What is Your Tachikata?

[CredoTe]

As part of a beginner's training, as well as on-going training for advanced karateka, basic stance training is taught in a myriad of ways. In our dojo, Tachikata is taught based upon the following method (Okinawan):

Tachikata

The positions of Tachikata that follow all fall on a series of parallel and 45-degree angles of the feet. To illustrate, I will use parallel pipes ( | | ) to represent parallel feet positions and back-and-forward slashes ( \ / ) for 45-degrees, as well as underscores ( _ ) to denote spacing between the insides of the heels.

1. Heisoku Dachi: ||

2. Musubi Dachi: \/

3. Heiko Dachi: |__|

4. Shizen Dachi: \__/

5. Naihanchi Dachi: |____|

6. Shiko Dachi (or Jigotai Dachi): \____/

7. Zenkutsu Dachi: \____\

8. Kokutsu Dachi: \____\ (shifting of tanden, feet don't move)

9. Zenkutsu Dachi: /____/

10. Kokutsu Dachi: /____/ (shifting of tanden, feet don't move)

As a training drill, we proceed from position 1 (Heisoku Dachi) through position 10 (Kokutsu Dachi) and then back to position 1. Other well known stances that we do practice that aren't shown, Nekoashi Dachi (cat stance) for instance, can be found from one of the stances shown above.

Note that we do not practice kiba dachi or the like because Matsubayashi-Ryu (Shorin-Ryu) does not have kiba dachi.

What isn't shown in the diagrams is the depth. Matsubayashi-Ryu has only 2 stance heights: standing (natural) and crouching (low). In all low stances (zenkutsu, kokutsu, naihanchi, shiko, nekoashi, etc), the bent knee(s) are bent low enough to be in a straight line above the toes, and the length is such that the feet are kept under the tanden. A simple way to describe our stances in Matsubayashi-Ryu is that our low stances are deep, not long.

I am curious to know how everyone else here practices Tachikata; to see differences from dojo to dojo, as well as Karate style to Karate style. What is your Tachikata? How do you practice it?

[Nidan Melbourne]

Heisoku Dachi ||

Musubi Dachi \/

Heiko Dachi /__\

Soto Hachi Dachi \___/

Uchi Hachi Dachi /_____\

Shiko Dachi \_______/

are our "non-functional" stances

But we also have:

Sanchin Dachi

Zenkutsu Dachi

Shiko Dachi Yonjugudo (45 Degrees)

Shiko Dachi Kyujudo (90 Degrees but really straight line)

Han-Zenkutsu Dachi - half lunge stance

Moto Dachi - our fighting stance

Neko Ashi Dachi - Cat foot stance

Kohkotsu Dachi - 'Back' stance

Renoji Dachi - 'Natural' stance

[Nidan Melbourne]

Oh and we for the more "functional" stances (the 2nd set of stances i listed) we go forwards and backwards. But also for sanchin, zenkutsu, shiko, moto and neko ashi dachi's we do either Happon Ido (8 Directional Turning) or Kum Ji Ido (Diamond Pattern) with hand or leg techniques.

But also do Kihon Ido Ich, Ni and San

[Harkon72]

We have much the same stances, with the addition of Crane Stance and Hourglass Stance. There are a few variations that our Karateka use for free fighting. Most use a medium to high modern Jui Kumite Dachi, I tend to use the reverse Cat Stance mentioned by Bruce Lee in The Tao of Jeet Kun Do. It's a high stance with the front foot flat and the rear heel off the floor, based on the wing chun root of Jun Fan Kung Fu. It's an enigma at our club, they haven't sussed it yet. It will be truly tested at my Dan Grade.

[Wastelander]

I tried to follow your format, but it was a little awkward for some of our stances, so I hope this makes sense:

|| - Heisoku-dachi

\/ - Musubi-dachi

\_/ - Hachiji-dachi

|__| - Naihanchi-dachi

\___/ - Shiko-dachi

|_ - Shizentai-dachi

_/

|_ - Zenkutsu-dachi

_

_/

^ - Neko-ashi-dachi

_/

|_< - Kosa-dachi

[CredoTe]

I tried to follow your format, but it was a little awkward for some of our stances, so I hope this makes sense:

|| - Heisoku-dachi

\/ - Musubi-dachi

\_/ - Hachiji-dachi

|__| - Naihanchi-dachi

\___/ - Shiko-dachi

|_ - Shizentai-dachi

_/

|_ - Zenkutsu-dachi

_

_/

^ - Neko-ashi-dachi

_/

|_< - Kosa-dachi

I follow... Being a fellow Shorin-Ryu karateka, I expected your tachikata to be similar to Matsubayashi-Ryu, but not necessarily the exact same. It looks like the only stance you listed that we don't have is the Hachiji-dachi.

