| Shotokan Karate is one of the most significant | | | | energy of the push. This can be severe enough |
| karate styles in the world; so many styles are | | | | to weaken the back, and even (in rare cases) |
| derived from this system, and thus are tainted | | | | lead to damage to the lower back. |
| with some very incorrect concepts. Thus, | | | | To fix this the footwork all one needs to do is |
| whether you study Shito ryu, Isshin Ryu, | | | | turn the rear foot to about 45 degrees or less |
| Kyokushinkai, or any style that utilizes the Heian | | | | towards the direction of the push. This will position |
| kata, you probably are making the errors I am | | | | the foot for proper traction, and set up the |
| detailing in this article. It doesn't mean your karate | | | | major muscles for the launch of the body. Of |
| stance is a disaster, it just means if you make a | | | | course, this is going to alter the essential nature |
| couple of adjustments you can improve it. | | | | of the stance. |
| A proper karate stance should be a perfect mix | | | | Thus, when you turn the foot correctly, you are |
| between mobility and solidity. Mobiity is when one | | | | going to have to figure out the proper angle of |
| can launch their body quickly. Solidity is when one | | | | the hips, and set the weight more on the rear leg. |
| can grip the ground with their feet and not be | | | | Doing this will prepare the body for maximum |
| moved. | | | | push, but shotokan instructors will resist this |
| In the Shotokan kokutsu dachi stance, however, | | | | alignment of the body for a simple reason: it lacks |
| the ability to be mobile or solid has been | | | | the feel of shotokan power. But this merely |
| compromised. If you study the feet you will see | | | | proves that the system has been corrupted for |
| that they are pointing in directions that are more | | | | the feeling and sake of power, and not for the |
| than ninety degrees apart. This means the stance | | | | balance between sinking the weight and launching |
| can't make up its mind whether it is supposed to | | | | the body. |
| be mobile or solid. | | | | To deal with this, Shotokan masters have made |
| If the rear foot is pointing away from the target | | | | the style specific to rely on overly aggressive |
| the major muscles are pointing away from the | | | | front stances. What they have done is okay, but |
| target. The foot being in the wrong position | | | | only in special situations, and the proof is in the |
| means that there is not going to be enough | | | | fact that the back stance is more for holding the |
| traction for the push. The leg being pointed away | | | | ground than for launching the body. Thus, there is |
| from the target means that the major thrusting | | | | a decision to be made, do what you are told in |
| muscles of the leg can't be properly employed.in | | | | Shotokan Karate classes, or other classical martial |
| addition, the hips won't be facing the right way, | | | | arts styles, or estimate the validity of the physics |
| and when one pushes with the leg there will be an | | | | I have presented here and change your stance to |
| 'energy leak,' in the body. That is to say that the | | | | match these physics. |
| hips will not be strong enough to maintain the | | | | |