Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4 -Page 5

Requirements a white belt needs for promotion to yellow belt.

• Guard

  A guard provides protection to vital areas of the body. The arms and hands are primarily used for a guard but a leg may also be added to provide additional protection.

  • Basic Guard. The basic guard is the most commonly used guard. It protects your upper body and midsection from attack. Using the basic guard, all vital areas on the front and sides of the head and torso may be protected while still permitting the hands to quickly attack.

  • Stand in a ready stance with one foot a step in front of the other foot.
  • Hold both fists high with the palms toward the face with the middle knuckles just in front of their corresponding cheekbones. The hands protect the face but you still must be able to see over and around them. Also, keep in mind that if a hand blocks a punch, it may be knocked backward into your face.
  • Hold forearms vertical with elbows pulled together as much as possible to protect the midsection. From this position, elbows may then be moved outward, upward, or downward as necessary to block.
  • Scrunch midsection, round shoulders, and keep chin tucked. Basic guard is a "turtle" defense. You are pulling in the arms and chin, and tucking everything behind them similar to the way a turtle pulls into its shell. However, it is still easy to keep the opponent in view and block or attack quickly as needed.

• Stances

  Stances provide a firm, stable base for execution of block and attacks.

  • Front Stance. The front stance and back stance are the most frequently used stances. Whereas the sitting stance is very strong to the sides but very weak to the front and back, the front stance is relatively strong in all directions. Since body weight is centered while in the stance, only a small weight shift needs to precede any step or kick. Since the front stance is relatively wide and long, quick movements are limited. However, techniques are powerful due to the firm, stable base and the long range of motion.

  • When left leg is forward, the stance is called a “left front stance.” When right leg is forward, it is called a “right front stance."
  • Stand in a ready stance with arms held in the basic guard. Step a foot forward and outward toward the side until feet are about 1 ½ shoulder widths apart in depth and in width. Feet are positioned parallel and pointing forward.
  • Bend front knee until its shin is perpendicular and you cannot see the toes of the foot.
  • Rear leg is held straight (variation has back leg slightly bent).
  • Rear foot is rotated until it points directly forward (variation has foot angled outward about 15 degrees), a.
  • Relax body weight down and centered between the feet. Grip floor with toes and outer edges of feet. Keep body erect.
  • Weight distribution will be about 60 percent on front foot and 40 percent on rear foot.
  • Keep shoulders and hips parallel and facing forward, perpendicular to the target.
  • Fighting stance. When used as a fighting stance, depth and width of stance is shortened to 1 shoulder width, which causes center of mass to be a little higher to permit quicker movement. Front stance is seldom used as fighting stance due to too much exposure of front of body.
  • Moving while in front stance. Shift leading hand of the guard as leading foot of the stance changes.

    • To move forward, shift weight onto front foot, step rear foot straight forward into another front stance, and then center the weight between the feet (variation has rear foot swinging inward to a shoulder width from the front foot and then swinging outward into the next front stance, commonly called crescent walking or moon walking) .
    • To move backward, shift weight onto rear foot, step front foot straight backward into another front stance, and then center the weight between the feet (variation is same as above).
    • To move toward trailing side, slide rear foot outward and then slide front foot toward same side into a front stance.
    • To move toward leading side, slide front foot outward and then slide rear foot toward the same side into a front stance.
    • Movements may be performed in a hopping motion.

  • Back Stance. Along with the front stance, the back stance is one of the most frequently used stances. The back stance is not as strong as the front stance, but, while the front stance is strong in all directions and requires small weight shifts for any movements, the back stance permits quick forward movements with little weight shift. However, movements in other directions require larger weight shifts than with the front stance.

    • When left leg is forward, stance is called a “left back stance.” When right leg is forward, it is called a “right back stance."
    • Stand in a ready stance with arms held in the basic guard. Step a foot forward and inward and put it down in front of other foot with the heel about a shoulder width in front the other foot. Simultaneously with the step, pivot other foot 90 degrees outward on its heel until it points out to the side. At end of the step, feet will be aligned in the sides of an imaginary "L," with the rear foot aligned with the short side of the "L" and the front foot aligned with the top section of the long side of the "L."
    •  Bend rear knee, with the knee pointing outward. Front knee will be slightly bent.
    • Relax body weight into the stance, with the center of mass mostly over rear foot.
    • Weight distribution will be about 30 percent on front foot and 70 percent on rear foot.
    • Shoulders and hips are parallel and facing toward the side to which the rear foot is pointing, perpendicular to the target.
    • Fighting Stance. When used as a fighting stance, depth of the back stance is slightly shortened, which causes center of mass to be a little higher to permit quicker movement. The back stance is frequently used a fighting stance since it presents few targets to the opponent and permits quick kicks with the leading leg.
    • Moving while in back stance. Shift leading hand of the guard as leading foot of the stance changes.

      • To move forward, shift weight onto front foot as the foot pivots outward. Simultaneously, swing back foot forward into position with a slight outward, circular movement. Keep weight on what is now the rear foot, do not step weight forward onto front foot.
      • To move backward, swing front foot backward into position with a slight outward, circular movement. Simultaneously, pivot what is now the front foot on its heel so it points forward. As back foot reaches its final position, shift weight onto it.
      • To move toward sides, slide either front or rear foot into position, and them move other foot into position.
      • Movements may be performed in a hopping motion.

  • Fighting Stance. With small changes, any stance may be used as a fighting stance, but each stance has its own advantages and disadvantages. The best all around fighting stance is the one used by professional fighters, such as boxers. In this stance, both feet and both hands may easily be used as weapons, the body is well protected, and movements may be quick and in any direction.

    • For a this fighting stance, stand in a shoulder width front stance with arms held in a basic guard. Rotate both feet on heels 30 degrees toward rear foot's side. Shoulders and hips are parallel and also angled 30 degrees toward the side.
    • Center body weight between feet, and relax weight into the stance.
    • Weight distribution will be about 50 percent on front foot and 50 percent on rear foot.
    • Stay on balls of feet and keep feet moving. Either shift weight from foot to foot, or skip both feet forward and backward simultaneously. Move in circles around opponent.
    • Shift stance and guard to left or right leading as desired or necessary.

  Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4 -Page 5