The Science of Karate Stances (Biomechanics)

[@KARATEbyJesse]

What's your favorite Karate stance? 🥋

[@eliasaquinomijares4072]

Ma bu ( horse step)

[@syedprincess7340]

Kiba-dachi

[@TheKillaMethod]

The Karate Kid crane stance! Sweep the leg! Lmaooooo

[@leodark_animations2084]

most of the back stances

[@tapnix7300]

zenkutsu dachi, even though we learn it early, it is still complex in the movement and opens up many possibilities for transitions and takedowns

[@1888swordsman]

My Sifu taught me something very profound. "The hardest thing to learn in martial arts is how to walk naturally"

[@KARATEbyJesse]

It’s essential 💪

[@andrewklyce-mariscal1564]

Study bagua-zhang. No practice is more about walking

[@Bogas76]

This is what gives me the most satisfaction from training karate … understanding where all comes from is like unwrapping gifts …feeling .No BS ! Arigato JESSE San 🙏

[@thrownswordpommel7393]

"I wanna start by looking at your feet" Jesse, there are more subtle ways to ask for feet pics

[@Scarecrowswdsmn]

Static posture meditation in the Chinese martial arts helped me a lot with this kind of alignment too. The names change but it’s all the same, great info

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Most definitely! Great to hear 😄

[@debarjandatta2170]

Thank you Jesse san, This video cleared confusions I had been having for years.

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Wonderful!!

[@iliasvanlangenhof8889]

Going for my 1st DAN (black belt) today guys!🤟🏻

[@Reaper8989]

From a ballroom dancing perspective, some schools spend the first few weeks or months teaching you how to walk, because we "walk wrong" when compared to the feet dexterity and range of motion we need for martial arts, dancing, etc. From a health perspective, fitness goals aside, this really helps us reflect on "hey, maybe I'm out of alignment. Should I seek a physical therapist, podiatrist, chiropractor, etc. to help correct these things, or will this go away with proper technique?" We often overlook and take for granted basic mobility that is essential not just for our health and longevity, but to continue doing and improve upon our training. Great video, as always.

[@andrewwurzbach4700]

Your channel has inspired me to begin practicing again after stopping for several years. Just bought a new Seishin Gi! Thank you so much for what you do 🙏🥋🤜

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Fantastic!! Thanks for supporting my work 🙏

[@lauraduffy9055]

I don't have the years of experience or expertise that you have, but I am a devoted karateka and now a student of kung fu and qi-gong, and I think it is important to introduce the concept of rooting that Master Shi Heng Yi taught you and that you showed in your video when you were with him. There is tremendous power in proper rooting, something I wish I had learned from the beginning of my martial arts jourrney.

[@jalwardo]

That tip about aligning your outside edge of the foot is very important. Such a small change makes a big difference and it can save you from injuries as well. Wish I had learned it much earlier in my karate life. It can be tricky to hammer it in for beginners as well as they are already taking in so much information. Good foot placement combined with good posture makes all the difference. I think it was Sensei Nishiyama who touted 'Samurai posture' as an important point.

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Yes! The samurai were slightly obsessed with it 😂

[@maissthro3645]

I used to do this with my students: have them put 2 bo staffs parallel on the ground and go zenkutsu-dachi between them one step foward and one step back as close as they could making sure to not move the bo. Kind of the same excercise, but it will work only if there is a little number of students. With the last exercise you gotta be sure to not damage your knees on the process. Have a friend that broke the ligaments on one of his knees for doing something very similar. Your passion must never go beyond your capacity. Great video. Thanks for it.

[@iliasvanlangenhof8889]

Jesse, i passed my exam. I'm 1st DAN (shotokan) now.😅

[@rhmayer1]

Congrats! That's a major life achievement. You are now ready to begin to learn your art. ("Shodan" = the "front" dan, the beginning.)

