Basic Taekwondo Stances

Basic Taekwondo Stances

 

In Taekwondo there are different types of stances depending on if you are attacking or defending. Below are the main stances that are used in basic technique and poomsae.

Study the stances carefully and never be satisfied with your technique. Your stances, whatever your grade, can always be improved.

Remember to keep the weight on the balls of the feet at all times when practicing any stance.

ATTENTION STANCE

Taekwondo Training Attention Position
Taekwondo Training Attention Position


Tips on achieving a technically correct attention stance:

  • Both feet touching and pointing forward. Make sure there are no gaps in your feet.
  • Arms smartly hanging straight down with your open hands touching your body.
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.

JUNBI (READY) STANCE

Taekwondo-Training Junbi Position
Taekwondo-Training Junbi Position

Length: Shoulder width apart.

How to achieve a ready stance:

  • Feet shoulder width apart and both feet pointing directly forward.
  • Weight on the balls of the feet so you are instantly ready to move in any direction.
  • Knees very slightly bent ready to move quickly.
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.
  • Tight fists at abdomen level (knot of the belt), approximately one fist distance apart.

FORWARD STANCE

Taekwondo Forward Stance
Taekwondo Forward Stance

Length: 3.5 of your own footsteps forward. (When measuring steps place your heel exactly where the tips of your toes finished.)

Offensive/Defensive: Offensive Stance

Tips on achieving a technically correct forward stance:

  • Make sure that your heels are shoulder width apart and your hips are square. (This is the commonest mistake.)
  • Turn your back foot 45 degrees and lock your back leg straight. (Any bend in the back leg and you will lose power on impact.)
  • Bend the front knee so you can just see the tips of your toes.   
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.

BACK STANCE

Taekwondo Back Stance
Taekwondo Back Stance


Length: 2.5 footsteps forward. (Touch your heels together in an L-shape with your front foot pointing forward, and then count your 2.5 footsteps.)

Offensive/Defensive: Defensive Stance

Tips on achieving a technically correct back stance:

  • Your heels should be aligned and in an L-shape position.
  • Your front foot should point directly forward whilst your back foot should be at a precise 90 degree angle.
  • Your chest should be facing sideways from the target. (Pull your back shoulder round the back.)
  • 70% of your body weight should be distributed over the back leg, leaving 30% over the front. (This means that kicking off the front leg should be easy from this position.)
  • Make certain that your back knee is pushed directly over your back foot so that no extra pressure is added to the knee joint.
  • There should be a slight bend in the front knee.
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.

SITTING STANCE

Taekwondo Sitting Stance
Taekwondo Sitting Stance

Length: Approximately 4 footsteps across.

Offensive/Defensive: Offensive Stance

Tips on achieving a technically correct sitting stance:

  • Ensure your body weight is distributed evenly over both feet and your balance is central.
  • Your shoulders should be facing forward, parallel to the target.
  • Bend your knees and push them OUT so that the weight is directly above your feet.
  • Make certain that both feet are pointing directly forward and are not sticking out at an angle.
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.

WALKING STANCE (FRONT STANCE)

Taekwondo Walking Stance
Taekwondo Walking Stance

Length: 1 footstep forward. (The heel of your leading foot should be should be direct line with the toes of your back foot.)

Offensive/Defensive: Offensive Stance

Tips on achieving a technically correct walking/front stance:

  • Make certain your stance is shoulder width apart.
  • Toes on both feet should be facing directly forward.
  • Both knees should be slightly bent.
  • Weight should be on the balls of the feet with the back heel being raised very slightly to quickly advance or move if need be.
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.

TIGER STANCE

Taekwondo Tiger Stance
Taekwondo Tiger Stance

Length: 1 footstep forward. (Put one foot directly in front of the other with the heel of your front foot touching the toes of your back foot.)

Offensive/Defensive: Defensive Stance

Tips on achieving a technically correct tiger stance:

  • Both feet should be in a straight line with one foot directly in front of the other.
  • 90% of your weight is taken by the back leg which should be bent and low as possible to the floor.
  • The front leg should also be bent with the 10% weight resting lightly on the ball of the foot, making it extremely easy to attack off the front leg.
  • For extra protection the front knee should be angled across your body to shield the groin.
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.

SPARRING STANCE

Tips on achieving a technically correct sparring stance:

  • All weight on balls of the feet.
  • Feet approximately  shoulder width apart and back foot in a direct line behind the front foot.
  • Weight balanced evenly between back and front leg ready to move in either direction.
  • Back vertical so that your balance is centred and eyes looking directly forward.
  • Guarding block in place to protect your front ribs, face and solar plexus.

Open Sparring Stance Where both you and your partner have opposite legs behind you so that your chests are facing the same direction.

Closed Sparring Stance Where you and your partner have the same leg behind you resulting in your chests facing opposite directions.