Beginners Corner
This page is the start of a series that will introduce you to basic stances, strikes and kicks used in ChungDoKwan TaeKwonDo. To perform any strike or kicking technique correctly you must start with a good stance, they are the foundation of everything else you do in Tae Kwon Do. Here we introduce you to the ready stance, horse riding stance, front stance and back stance.
Ready Stance begins and ends every exercise routine. As the name implies, in this stance you are preparing to perform exercises, forms, one-step sparring and ultimately free-sparring. From attention position (feet together, hands to your sides), move your left foot to the left until your feet are shoulder width apart. Your toes should point slightly inward for stability and kness relaxed but not bent. While moving your feet bring your hands up to chest level, palms facing toward your chest, make fists and move both hands down to belt level in a snapping motion while exhaling, fists still facing your body and your elbows slightly bent. Tighten you lower abdominal muscles while you are in ready stance.
Horse Riding Stance from the ready stance move your left foot again to the left until your feet are one and a half shoulder width apart and both heels are on a straight line. Bend your knees until you are in a "riding position". Keep both feet parallel and facing straight forward. Keep your shoulders level and square with your chest facing straight forward. From this stance you will perform the following:
- Middle-section front punch
- Double front middle-section punch
- Triple front punch, first two at middle-section and third at upper-section
Front Stance is a deep defensive stance, from this stance you will perform blocks, punches, strikes and kicks of all types while moving forward or backward. From the ready stance step backwards with your right foot approximately one and a half shoulder widths. The left (front) knee is bent nearly 90 degrees (you should bend your knee until you can only see half your big toe), and 70% of your weight is over your left (front) leg. Your right leg is straight with your knee locked. Your shoulder should be level and square with your chest and hips facing straight forward. Perform a down block as you step into this stance. By exaggerating this stance and getting the thigh parallel to the floor you will build strong leg muscles. When you practice this stance in front of a mirror you should be able to see both of your patches in the mirror. From this stance you will perform the following techniques and combinations:
- Stepping forward down block
- Stepping forward middle-section front punches to the solar plex
- Stepping forward high-section punches to the face
- Down-block/reverse middle section punch combination
- Down-block/reverse middle section punch/high-section punch combination
Back Stance is a very flexible and mobile stance from which you will perform blocks, punches, strikes and kicks of all types. A variation of this stance, the fighting stance, will be your primary free-sparring stance. From the ready stance, step back one and one half shoulder widths with your right foot until your right heel is on a straight line with the heel of your left foot. Your left foot remains facing straight forward and your right foot points to the right at 90 degrees. Your face looks forward, the same direction as your left foot, while your upper body faces to the side, the same direction as your right foot, shoulders level and square. Bend your left knee slightly and your right knee nearly 90 degrees. This will place 70% of your weight on your right (back) foot. This will allow you to strike quickly with your front leg. By deepening this stance you will build long strong leg muscles. From this stance you will perform the following techniques and combinations:
- Step forward, knife-hand strike
- Knife-hand strike while stepping backward
- Stepping forward forearm side block
- Forearm side block stepping backward
Practicing your stances offers benefits at several levels:
- They condition your leg and back muscles.
- They develop your balance and a firm center of gravity
- They give you flexibility as you defend yourself and perform offensive techniques.