Posture

Body Positions

• Hips. Power and speed comes from hip snap. Coordinate hip movements with body movement.
• Abdomen. Keep lower stomach firm—“shoot” your ki forward from the tan-den. Upper stomach slightly presses backward, to allow using the back as a base and to stabilize the lower spine.
• Tailbone. Hold tailbone in—do not tilt the body externally, simply lengthen the spine.
• Knees. Knees are always bent; never lock the legs. The angle of the knees should not become acute since sharp angles interrupt the transfer of power through the knee joint. Also, avoid wide angles since they reduce the amount of power generated by the muscles on either side of the knee.
• Feet. The feet stay parallel to the floor during movements, do not raise the heels. Slightly lift the toes of a stepping foot so they do not stub on the floor; this also prevents the heel from rising. Lead foot position dictates body position, as foot turns inward, the body is more protected; however, turning it too much will slow your attacks.