Types of stances
46 stances with their own page, 5 Japanese terms and 3 Chinese terms.
- KarateFront stanceLeg position
- KarateHachiji dachi (八字立)Karate stance
- KarateHorse stance (騎馬立)Posture in Asian martial arts
- KarateMoto-dachi (基立)Foundational stance
- KarateMusubi-dachi-heiko (結び立)-
- KarateNeko ashi dachi (猫足立)Karate stance
- QigongQigongChinese system of coordinated posture and movement, breathing, and meditation
- KarateSanchin dachi (三戦立)Karate stance
- Tai chiSingle whipTai chi posture
- Kickboxing · BoxingSouthpaw stanceThe stance for a left-handed boxer (strongside forward) and some other combat sports
- Brazilian jiu-jitsuStancePosition in martial arts
- KarateKōkutsu dachi (後屈立)Karate stance
- Kickboxing · BoxingOrthodox stanceWay of positioning the feet and hands in combat sports
- Qigong · Kung fuNeijin"Internal strength" in Chinese martial arts
- Kung fuWushu stancesFundamental part of all Chinese martial arts
- Chūdan-no-kamaeWeapon stance in Japanese martial arts
- Gedan-no-kamaeStance in kendo
- Hassō-no-kamaeOffensive stance in kendo
- KarateRenoji Dachi (レの字立)Stand like the character
- Tai sabakiTerm from Japanese martial arts
- KarateZenkutsu-dachi (前屈立)Forward stance
- kamaePosture in Japanese martial arts and theater
- KarateFudo Dachi (不動立)Rooted stance
- KarateUchi Hachiji Dachi (内八字立)Inward feet stance
- KarateSagi Ashi Dachi (鷺足立)Heron stance
- KarateChokusen-seisan-dachi (直線十三立)Straight line universal stance
- KarateHan Zenkutsu-dachi (半前屈立)Half zenkutsu
- KarateHan-Kokutsu-dachi (半後屈立)Half kokutsu
- KarateKosa dachi (交差立)Cross-legged stance
- KarateSeisan-dachi (十三立)Universal stance
- KarateSōkutsu-dachi (側屈立)Side long stance
- KarateMusubi dachi (結び立)Karate stance
- KarateHangetsu dachi (半月立)Half-moon stance
- KarateHeikō dachi (平行立)Parallel attention stance
- KarateHeisoku dachi (閉足立)Formal attention stance
- KarateKarate stancesBody position used to create power, flexibility and movement
- KarateIaigoshi Dachi (居合腰立)Kneeling stance
- KarateShiko dachi (四股立)Square stance, often called horse stance where kiba-dachi is not used
- Jōdan-no-kamaeBasic kenjutsu posture
- KarateNaihanchi-dachi (内歩進立)
- TenkanTenkan (転換; lit.
- KarateKatashi DachiCrane-like stance
- KarateYama DachiMountain stance
- KarateTeiji Dachi (丁字立)T-stance
- KarateTsuru Ashi DachiHanging leg stance
- five elements kamaeFive basic stances of Kenjutsu or kendō
Japanese names of stances
Martial arts terms from the JMdict Japanese dictionary whose English meaning matches.
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大上段 | daijoudan | holding a sword above one's head (kendo posture) |
| 二枚腰 | nimaigoshi | posture in which the legs are firmly planted (in sumo and judo) |
| 死に体 | shinitai | losing posture; falling position from which it is impossible to recover |
| 変わり身 | kawarimi | change of attitude (stance, position) |
| 騎馬立ち | kibadachi | horse stance |
Chinese terms for stances
Martial arts terms from the CC-CEDICT Chinese dictionary whose English meaning matches.
| Term | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 马步 | mǎ bù | (martial arts) horse stance (with legs wide apart, as when riding a horse) |
| 弓箭步 | gōng jiàn bù | forward lunge (stance used in martial arts, fitness training etc) |
| 金鸡独立 | jīn jī dú lì | golden rooster stands on one leg (tai chi posture); standing on one leg |
Data: Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0); Wikidata (CC0 1.0); JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.