Nanbudo

Club – Bushido

STANCES (DACHI)

The word dachi (dah-chee) is usually used when referring to a , and primarily describes the position of the feet in various stances. Stances are very important in delivering power and also quick responses in various situations and are thus emphasised in Kihon (basic training). Strong stances can give a smaller person a significant advantage over a larger attacker.

Heisoku-dachi 閉足立 Hay-soh-koo dah-chee. Feet together stance.

This is usually a transitional stance, although it is used as the ready stance in some kat

Musubi-dachi 結び立 Moo-soo-bee dah-chee. Knot stance

Heels together, toes open at about 45 degrees. Weight is equal on each foot.

This stance is used to perform the formal respectful bow, rei (礼).

Heikō-dachi 平行立 Hey-koh dah-chee. Parallel stance

The feet are at the shoulder width, and their outer edges are parallel. Weight is spread 50/50 on each leg.

This is a common transitional stance in many .

Musubi-dachi-heiko 結び立-平行 Moo-soo-bee dah-chee hey-koh.

From musubi-dachi, open heels until both outer edges of feet are parallel. Similar to Heiko-dachi, but the feet are less than shoulder width apart.

Hachiji-dachi 八字立, Natural stance

The feet are at the shoulder width, toes open at about 45 degrees. Sometimes this stance is called soto-hachiji-dachi (外八字立). This is the basic ready stance in .

Shizen Dachi 自然立ち, Shy-zehn da-chee. Natural stance.

A relaxed version of hachiji-dachi.

Nanbudo

Club – Bushido

Uchihachiji-dachi 内八字立 Oo-chee hah-chee-jee dah-chee. Inverted natural stance.

The feet are at the shoulder width, toes facing inwards at 30-45 degrees, knees tense.

Kiba-dachi 騎馬立 Kee-bah dah-chee. Horse riding stance.

Feet are parallel and wide; weight is central and low, with the back straight and the knees and feet pointing slightly inwards.

Shiko-dachi 四股立, Shee-koh dah-chee. stance.

Same as Kiba-dachi but the toes face out at about 45 degrees.

Sanchin-dachi 三戦立 Sarn-chin dah-chee. Three Battles stance.

The stance is fixed and tensed in the same way as Naihanchin-dachi. It can be described as Uchihachiji-dachi with one foot moved forward until the toes of the rear foot are on the same horizontal line as the heel of the front foot. Many advanced breathing techniques are exercised in this stance.

Moto-dachi 基立 Mo-to dah-chee. Foundation stance.

The stance is shin length and around two fist widths wide, with both legs slightly bent, the front foot facing straight forward and the back foot pointed outward at about 20-30 degrees.

Zenkutsu-dachi 前屈立 Zen-koo-tsue dah-chee. Front stance.

This is a long frontal stance where the weight distribution is 70% front leg & 30% back leg.

Your front foot faces forward with the bent, the back leg is straight with your foot at about 30 degrees.

Nanbudo

Club – Bushido

Han Zenkutsu-dachi 半前屈立 Hun-zen-koo-tsue dah-chee. Half front stance. Also known as Sho Zenkutsu-dachi, 小前屈立, short zenkutsu.

The Han Zenkutsu Dachi posture is roughly half the length of the full Zenkutsu Dachi with the weight distribution is 50/50 which gives balance and more manoeuvrability.

Fudō-dachi 不動立 Foo-doh dah-chee. Unshakable stance, also called Sōchin-dachi 壯鎭立.

The body is positioned similar to shiko-dachi turned either 45 or 90 degrees to the side, except for the head which still looks forward. The front foot moves one foot-length forward, increasing stability and making it possible to perform a strong attack with the rear foot.

Hiza Dachi 不動立 Hee-zah dah-chee. Knee stance.

Hiza Dachi is the position of kneeling on one knee. Your front leg has the foot flat on the floor with your knee at 90 degrees. Your back leg has your knee on the floor; knee is also at 90 degrees, with your foot touching the floor toes flexed as far as possible.

Your upper body posture is straight and balanced. There is an even weight on your front foot and back knee.

Kōkutsu-dachi 後屈立 Koh-koo-tsue dah-chee. Back stance.