[@rchapel]

Very well said, sir. This is an issue that plagues many in a so-called Horse Stance, not realizing that Proprioception Neuromuscular Facilitation through the Peripheral Visual Cortex tells us when our feet are straight based on the alignment of the "great toe." The side of the foot is absolutely the correct way to achieve proper alignment in a Horse Stance with the feel now being actually parallel, which has a tremendous impact on the available strength of the upper body. - Dr. Chapél

[@TotallyPointlessTV]

Come on Jesse, everyone knows the only stance you need in martial arts is one toe up and the other toe down, nullifies the chi I heard 👀

[@KARATEbyJesse]

And remember to touch the roof of your mouth with your tongue, while thinking of the color green 🤪

[@TotallyPointlessTV]

@@KARATEbyJesse 😂😂

[@jayebejer7431]

@@KARATEbyJesse you also must wink 3 times, with your left eye lid. It opens the flow of chi

[@mcarnese64]

And make sure that your opponent believes in the power of chi to release the full potential of these stances

[@simplydad2015]

Bunch of ”non believers”

[@Jana_Reads_Too]

Watching this, thinking about my physiotherapist that tries hard to teach me how to stand correctly as a normal person. While my hypermobile ankles just do their own thing :D

[@KARATEbyJesse]

You’re not alone!

[@patricm.3718]

You're an excellent teacher, Jesse.

[@howardjohnson6284]

Everything starts from the ground up. We have spent years trying to develop grip. The late Chojiro Tani Soke liked the book 'White Fang'. In the Jack London novel the wolf-dog's tactic when confronted was to keep a good grip on the ground with all four paws. Only when his opponants were off balance would he strike from his stable base. Thank you for your like the last time I commented on one of your videos Jesse.

[@craiglee6167]

Amazing lesson. Thankyou Jesse🙏🏿

[@tacsido3071]

2:16 that back to open stance was smooth as hell

[@michaelwinderman7342]

Nice work! One of my teachers developed a kata to teach all the Footwork used in Classical Italian Fencing. I open every class with it ,as it is the quickest way for me to diagnose Footwork and Stance Problems with my students.

[@lewisgilman8023]

How would one locate that information for fencing?

[@michaelwinderman7342]

@@lewisgilman8023 I have a transcript of the Footwork kata.

[@RXLXNTLXSS]

I just freaking love your videos

[@juliodefreitas157]

Awesome video and thank you for sharing 👍💚

[@tunatutuncu2221]

This is actually really useful! Thank you!

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Great to hear!!

[@tejera69]

Excellent information. My instructor in the system I trained in always looked at our feet and legs. The foot and leg positions were a key point in how to move and making an effective stoke. Always keep up this great job you do delivering these videos.

[@alemarca520]

This was actually really helpful since I fractured my pinky toe about a month ago practicing my stance and rotating my foot while performing a waza. If I had this information, I wouldn’t probably had injured myself in the first place. Thanks for the lesson, Jesse.

[@ninedragonblade5653]

Jesse you are one of the main reasons of wanting to start training karate again 🔥🔥🔥

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Cool!

[@geraldaitken478]

In high school my sparring buddy Steve pointed out that I always walked with my right foot pointed slightly outward, as though being ready to turn and flee. We both agreed that this was the result of my being severely bullied in junior high school. I kept training in karate and by age 40 I was walking normally.

[@warnersnuggle]

Karate is useful! I put myself in the kibadachi position while vacuuming. A good workout for legs and upper body.

[@d.hamilton9027]

So many things to learn. But you know, foot alignment crosses over into different sport pursuits. I am thinking of baseball for example. In order to retain power in trying to hit a fastball, the feet must be aligned with knees so that power can be generated when the hitter's body rotates during the swing. Thanks again.

[@Leverquin]

wow. this is very good. even for me as white belt judoka. thank you. good quality .

[@marceloassis4360]

I was really looking forward for a video like that. Thanks a lot, Sensei Jesse!🥋

[@oddmanout7755]

Fantastic video! Thank you!

[@cuttlefishn.w.2705]

Okay, this is so specific that it's mostly just his own stylistic preference... that doesn't mean disregard it, definitely consider it, but also consider the possible value in the opposite of what he's saying sometimes, like having more slack in your stance allows you to better play with angles and circling around your opponent. Cause remember, they're more steps than stances, so think about it in motion.

[@C9H0S]

Thanks sensei Jess.... I'll apply your explanation into my boxing training, practical awareness to be exact.🙏🏾

[@normrobitza]

I have been teaching similar ideas for a long time. You see so many badly formed stances. Great video.

[@rocasag91]

Super tuto merci pour votre générosité !

[@karatemom24RedHawk]

Thank you! I can't tell you how much karate improves my life. These are very important things to remember, and you showed me some really cool ways to keep improving.

[@jj-wp6wc]

This is such an important topic for me because i am 6'8", and have plantar faciitis, and karate is my lifestyle. Regarding stances, it is difficult because proper technique requires a strong connection with the feet and the floor, and this is painful. In some ways, karate has helped improve my posture among other things, yet the stances are having a negative impact on my feet. For me, this is an example of how martial arts challenge me to navigate my personal limitations. And yet, I struggle to one day eliminate my excuses. Anyways, thanks for the video!!

