly bent.
Body: Hips and shoulders are squared to the front, back is straight, focus is straight forward.
Weight: Weight is evenly distributed.
Meditation Stance:
Also called "Attention" positions, this stance is used for pre- and post-class meditation and bowing, as well as occasionally being used to describe foot positioning in forms.
Korean: Cha Ruet
How described: ??
Feet: Feet are side-by-side, heels and toes touching, and pointing forward.
Legs: Legs are nearly straight.
Body: Hips and shoulders are squared to the front, back is straight. To complete meditation, the right hand forms a fist in the center of the chest, while the left hand covers it. Elbows are kept in close to the body. Head is slightly bent and eyes are closed.
Weight: Weight is evenly distributed.
Ready Stance:
Ready stance ("Joonbe") is meant to be a stance from which any position can be quickly and easily achieved. The body is not committed to any position: every part is half-way to another position.
Korean: Joonbe
How described: "Ready Position" or "At Ease" indicates this foot positioning.
Feet: Feet are pointed straight forward, planted and about (or a little less than) shoulder width apart.
Legs: Knees are slightly bent, ready to spring into action.
Body: Hips and shoulders are squared to the front, back is straighted, eyes focused forward. Arms are in a double low block position in front of the body.
Weight: Weight is evenly distributed.
Twisted Stance:
Twisted stance brings the feet close together. It is often used in conjunction with jumps.
Korean: ??
How described: "Right Twisted Stance" indicates a twisted stance in which the right foot is planted on the floor pointing forward.
Feet: The "front" foot is planted and pointed straight forward. The other foot rests on its ball on the "wrong" side of the front foot, with its toes pointed at the front foot. (See drawing at right)
Legs: The "front" leg is somewhat bent and pointing forward. The "back" leg is wrapped around behind the front leg so that the foot ends up on the other side, with the knee pointing at a 90° angle (or less) from the front.
Body: Usually, the hips and shoulders are pointed forward.
Weight: Weight rests mostly on the front (planted) foot. The other foot helps with balance but not weight.
Tiger Stance:
Tiger stance is similar to Back stance, but emphasizes the weight distribution further by setting the front foot only on it's ball.
Korean: ??
How described: "Right Tiger Stance" indicates a tiger stance in which the right foot is forward.
Feet: The rear foot points at a 90° angle to the direction of focus. The front foot points straight in the direction of focus, lining up with the heel of the rear foot. The heel of the front foot is raised sharply off the ground.
Legs: As in the Back stance, both knees are bent, but this time the front knee is bent more than the back, to accomidate the lifted heel.
Body: Hips and shoulders are either square in the direction the rear foot is pointing, or at a 45° angle between the direction of the front foot and the direction of the rear foot, depending on instructor. Typical guard is similar to the Side stance guard, with the leading arm middle blocking in front the rear arm guarding over the chest, although the rear arm usually is moved more to the front.
Weight: Weight is almost completely on the rear foot.
Crane Stance:
Crane stance is a well-known stance in which the martial artist stands on one foot, posed for action.
Korean: ??
How described: "Right Crane Stance" means a crane stance in which the right foot is one the ground.
Feet: The foot on the ground is pointed straight forward. The other foot is next to the standing knee, toes pointed toward the ground.
Legs: The standing leg is nearly straight. The other leg is bent with the thigh parallel to the ground.
Body: Hips and shoulders should be squared off to the front, not turned to an angle. Back should be straight, eyes focused straight ahead.
Weight: Weight is on the standing leg.
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