Front Stance

 

Stance Stability

Many times beginners have a difficult time keeping their legs still while in a front stance or other stances; they begins to shake. This is somewhat related to muscular strength in the legs, which will increase over time, but many any times this is related to the way students shift their weight while attempting to snap the hips with techniques. Some Taekwondo organizations, Taekwondo America included, stress keeping the rear leg straight at all times while in a front stance. When attempting to use hip snap by rotating the hip around the vertical axis of the body, they snap their body weight onto the front leg. The weight immediately shifts backward where it bounces off the stiff back leg. The weight continues this back and forth vibration for a few milliseconds until it settles in the center. This motion shakes the entire body and increases the mass being applied to the legs, making them tremble

When using hip snap, instead of thinking about it as a rotation of the hip and body about the vertical axis of the body, think about the hip lagging behind the leg during the step and then snapping back into position just as the foot touches the floor. This way the body weight is snapped behind the technique without adversely increasing the mass borne by the legs. When necessary, the rear foot may rise on its toes during the application of a technique so the rear leg may push into the technique and thus increasing it power.

To ease stress on the knees, keep them pointed straight forward, not angled inward or outward. When stepping, the knees should flex forward and backward naturally with no side-to-side movements.

Maintain a proper width in the stance so the body does not have to move around to maintain balance. It the width gets too narrow, you make body movements to maintain your balance, and try to conceal these movements, which puts stress on the legs and makes them wobble.

With proper hip snap, proper width to the stance, and keeping the knees point straight ahead, there is less of a tendency for the legs to shake.