Tachi Kata (stances)

 

Description

These are the typical stances you will find in shotokan karate.

From Gichin Funakoshi:

Heisoku-dachi: This stance is that of “attention”, the feet are joined.

Hachiji-dachi: This is the natural stance, feet apart, toes turned outward.

Zenkutsu-dachi (forward stance): one should stand with one foot forward, the corresponding knee flexed. You should have the feeling of pulling the front foot back and the back foot forward. The distance between the legs is approximately three feet long, with some adjustments to get the height correct.

Kokutsu-dachi (back stance): This stance is the opposite of Zenkutsu-dachi: the knee of the back leg is bent and the weight of the body rests on that leg. We should have the feeling of withdrawing the front foot towards the rear foot. The distance between the feet is approximately the length of two and a half feet, with some adjustments to get the height of the body correct. The directions of the two feet form an L.

Nekoashi-dachi (cat stance): This pose gets its name from its similarity to that of a cat about to pounce on its prey. The rear leg is bent and supports the full weight of the body, the toes of the front foot rest very lightly on the ground. This posture allows very rapid movements forward or backward and is also suitable for leg techniques.

Kiba-dachi (horse stance): This stance superficially resembles Hachiji-dachi. When you assume the stance, you begin by placing the toes inward, knees flexed, lower abdomen forward. Then, we lower the hips, the upper-body is vertical and we apply tension first to the thighs, as Pon does on the back of a horse, then on the outer edge of the feet, we force on the legs as if to concentrate. - tracing their strength from the outside towards the space between them; then we bring the heels inside until the feet are parallel. You have to concentrate on the lower abdomen. This is a very solid posture, and when it is mastered, one should not fear, for example in a typhoon, to be carried away, while one is standing on the roof of a house standing in front of itself a door.

Fudo-dachi: this stance is formed from Zenkutsu-dachi, by slightly bending the back leg and turning the hips in a Hanmi position, that is to say: the upper-body having made a rotation towards the back bringing it to a three-quarter position from the one it occupied.

Taikyoku Shodan (aka Kihon Kata)

    Many Shotokan karate schools don't do this kata anymore but Gichin Funakoshi considered it the first kata one should learn.  If you are a beginner training at home, you may find it useful to start with this kata just to familiarize yourself with the idea.

Kata Diagram

Video

Commentary on the Taikyoku Kata

TAIKYOKU (THE FIRST CAUSE)

These are actually three numbered Kata, Shodan (first), Nidan (second), Sandan (third). As these Kata are the easiest to learn and consist of the combinations of the most useful blocks and attacks for Kihon (foundational exercises), these are the ones beginners should start with. These Kata and the Ten no Kata, which are described later, are the product of my many years of research in the art of Karate. If exercised regularly, they give a harmonious development of the body and a natural ability to use it correctly. In addition, the student who has acquired dexterity in Kihon (fundamental exercises) and who understands the essence of the Kata of Ta'ikyoku, will understand the deep meaning of the maxim “KARATE NI SENTE NASHI” (in Karate, the first attack does not bring any advantage). It is for all of these reasons that I gave them the name Ta'ikyoku.

[...] 

    Execute the Kata movements lightly and correctly until their succession is mastered, then apply force to the movements. Even more, it is very important that the Kata is worked on repeatedly, until unconsciously, each movement is executed correctly. 

    Taikyoku Nidan's move sequences are identical to those of Shodan except that in Nidan all punches are scored at upper level instead of medium level.
    In Taikyoku Sandan, the low blocks along lines 1 and 3 of Taikyoku Shodan are replaced by medium level blocks (Ude-uke aka uchi-uke) performed in the Kokutsu stance and the sequences of three medium attacks along line 2 become sequences of upper level attacks, the rest of the movements being identical to those of Taikyoku Shodan.   -Gichin Funakoshi