Shoto-Kan Karate. Peter Ventresca

are many positions, or stances, in karate: the forward-leaning stance, straddle-leg stance, back stance, etc. Each serves its own purpose, each is unique in its separate purpose. From any of these stances one is also capable of using kicking techniques. For example, in the forward-leaning stance the rear leg is brought up into a front-snap kick. As the kick is performed, the leg is momentarily fully extended giving one a driving force of about seven feet from rear to front. As the kicking leg completes its technique, it is brought down immediately into another forward-leaning stance, and one can then cover another seven feet by repeating the same technique with the opposite, rear leg.

      FORWARD-LEANING STANCE

      1. Bring the right leg forward twice the width of the shoulders, keeping both feet flat on the floor and the body perfectly upright and balanced. Bend the right leg at the knee and keep the left straight, with the toes turned out at a 45-degree angle away from the body.

      2. Front view of the position in Fig. 1. Note: Both feet are in line with the edges of the shoulders.

      STRADDLE-LEG STANCE

      1. Spread the legs two shoulder-widths apart. Keep the feet flat on the floor and the knees bent outward. Turn the toes in slightly and grip the floor. Note: The body is perfectly balanced and upright, with the head in a line to the center of both feet.

      2. Front view of the position in Fig. 1.

      BACK STANCE

      1. Bring the right leg forward twice the width of the shoulders and force the left backward, bending both legs at the knees and keeping both feet flat on the floor. Note: The body is perfectly balanced and upright, with the head in a line to the center of both feet.

      2. Front view of the position in Fig. 1. Note: The toes of the right foot are pointing directly forward and the heel is lined up with that of the left. (The position facing the opponent is a side-front facing stance, which leaves as little of the body open to attack as possible.)

      Blocking Techniques

      Blocking movements in karate are not what they appear to be. An individual generally sees only the obvious: the blocking movement and nothing else. To every force moving in one direction there is an equal force moving in the opposite direction. An example of this can be seen in the simple firing of a firearm—the greater the grains of powder in the shell, the greater the force of the recoil. Such is the case in blocking techniques.

      In a low block, for example, the right fist is brought up to the left side of the neck while the left arm is stretched completely out, with the fist directly in front of the groin. As the right fist is brought downward to perform a low block, the extended left arm is whipped back to the side of the body in a clenched fist. The damage done by the application of this simple technique is not by the blocking arm, but by the left arm being retracted to the side of the body. The result is a broken arm for the attacker.

      LOW BLOCK

       (executed while in a forward stance)

1. Bring the right fist up to the left side of the neck and stretch the left arm out in front of the groin.

2. Bring the right fist down and simultaneously withdraw the left arm in to the side.

3. Upon completion of this technique, the right fist is directly over the right knee; the left arm is back firm against the side with the fist clenched. Note: The left arm must be parallel to the floor.

4. Side view of the position in Fig. 3.