Long Forward Stance

Zenkutsu-dachi: (Zen-koot-sue Daw-chee) 

The main purpose for this stance is leg conditioning. Some schools have students carry other students on their backs to build leg strength. The stronger a karateka’s stances the more powerful all their techniques will be. The reality is this is a transitional position. To deliver a punch with maximum power the weight needs to be transferred from the rear leg to the lead leg. This stance is that final position. The center line is dropped, and weight is shifted forward. Dropping the centerline can extend the punch allowing the karateka to punch through the target.

Foundation:

• The back is straight.
• Keep the chin up, head straight, and eyes forward.
• The front leg is bent.
• The back leg is straight.
• 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.

Check: To see if stance is the right length lower the back knee to the floor. If it is a fists width or more behind the heel of the front foot, then the distance is correct. Feet should be shoulder’s width apart.

Note: This is a beginner’s stance. Some Shotokan schools use it to fight from, but it is cumbersome.

Note: When you grip the floor with your toes, do grip the floor so tightly that you roll onto the sides of the foot, or lift the heel off the floor.

Note: One of Funakoshi Sensei’ students ask why he had to always practice in Zenkutsu Dachi when Funakoshi was always in a taller more mobile stance. Funakoshi simply said the student was not old enough to use the taller stances. In other words, he had not studied long enough to understand the reasons for training in Zenkutsu Dachi. Zenkutsu Dachi was being used to help him build leg strength, balance, and develop the body –mind connection, so he mind could recognize the final position necessary in the weight transfer portion of movement to maximum generation of power when delivering a punch.

Weakness:

• It is difficult to fight from because it impedes the fighter’s quick movement.

• There is too much weight on the front leg making it susceptible to low roundhouse kicks to the inside (Cut-kick) and outside (Shin-kick) of the lead leg.
• It is susceptible to angular attacks. [45˚] Moving outside a linear attack.

• The knee of the back leg is straight, so there is very little push even in a forward attack.
• This is not a fighting position, but the final sequence for generating power in lead-hand or reverse-hand punch.

Strengths:

• The strong point is in its’ low center of gravity. Balance is not easily broken backwards.
• It is good for building leg strength and discipline.