King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Seisan-dachi

Universal stance – a Karate stance

Type
Stances
Martial arts
Karate
Japanese
十三立
Meaning
Universal stance
Listed in
High stances (karate stances)

The feet are shoulder width apart, as in Heiko-dachi, but one foot is forward to where the heel is parallel with the big toe of the back foot.

Kanji in 十三立

ten
on: ジュウ、ジッ、ジュッ
kun: とお、と、そ
2 strokes · JLPT 4
three
on: サン、ゾウ
kun: み、み.つ、みっ.つ
3 strokes · JLPT 4
stand up, rise, set up
on: リツ、リュウ、リットル
kun: た.つ、-た.つ、た.ち-、た.てる
5 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Karate stances

Japanese terms for stances

TermReadingMeaning
大上段daijoudanholding a sword above one's head (kendo posture)
二枚腰nimaigoshiposture in which the legs are firmly planted (in sumo and judo)
死に体shinitailosing posture; falling position from which it is impossible to recover
変わり身kawarimichange of attitude (stance, position)
騎馬立ちkibadachihorse stance

text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); kanji data KANJIDIC2 and KanjiVG. Data retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.