[@lauraduffy9055]

I humbly suggest that you consider adding qi-gong to your practices.

[@forteka81]

Thanks Jesse. I am getting back into martial arts after being out for 20yrs. I’m going from judo to Tang Soo Do. My front stance lacks stability. I’m going to apply what you showed in your video. I like seeing a different perspective than what I get in the dojang.

[@nobodyspecial2835]

Soo awesome. You always bring that beautiful knowledge. We really appreciate you, Jesse.

[@tapnix7300]

Awesome video Jesse, I bought my first seishin gi last week, should arrive in 2 days, cant wait. I will post a pic with it. Thanks you so much for all the epic karate information it really helps me further my skill in the dojo and outside 🥋💪❤️

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Happy training and thanks for supporting my work!! 🙏

[@tapnix7300]

@@KARATEbyJesse No problem, ill drop a comment when the gi arrives.

[@tapnix7300]

@@KARATEbyJesse Hey! I got my Seishin gi today, tried it on, and it fit perfectly. Thank you so much for developing a perfect karate gi and for your videos over the years! 🥋❤️

[@levismith8423]

Wow. I've watched many of your videos and even trained myself up to a first brown belt, but I never considered such subtle movements and aspects of balance. Goes to show there is always something to learn and improve in karate and martial arts as a whole. EdIt: I difnt actuslly train myself. My master was Rhuel Luttrell, and he is in the US martial arts hall of fame.

[@ag135i]

I use this very position feet pointing straight for doing sit ups, thanks for the informative video .

[@leopoldoustariz1579]

Always a great explanation. Greetings from Brazil. Osu.

[@curisuruiz99]

I practice martial arts, I'm having some difficulty with my stability....but I also was born with cerebral paralysis and have some hip and posture difficulty....hey but then again I keep kicking.. Greetings from the Okinawa of the Caribbean ( Puerto Rico)

[@MarkoObradovich]

All compliments Jesse. That's a good biomechanical explanation. I am a professor of sports science, and I really enjoyed this video. 💪👊👍

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Thank you very much! 🙏

[@LandSnipe415]

Sanchin dachi was difficult to walk with for a time when I began my Traditional Okinawan GoJu Ryu Karato Do training. In actual fights, I do more of a boxing dance to keep moving as a target. I'll now search on to find a vid hopefully that will break down the sanchin dachi and walking technique. Jesse Sensei, I really like your videos. I've been watching them for about a year now. Arigato Gosai Mashita.

[@brettrfalcon730]

Thanks for the video, I’ve always struggled with having good balance and footwork in my training, I’ll give these exercises a try!

[@AngryIndianDad]

Hey Jesse I’ve been binge watching your videos. I’ve been trying to study Conors karate stance because I know his is a mix of karate and boxing. Can you do a video on his stance and how to move in it? I’m struggling with the foot and body positioning in it. Thanks!

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Sure!

[@AngryIndianDad]

@@KARATEbyJesse thank you! I’m a boxer trying to learn his 2016 style and I’m struggling with proper foot and body positions. I’ve been watching so many of his fights and looking at pictures to imitate his stance. I know it’s a mix of a karate and bladed boxing stance but I can’t tell exactly how he stands. I’ve never done karate but while trying to understand and imitate him I realized his stance was based around karate and boxing. Because of that I found your channel and have been watching your videos to better understand Conor’s style. Lots of people have broken down how he fights but they never fully explain how to stand like him or how he stands and moves besides just saying it’s a taekwondo or a karate or bladed boxing stance and then just showing footage of Conor. This didn’t really help that much because there’s so many different stances in these disciplines so I don’t know what exactly to study. If you can do a video showing how to stand like him and maybe showing how he moves I would really appreciate it! I want to master this style for my boxing

[@aprioudavid6941]

Thank you for the exercices. Kamae are important for the range and the ki element. Take care

[@TrymYoutubeMainChannel]

thank you for this ... I may not do Karate or TKD anymore but it makes me understand why I did a move wrong back in the day

[@lahanwelgama4144]

wow this was great ! I had some trouble in balance in my advanced Katas and this solved it. Thanks sensei

[@ScottGarrettDrums]

Great lesson. My Master makes the front stance fairly simple by saying "we want you on pair of skis, not a skateboard." Sadly, the new Grand Master changed this to the toes on the rear foot pointing out, so the front and rear foot form a 90* angle, making the stance completely impractical and not especially visually pleasing either.

