In various forms of Karate, there are anywhere from 7 to almost 30 stances a student must learn. Stances are different body positions used in forms, sparring, and self-defense, and some schools expect you to know the names of all these stances in Japanese, Korean, etc.
In Chung Nam Yun Tang Soo Do, we look at stances differently. The word stance means how a person physically and deliberately positions themselves, a posture, and makes you think it is a firm, permanent position, like “taking a stance” for or against something.
There Are Only 6 Stances
Chung Nam Yun Tang Soo Do only recognizes six stances, two of which are preparatory positions at the beginning or end of an exercise or form. The other four are used in performing techniques, defenses, sparring, and hyung. The six stances are…
- Attention
- Ready Stance (Jun Bi)
- Front Stance
- Horse Stance
- Side Stance
- Fighting Stance
Stances Are “Transitional Movements”
Secondly, and most importantly, Chung Nam Yun views stances as “transitional movements” in which a practitioner flows in and out fluidly while performing techniques, forms, and defending oneself. They are NOT stationary positions a student stands in for endless hours or when preparing to fight.
For example, as we spar, we may step forward in a front stance to launch a punch, then move back into a side stance to defend, then back into a front stance to throw the opponent over our back leg and end in a horse stance to deliver a finishing blow.
During the above exchange, we flow into and out of the “stances” as we move from offense to defense, and back. In other words, we “transition” from one stance to another repeatedly, not standing in one stationary stance and clumsily moving into another like a robot.
Stances MUST Be Practiced and MUST Be Done Right!
While we may not stand in our stances for hours, they still need to be trained to ensure they are being done properly.
Once you get into one of your stances, go through a mental checklist from head to toe.
Are my feet the right distance apart?
Is my weight distributed properly?
Are my knees locked or bent properly?
Are my toes pointing in the right direction?
All of these points make a huge difference in your movement and whether a technique works or not. For example, the front stance. If you do not learn to lock your back knee, keeping the leg straight and tense, and you throw an opponent over your leg or hip, your knee will collapse from their body weight and either injure your knee or bring you to the ground with them. It is the same with the horse stance.
While we move in and out of the stances frequently, we will post in them to perform a throw, takedown, or finishing blow that requires maximum power, all of which require proper stances. So take the time to master them, there’s only six, and you will find your Tang Soo Do will be improve in the process.