Topic: Weight Distribution in Stances for Kata.....

[JimmyTheHoover]

Do you think that as you progress/learn/gain experience in your Karate, that your weight distribution in stances during Kata performance changes (deliberately!!! ) from the "Technically Correct" form you are taught as part of Kihon/Basics, as you get a grasp of a particular application of the techniques ?

[B&D]

I'm not sure if this thread is aimed at the beginners or more experienced karatekas, but what I have 'felt' especially in the last month or so when we have been polishing a lot on our katas is not as much weight distribution but how much naturally  my front stance has come wider which results in lower and more stable feel.Thinking about it, i can decide the weight distribution to each leg much easier because of this.

[JimmyTheHoover]

I'm not sure if this thread is aimed at the beginners or more experienced karatekas, but what I have 'felt' especially in the last month or so when we have been polishing a lot on our katas is not as much weight distribution but how much naturally  my front stance has come wider which results in lower and more stable feel.Thinking about it, i can decide the weight distribution to each leg much easier because of this.

The question - I suppose - is aimed (primarily) at anyone who likes Kata and thinks about it in enough detail to have an opinion about this question  so feel free to offer any thoughts 

BTW - did you mean WIDER or LONGER - regarding your stances...... 

[B&D]

since my feet have been too inline balance was a problem and getting longer stances was not easy, since I've been thinking wider (approximately 1.5 times shoulder width) I believe that they are longer too. I feel more balanced and sturdier, I dare say I still find myself going to narrower stances when I'm not thinking eapecially when pivoting from left to right as in the punch back to gedan barai in kihon kata. I have to deliberately push to gain the wider stance,but feel better for it when I do.

[JimmyTheHoover]

FWIW 1.5 times shoulder width seems a bit too wide to me - approx. shoulder width is more the typical "norm" - if such a thing exists

How long have you been training ?

Do you have the same issues when stepping backwards in zenkutsu-dachi ? and what about normal mawate type turns without the step through ?

[Emma]

going into and out of back stance is my problem.I have major difficulty trying to get my feet in one line plus I'm not low enough,but I hope it will come naturally....this might take some time though!

[B&D]

i've been training for 12 months now twice to three times a week.
forward stance-going back to forward stance doesn't seem to be a problem since I've started thinking about wider stance I get this feeling that my feet are doing this coming together when they pass and then going out when finishing the stance. I actually put a bowl on my head in the house the other day to practice this stance and I didn't drop it once even when accelerating a bit forward and back, back kept straight and I didn't bop up and down.(sounds as if i'm loosing the plot)

[JimmyTheHoover]

going into and out of back stance is my problem.I have major difficulty trying to get my feet in one line plus I'm not low enough,but I hope it will come naturally....this might take some time though!

Sez You ! 

Common problem for beginners and those who are lazy  - often seen as a result of students stepping into a form of front stance and then simply pushing the weight back instead of using the front leg to take the weight as you step through and "pushing" he back leg through to become the front leg while keeping the weight mainly on the back leg....

Try consciously doing the step through VERY slowly - keep your hips down and push forward onto the front leg - keeping it bent and then as you push the rear leg through to become the front leg make sure that the rear foot slides along the side of the front foot and try to hold off fron rotating the supporting foot till the very last moment as you push the rear leg through...... and make the supporting leg rotation a single "snap" into position as you complete the front leg extension.....

Keep it slow - much harder and works wonders - you might even end up back where you started after going forwards thre/five times and then backwards.....

[JimmyTheHoover]

B&D - great to hear that your practicing outside the Dojo - keep it up 

From what you've said I suspect that it's a slight "exaggeration" of the "in-out" circular path of the stepping foot that's causing the slight overwidening of your stance.

It's not a major problem and your obviously feeling benefits from the changes - which is good - the problem is that over-wide stances can prevent proper hip use - just like too narrow stances.

Like most things in karate it's a question of "balance" (not the not falling over kind) - I'd suggest that you possibly try to think about the stepping foot shooting forwards as you step. No necessarily attempting to throw the foot out into a longer stance - just try to keep that idea in your mind as you step and see if it helps narrow your stance a little - also ask one of your instructors to watch you step through ansd see if they can see and issues or can recommend specific changes that might help.

[B&D]

oss!!
There is a problem regarding hip use , at the moment its difficult to get a happy medium between the two, hopefully it will get better as time passes.

[JimmyTheHoover]

oss!!
There is a problem regarding hip use , at the moment its difficult to get a happy medium between the two, hopefully it will get better as time passes.

I'm sure it will (and then it will get worse again - or so you will think - and then better - worse - better - worse.... )

Effective hip use and timing of the hip use plays a MAJOR part in Shotokan Karate techniques - especially in generating real power in your techniques.

Always remember it's usually more difficult to do a technique slowly with proper hip use..... and remember you can only start to improve once you've realised that you are doing something wrong/less than optimally so you're well on the way here 

[Emma]

I actually put a bowl on my head in the house the other day to practice this stance and I didn't drop it once even when accelerating a bit forward and back

That is a really good idea,I'm on a mission now to go and find a bowl......I think I'll stick to plastic though!

[JimmyTheHoover]

Emma - don't forget that B&D has probably got a flat head  (or isn't stepping very quickly at all  )

[B&D]

hey Jimmy,
I've got one thing that Emma hasn't that gives me the edge, any ideas?

[JimmyTheHoover]

hey Jimmy,
I've got one thing that Emma hasn't that gives me the edge, any ideas?

A ridge around the edge of your head ? or perhaps a Beehive to put the bwol on top of upside down ?