Basic Stances (Sohgi)

Just as a building needs a proper foundation, within Tae Kwon-Do a student must begin their activities from proper basic positions.  The first thing to learn therefore, is how to stand.  From these basic stances, the basic techniques will be learnt, and these must be practised often as it is important that they are learnt well. These are the building blocks on which all the more complex and advanced techniques are based. Some of the more traditional basics seem clumsy and impractical.  However, they are an excellent training tool and help to develop strong muscles and co-ordination to assist with the more practical and realistic techniques.

Tae Kwon-Do has various stances. These are used primarily in the traditional line work and patterns but can be used in free forms, and to a certain extent in sparring.

Attention Stance – Charyot Sohgi
This is performed when an instructor shouts ‘Char-yot ‘ Hands are placed straight down at the sides and the student stays perfectly still, chin up, eyes forward, abdominals tight, shoulders relaxed.

Ready Stance – Joonbi Sohgi
This is one of the basic stances. Weight is 50% - 50% on each foot, hands placed directly in front of the belt, fists clenched but relaxed. Note both feet face forwards, not splayed outwards.

Walking Stance – Ap Sohgi
The body is turned slightly to the side, with both feet facing forwards, slightly bent in a natural walking position, with the weight distributed 50%-50%. The stance is one shoulder width wide.

Long Stance – Apkoobi Sohgi
The front foot is facing forwards with the knee bent so that the knee is over the front foot. The rear leg is extended and locked out straight behind, with the foot pointing at a slight angle outwards, with the weight distributed 50%-50%.  The stance is one shoulder width wide and approximately two long.

Back Stance – Dwikoobi Sohgi
The feet are placed in an ‘L’ shape so that the front foot would just pass the back if it were pulled back. Weight distribution is 70% on the back leg and 30% on the front. This enables the front foot to be lifted quickly without a lot of posture change. This can be used to avoid attacks (leg sweeps) or to kick off the front leg. It is quite a narrow stance but is between one and one and one half shoulder widths long. Both knees are kept bent, with the front leg bending naturally according to the length of the stance, with the hips turned 45 degrees from the front. Proper stance will mean that this will become painful on the rear leg if held for any length of time

The beginner may find difficulty in getting the weight distribution correct, and novices often adopt a stance where the knees have collapsed inwards. There are other stances, which need to be learnt on the road to Black Belt. These are infrequently used however and once the basic stances above are learnt, these others are easily absorbed.

Fighting Stance – Kyorugi Sohgi
This stance has no set position, as it is a dynamic stance that changes along with the circumstances. It is also a matter of personal preference to the student how to stand when fighting (much as it is how to hold their arms in a guard). As a rough guide however, a fighting stance would be roughly the same as a walking stance. Weight would be 50%-50% and the rear foot turned slightly forwards. This gives a flexible stance, able to change direction easily and maintain balance. As a consequence it is the most commonly used stance for practical purposes.