Our Shizentai dachi, Nekoashi dachi, and Kosa dachi can be found from the Shizen dachi position (#4 in my list), but Nekoashi dachi can also be found from Kokutsu dachi. The Zenkutsu dachi and Kokutsu dachi in my Tachikata drill list are done facing at 45-degree angles from front, but can easily be adapted for forward facing training.

[Kusotare]

Nice thread Credo-te.

It’s good to see variations on a theme, but generally, we are all talking about the same thing.

I like the way you and others have shown the foot positions but of course, the position of your feet is determined by the stance your body is in – not the other way around (Tachi - meaning to stand etc).

Understanding some the origins of the stance names can also be useful. For example Shiko-dachi (Sumo stance) is named after the ritual exercise two Sumo wrestlers do at the beginning of each bout.

This ritual is called “Shiko” and when you watch the guys do it you can understand it application to Karate Tachikata.

K.

[CredoTe]

Nice thread Credo-te.

It’s good to see variations on a theme, but generally, we are all talking about the same thing.

I like the way you and others have shown the foot positions but of course, the position of your feet is determined by the stance your body is in – not the other way around (Tachi - meaning to stand etc).

Understanding some the origins of the stance names can also be useful. For example Shiko-dachi (Sumo stance) is named after the ritual exercise two Sumo wrestlers do at the beginning of each bout.

This ritual is called “Shiko” and when you watch the guys do it you can understand it application to Karate Tachikata.

K.

Great post!

I agree that it is the body position and tanden that largely determine the feet positions, but to take it a step further (no pun intended), the position of the feet in a given stance is also determined by what one intends to do with their movements in the very near future (what they're intending to move into). For instance, for our Heisoku Dachi (#1) and Musubi Dachi (#2), there's no change in body position/tanden; rather, the intended application, the intention of what one is moving into, is what separates these two stances.

Thank you for sharing the bit on Shiko rituals... Do you have any additional resources on the origins of Shiko dachi and/or other Tachi? I've seen a couple different explanations of what Shiko dachi means, "four thighs stance" and/or "square stance". Not sure which is accurate, but to compound the issue, in Shorin-Ryu/Matsubayashi-Ryu/Okinawan-te, the stance denoted by "Shiko dachi" is also referred to as "Jigotai dachi" (open leg or wide leg stance). Additionally, Shiko/Jigotai dachi are usually referred to as "horse stance" in many karate schools, but I don't think this is exactly accurate (it's more of a descriptive, rather than an explanation of meaning).

[Kusotare]

For instance, for our Heisoku Dachi (#1) and Musubi Dachi (#2), there's no change in body position/tanden; rather, the intended application, the intention of what one is moving into, is what separates these two stances.

Indeed, the feet alignment is there to facilitate body movement, posture and positioning.

Thank you for sharing the bit on Shiko rituals... Do you have any additional resources on the origins of Shiko dachi and/or other Tachi? I've seen a couple different explanations of what Shiko dachi means, "four thighs stance" and/or "square stance". Not sure which is accurate, but to compound the issue, in Shorin-Ryu/Matsubayashi-Ryu/Okinawan-te, the stance denoted by "Shiko dachi" is also referred to as "Jigotai dachi" (open leg or wide leg stance). Additionally, Shiko/Jigotai dachi are usually referred to as "horse stance" in many karate schools, but I don't think this is exactly accurate (it's more of a descriptive, rather than an explanation of meaning).

The kanji for Shiko 四股 can be read literally as "four, thighs", however in the context of Karate, it is more likely the name derives from the "Shiko" ritual. 四股 in this respect is the "irregular reading" that refers to the professional name of a Sumo wrestler.

Kiba dachi 騎馬立 literally means "horse riders" stance.

I see the difference in the direction of the feet and the amount of bend in the knees. Think of a horseman with his feet is the stirrups. He would not ride with his feet flared out at 45 degrees and his legs bent at the knees to the same extent as in a Sumo's stance.

Jigo-Tai 自護体 literally means defensive body posture.

I hope that helps.

K.

[Kusotare]

But... at the end of the day what one dojo calls Kiba-dachi another will call Shiko-dachi.

It's really down to the instructor to define exactly what it means (within the context of the martial art you are practicing).

That's the nature of Japanese martial arts - it's not unique to Karate either.

But I quite like these differences - it goes to show that Karate is an organic process.

K.