Forward Walking Stance

Seisan–dachi: (Say-sawn Daw-chee) 

This is the first real fighting stance a beginner must master. The balance is on both legs, so the karateka can move quickly and deliver strikes and maintain his/her balance. Both legs are bent, so the karateka can push off more quickly. You must be in a balanced stance to have good footwork. With the knees bent they can bend downwards when attacked by a shin kick. The lead knee can be dropped to protect the groin. Leg block legs and arms block arms. Kicks can also be blocked by lifting the lead leg and deflecting the blow with the shin. The major weakness in this true fighting stance comes when weight is placed on the lead leg. A shin kick to the inside or outside of the lead knee can cause you to become immobile.

Foundation:

• The back is straight.
• Keep the chin up, head straight, and eyes forward.
• The front is leg bent.
• The back is leg bent.
• 60% of the weight is on the front leg.
• 40% of the weight is on the back leg.
• The toes slightly grip the floor.
• The feet are a shoulder’s width apart.
• Check for proper length of the stance.

Check: To see if the stance is the right length lower the back knee to the floor. If the knee lines up with the front foot’s heel the distance is correct. The feet should be placed a shoulder width apart.

Weakness:

• Its’ balance is broken on forty-five-degree angles, and that is how it should be attacked.
• Upper centerline striking points are open and must be protected utilizing the forearms and hands.
• Lower groin area is open and must be protected by leg and knee blocks.
• Outside and inside of knee joints are exposed to attack from roundhouse shin kicks especially the lead leg.
• Too much weight on the lead leg.

Strengths:

• This is a strong stance attacking forward. This is the first stance that has mobility and is used to move and deliver strikes. It is a true fighting stance and not wholly a transitional position.
• It enables a quick forward movement.
• It enables the karateka the ability to move on the balls of the feet.
• It enables hip rotation for generation of power off the back leg.
• Kicking techniques can be made from front leg to keep an attacker off balance.
• All four weapons are available for use. [Right and Left Arms and Right and Left Legs]
• In this stance, you bend both knee joints to limit attacks to these joints by an adversary in front of you.
• With one leg in front of you, it is easier to block low kicks with the shin of the lead leg.
• This is a true fighting stance.