[@carloseduardonaranjosuarez5917]

Oss Sensei Jesse, my favorite dachi is Kokutsu Dachi

[@osquiensutinta]

It´s a really good exercise to get up from seiza with a little jump. I am still trying to find the way to avoid forcing my body from my shoulders, you should use your whole back to make an impulse. It becomes more evident when trying to do it facing sides than front.

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

Seiza to iaido draw stand. A variant saved my life when attacked by a street gang. I won … because of my attack as I was rising. One down hard, all gone…bullies are all the same. Only brave in a dominant pack. If they try a dominant martial artist they quit as soon as it’s ugly for any one of them but especially if you destroy their leader.

[@wintyrqueen]

These exercises were standard in Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei’s seminars. Along with one jumping from full squat, 180 degrees into stance, whilst another student, with their back to you does the same movement, but with a strike… in each direction

[@vladykohai]

Wery useful information in martial arts world. We lack these clips on KZbin.

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nandinidatta808]

This is real good stuff ❤️ Oss Jesse Sensei

[@DrPapa14]

Back stance. Great information. Thank you

[@senlin1]

A Great review. Very intresting for biomecanic. My favorite stance is Zenkutsu dachi. But i look for everytime the iner sensations . Stability, powerfull, and no parasite tension. And the best, but very hard , good energy circulation

[@agustinferrara3410]

How do you practice your Zenkutsu Dachi? (front stance). I learnt to do it with both of my feet facing front, but I have noticed lots of schools do it with the back feet at 45°.

[@spartan904]

These exercises are very helpful, thank you!

[@danielordonez412]

Feet stability is so important. I used to have a trick in kumite: whenever I saw my oponent throwing a kick, I hit the ground and shake his foundation.. it messes them up.

[@haydent9895]

Wow, changed my perspective of the importance of a stance. Does the style name Tengoku Ryu Bugei Renmei Nippon Shorin Ryu Kempo sound familiar to you? I am trying to trace back my school’s lineage.

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Nope

[@MG-bi6mq]

The stance must match what the upper body or legs are doing. The hip alignment is slightly different for a reverse punch or a lunge punch or a back fist for example. Even though all of these can be done in a front stance. It’s the same for kicks. Foot placement will depend on and enable different kicks to be thrown. It’s like Chinese calligraphy. Yeah you have eight basic stances/strokes but each character is essentially its own word.

[@fehemidedej9787]

can you do most kobudo vid eo? Greetings from Italy

[@andylindsey]

My favorite stance right now is probably nekoashi, mainly because I've recently realized the strength and stability I've built up over the years in that stance. I remember how difficult it was standing in neko as a white belt. Now I'm trying to learn how to do Naihanchi kata without wrecking my knees. I think it helps if I don't let my knees buckle inward.

[@LuizEnger]

What an amazing lesson! Thank you!

[@leondavidmunozlozano7973]

Sensei jesse can you explain the purpose of the sanchin stand?

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Why don’t you ask your sensei? 😄

[@leondavidmunozlozano7973]

@@KARATEbyJesse he dosent know

[@guillermozepeda9967]

Another added benefit of keeping the outside edge of the foot straight is the flexing/ locking of the Achille's tendon to avoid the sweep and scoop.

[@beladirikita]

Thank you Sensei Jesse for knowledge about stance 👍

[@jinyow5581]

Say what you may ,but this Man know's Karate .😉😊

[@Edward-pm8bv]

Awesome video as always!!!

[@pekazote6363]

Doctor Jesse San😀 I like your video so much.Arigato.

[@DrNikolaiLee]

As a chiropractor I’ve been analyzing stances while watching karate forms. I’ve been curious for a while the reason for such abrupt internal rotation of the leg. Am I understanding that this is used to create torque? Thanks!

[@avikbhattacharya8287]

Priceless wisdom, great lesson 🙏🏻

[@sultanali7148]

Great video sensei. If I am not asking too much then can you make other this types of videos to improve other techniques not only stance but also punches, kicks,blocks. And my favourite stance is neko ashi dachi because it improves my balance and increases the strength of my legs and it also looks very cool 😅

[@ShifuFlavio]

It's just amazing how many of those stances are very similar (or actualyl the same, with diferent names) as some kung fu stances, and these explantions also apply on kung fu! great content as always! PS: Now I'll just copy and paste and make a portuguese version of this video for kung fu audience! Nah.. I'm joking! (Hmmm am I? 🤔)

[@roningb]

What’s the purpose and combative defensive or offensive use of the back stance in Japanese karate?