This is a mirror image of zenkutsu-dachi, where the rear leg is bent strongly at the knee and the front leg is either straight or slightly bent. The rear foot is turned 90 degrees to the side. The body is turned at 45 degrees, with the head looking to the front. The weight distribution is 30% front leg, 70% back leg.

Kokutsu-dachi is a great defensive stance because of the amount of energy stored in the rear leg, ready for a counter-attack.

Han-kōkutsu-dachi 半後屈立 Han-Koh-koo-tsue dah-chee. Half back stance.

Also known as Sho Kokutsu-dachi; 小後屈立, short kokutsu. Shortened and raised kokutsu-dachi.

Nanbudo

Club – Bushido

Nekoashi-dachi (猫足立, cat paw stance) Neh-koh-ah-shee dah-chee. Cat paw stance.

All weight rests on the back leg, which is bent at the knee. The rear foot is turned at about 35 - 45 degrees out and the knee sits at the same angle. Only the toes of the front foot rest on the ground, with no weight on the front foot.

Kake Dachi Kar-kay dah-chee. Hook stance.

Kake Dachi as a stance is the end result of a quick transitional movement forward toward an opponent.

Let’s say you start in Heiko Dachi for example. First step forward with your right foot and turn it inward 90 degrees to the front.

This rotates your hips around so that you’re side on. Next step your left foot forward as you rotate further with a feeling you almost have your back to your opponent.

Ippon Ashi Dachi (one legged stances)

The Ippon Ashi Dachi stances consist of Sagi Ashi Dachi (heron foot stance) & Tsuru Ashi Dachi (crane foot stance). Both are named from the leg positions that both type of birds stand upon.

Sagi ashi-dachi 鷺足立 Sah-gee ah-shee dah-chee. Heron-foot stance.

The supporting foot is at a 90 degree angle to the front with the knee slightly bent. Your knee is lifted and the instep of the foot is tucked behind your knee.

Tsuruashi-dachi 鶴足立 Tsue-roo ah-shee dah-chee. Crane-foot stance.

Similar but the back leg faces directly to the front and your knee and head face 90 degrees to the front. Your heel or sole of the front foot is positioned on the front of the thigh of your back leg, just above your knee joint.

Renoji-dachi レの字立 reh-noh-gee dah-chee. L stance.

Feet are at the shoulder width. The foot in the front is fully frontal (toes facing forward), the rear foot is turned 90 degrees out, and is positioned in such a way that if the front foot is brought back, its heel will touch the heel of the rear foot. Thus the foot print is shaped like the letter L. The weight is kept 70% on the rear foot.

Nanbudo

Club – Bushido

Teiji-dachi 丁字立 Tay-gee dah-chee. T stance.

Similar to renoji-dachi, but if the front foot is brought back, its heel will touch the middle of the rear foot, thus the foot print is shaped like the character 丁 (or letter T).

Hangetsu-dachi 半月立 Halfmoon stance

A version of sanchin. This stance is longer than sanchin-dachi, but retains the same tension and inward rotation of the knees.

Kosa-dachi 交差立 Crossing stance

From Moto-dachi, bring the back leg forward so that the back knee is tucked in to the back of the front knee, with only the toes and ball of the back foot on the floor. Depending on the style, the back foot may be directly behind the front foot, or out to the side of the front foot,

so that the legs are crossed.

Iaigoshi-dachi 居合腰立 Kneeling stance

Kneeling on the rear leg. Distance from back foot to front foot is one shank length plus fist length. Stance is one fist width wide.

Sōkutsu-dachi 側屈立 Side long stance

Often conflated with kōkutsu-dachi, this is a variant of kōkutsu where the head faces the direction perpendicular to the line on which the feet stand.

Nanbudo

Club – Bushido

Bensoku dachi Turning cross leg stance Hachinoji dachi Open leg stance Jiyu Ippon Freestyle stance Kakato-dachi Ka-kah-toe da'chee Heel stance Kumite dachi Koo-me-tay dah-chee Guarding or Fighting Stance Moro Ashi dachi Moor-oh aah-she dah-chee Fighting stance. Seiza Say-zah Sitting, kneeling. Dachi Say-san dah-chee Forward Stance. Moto dachi Short forward leaning stance Yoi dachi Ready stance