I have been learning a new kata Shiho Hai. It starts off with four Shiko Dashi stances facing in four directions.

 

I have a hard time holding these stances low enough with my back not leaning forward. If I keep the tops of my thighs parallel with the ground while in the stance I have to lean forward to keep me from going over backwards. Sensei that is teaching me it says I should be able to do this. Keep my back straight and 90 degrees in relationship to the ground and also have my thighs parallel to the ground while doing the squat.

 

Any thoughts or tips? My thigh muscles are very strong and I have often been told that I do my low stances very well by senior students BTW.

I practice getting my kiba dashi low by putting my back against a wall and sliding down into a dip stance. Keep going lower and lower, it will help strenghen muscles you my already think are strong and it also works well as a reminder to keep your back straight. Granted you won't have the wall during your kata but this should help train your body to be in a deep stance without losing your balance or having to compensate by leaning. It has helped me!

Think about keeping your weight forward on the balls of your feet instead of rooting the stance with all the weight on your heels, that should help you balance while keeping your back up straight. This also makes sense for when you move out of the stance, you don't want to have to take the time to shift your weight to the balls of your feet before you take a step. It should also make your strikes more powerful by directing your weight/energy forward. Hope this helps!

Every stance works the muscles in the legs just a bit differently.

Also for some people it just isnt possible, I believe, due to the hip joints. Even with people whose hip joints do open well enough the butt can push out a bit at the back but they can get themselves more upright. Not being someone who worries too much about deep stances as they aren't relevant to my training I'd suggest checking some good books on biomechanics. Just remember too that we are all built slightly differently so don't be too hard on yourself and don't get into any situation where you may hurt yourself because someone pushes you- in the old days that used to happen a lot with stretching and other bits.

 

Regards

 

Rich

We work low stance is Shotokan and the Kiba Dachi is no differant. It just takes time and lots of work. Don't rush it just go as low as you can for as long as you can and then next class try a bit more. Can't do it perfect in one night.