[@vpvpvp6968]

There is a LOT of physics that goes on in karate, especially in the punches, kicks and other moves. :)

[@lewisgilman8023]

I have experienced differences in the placement of the rear foot in many stances when striking. I have a tendency to raise the heel of my rear foot off the floor, I find it more comfortable and I seem to generate more power in my punches by doing so. An I wrong?

[@jean4j_]

Hi Jesse! I have a question for you and for your community of karate nerds! What would be the difference between a 3rd dan and a 6th~8th dan? I realize one should not take too much importance on dan/ranks, in my question the dan symbolizes the number of years of serious practice. I assume most of 3rd dan should know most of the kata of their own style and have a pretty good understanding of bunkai. What is the difference then? I'm not saying that 9th dan karate masters are overrated in any way, I just want to understand what differentiates a high-ranked master and an advanced senpai. Thanks in advance Jessy!

[@ainako255]

I see a lot in common with tai chi chuan and other styles of chinese martial arts especially internal arts in terms of the emphasis on structure, must be in part a result of your Chuan Fa training back in Fujian. at any rate, great job.

[@markhenryabello2193]

When I was training my teachers always just tap or push the knee, sweep my toes in or out or firmly pushed my hip down to center my stance. If they had explained it to me this way, I would have understood it better.

[@V7p3r]

Hi Jesse. I want to know your thoughts on Kyokshinkai and is it the most efficient karate style🤔?

[@llactaoen]

Can I still do this limitedly I’m a 63 yr old active lady. I feel 35 Yrs old though. My body sometimes tells me warns me that I have some hip & back pain spondylolisthesis.

[@YoukaiSlayer12]

Positioning and posture is so important in what we do. As for stances, gotta be down for kiba dachi. Though kokustu dachi & hangetsu dachi have love from me.

[@KARATEbyJesse]

Those are challenging stances!! Good for you 💪

[@YoukaiSlayer12]

@@KARATEbyJesse yes they’re are at first I wasn’t a fan of them, but I love the katas that they’re all in. So I had to embrace them.

[@M.C...]

I don't have a favourite stance since I believe they are expressions of bodyweight movement and dynamics designed for conditioning and expressing the idea behind the kata rather than actual fight poses. You rarely see a "proper" front stance, horse stance or back stance in a fight... just a fighting stance with the weight shifting forward offensively, backward defensively and stabilizing in the middle 😉👊

[@dirkvader1522]

Oh arthritis! The stances are so difficult to do now. LOL. That's a result for not training karate for over a decade. I'm trying to get back in shape so in-between weight lifting and cardio, I do some kata too.

[@jad43701]

The stances and foot placement were the first things taught in our Dojo. You had to learn those, to be able to properly do anything that followed. Personally I hated the Sanchin Dachi stance. Knees were having none of that. LOL.

[@Siiuuuu7]

Can you do a video on kalari payattu The first martial art

[@ojsweatedplayer9477]

My feet naturally points outwards is this good for Karate/Stances? Or would it cause problems and should I try and fix it?

[@BatmanBeyondZ]

Sensei Jesse, What exercises are recommended for kicking higher like Yoko-Geri Mawashi-Geri?

[@odojodecriatividade]

Awesome, thank you

[@KARATEbyJesse]

My pleasure!

[@lamiakhalid2027]

can you pls do dachi training to get better at it

[@gaminginosuke7092]

Do you have any exercise for me to do for my foot, it's weak and i want to learn karate

[@guilhermebotelho8691]

Simply amazing!

[@javiermorales9310]

thanks for the explanation

[@KARATEbyJesse]

You’re welcome!

[@bardsta2007]

I am flat footed on my right foot due to a spinal accident in 1996, caused nerve and leg damage in my right leg and i got foot drop while in hospital due to being in bed on and off for a total of 7 months, so i find a lot of stances now difficult as my right foot lifts from the heel, i cannot keep it flat, and especially kekomi and keage kicks as i cannot pull my foot into the correct position for those kicks, i know what to do, Just my foot will not do it. Any advice on what i can do to try and improve the stances and kicks with this issue?

[@KARATEbyJesse]

I’d seek out a professional to help rehab