stances in karate

[TheAnimal]

The front foot should always be pointed straight forwards (unless youre doing something) and always aimed at your opponents groin.

[Hobbes]

The front foot should always be pointed straight forwards (unless youre doing something) and always aimed at your opponents groin.

One of the essentials that I've learned as a scientist is the need for supporting evidence to a statement. Simply stating that something is so, does not make it correct. There are pros and cons to most things we do as well as exceptions to nearly everything. One of the things you will not find in my posts are statements without supporting evidence. Have I been wrong, absolutely, but this is a sign of growth. What I don't feel is appropriate for instructors are statements like the one "The Animal" just made, (void of any supporting evidence and rationale). If you are going to make a statement, and you plan on teaching, you had better have a good answer for the question(s) "why" and "how".

[TheAnimal]

Ooookay. When your lead foot is aimed at the center of your opponent's body, it puts you in proper position so that he or she is not too far left or right of you. It also makes it so that you are centered and ready to throw all strikes in your arsenal, from a jab to a legkick. Imagine if your opponent were too far to your left, a rear kick with your right leg would almost surely miss. Likewise, if he were too far to your right, your left hand is too far away to hit him. This all goes double for when grappling is involved, because if you are not facing your opponent straight on and are centered, he can manipulate angles to clinch or pull off a takedown and you will be much more powerless to stop it. This is the position all thai boxers and at least most mixed martial artists are taught, and while nothing is perfect or absolute, it is generally always saught after.

As for the foot being pointed, if you want to be maneuverable it has to be pointed foward. Pointed right (if its your left foot) is just weird and awkward, and pointed to the left is a nice set up for a thai kick, but for anything else, like moving, it is awkward and will slow you down.

[Menjo]

The front foot should always be pointed straight forwards (unless youre doing something) and always aimed at your opponents groin.

One of the essentials that I've learned as a scientist is the need for supporting evidence to a statement. Simply stating that something is so, does not make it correct. There are pros and cons to most things we do as well as exceptions to nearly everything. One of the things you will not find in my posts are statements without supporting evidence. Have I been wrong, absolutely, but this is a sign of growth. What I don't feel is appropriate for instructors are statements like the one "The Animal" just made, (void of any supporting evidence and rationale). If you are going to make a statement, and you plan on teaching, you had better have a good answer for the question(s) "why" and "how".

LOL I just end up supporting my statements with constant condradictions and completly off topic posts . In regards to the very last statement, sometimes I think its good for me not to have prepared anything, then I learn to learn. I can also then work off others' statements for argument.

But for the general idea, the average response in a negative tone at least should have some back up or logic.

[juey palancu]

okay,

most people's feet are curved on the outside, so a straight front foot will look a little curved in from above. If the curve on the outside of the front foot doesnt appear to be going towards your body, then your foot is not pointing straight but outwards.

For most people, the foot should be pointing forward in zenkutsu dachi, in my opinion. Why? Because if not your poisiton is thrown out of balance and when you throw that guyaku-zuki you will be left in an unbalanced position to the outside of your leading foot, like if you were a twisting towel. However, each person has to work to find their own there are no su-fire recipes here, and for this they need the assistance of a good instructor and a lot of practice.

[juey palancu]

oops, sorry for typos

[powerof0ne]

A traditional, basic Muay Thai fighting stance is actually like this: both feet pointing out at a 45 degree angle, shoulder width apart with your lead 1.5 to 2 steps out. The reason why the feet are at a 45 is because you're on the balls of your feet the whole time so you can pivot and put your hips into your kicks...A thaiboxers is on the balls of their feet(same with a boxer).

The basic arm position is to have your fists about 1.5 fists from your face but having your fists at about head level. Making sure that your elbows aren't pointed out because this telegraphs! Don't drop your hands because it makes an opening to get hit in the head/face/neck.

Having your lead leg point forward is not a Muay Thai stance..think about what I'm saying here. Lets say you're an orthodox/right handed fighter. If you wanted to throw a rear leg roundhouse/dtae your left leg/supporting leg will allready be pointed out 45 degrees..which means it's that much easier to pivot. Also, a Thai style Muay Thai practitioner "marches".

More advanced practitioners do other stances and movements with a lot of plok(pushing) while they march and will almost if not put their hands in your line of sight to "blind" you from incoming attacks.

Yes, some people will have "bad habbits" and have their lead leg pointing forward..I probably do it sometimes but most of the time when I'm doing a Muay Thai technique both of my feet are pointed out, not straight.