Stances in Taekwondo
At Chang’s Taekwondo South Surrey, Cloverdale, Tsawwassen, Aldergrove, Mission, and Abbotsford you will often hear your instructors talk about the importance of stances inside and outside of our poomsae. In taekwondo, there are many fast, high kicks, powerful strikes, or intense sparring matches. But underneath all those impressive techniques is one of the most fundamental—yet often overlooked—elements of: stances.
In Taekwondo, stances form the foundation of every movement. They are not just positions of the feet or legs; they are essential tools that provide balance, power, stability, and control. Whether you're a beginner learning the basics or a black belt refining advanced forms, mastering stances is key to unlocking your full potential in taekwondo martial arts.
Let’s explore why stances are so crucial in Taekwondo training—and why every martial artist should take them seriously.
1. Stances Provide Stability and Balance
The first and most obvious function of a stance is to keep you balanced. A solid stance helps you maintain your center of gravity, making it harder for opponents to knock you off your feet and easier for you to move with intention.
Each stance in Taekwondo is designed with a purpose:
Front Stance (Ap Kubi): Offers forward momentum and weight distribution for strong punches or blocks.
Back Stance (Dwi Kubi): Shifts your weight back for defense and counter-attacks.
Horse Stance (Juchum Seogi): Strengthens the legs and grounds your body for low, strong movements.
Tiger Stance (Beom Seogi): Combines mobility and defense for quick reactions.
A poorly executed stance compromises your stability and can throw off your entire technique. That’s why instructors always emphasize keeping knees bent, feet aligned, and weight properly distributed—because without balance, even the fastest kick loses its effectiveness.
2. They’re the Foundation of Power
In taekwondo, true power doesn’t come from the arms or legs alone—it comes from the ground up. Stances allow you to generate force from your legs and hips, transferring it efficiently through your body to deliver a punch, block, or kick with maximum impact.
For example, when executing a middle punch in a strong front stance, you drive your power from the back leg, rotate the hips, and deliver the punch with coordinated force. The stance gives you a platform to launch your technique with speed and strength.
Without a proper stance, your movements become weak and disconnected. Just like a house needs a strong foundation to stand tall, your techniques need solid stances to be powerful and effective.
3. Stances Teach Discipline and Body Awareness
Holding a stance may seem simple—until your legs start to burn. But that’s part of the training.
Practicing stances builds:
Muscle endurance
Mental toughness
Postural awareness
Precision and discipline
Students learn how to control their body and pay attention to small details, like keeping the back straight, hips aligned, and weight distributed evenly. This level of discipline and body awareness is what separates casual practitioners from serious martial artists.
In many Taekwondo classes, especially in blackbelt training, students are required to hold stances for extended periods. This isn’t just about physical conditioning—it’s about building mental focus and learning to endure discomfort with calm determination.
4. Stances Enhance Technique Execution
Every block, strike, or kick you learn in Taekwondo begins and ends with a stance. If the stance is wrong, the entire technique suffers—timing is off, angles are incorrect, and you're left exposed or ineffective.
By mastering stances, you improve your:
Technique accuracy
Speed of movement
Timing and rhythm in forms (poomsae)
Control during sparring
5. They Prepare You for Real-World Application
While Taekwondo is an art, it also has practical self-defense applications. Good stances help you react quickly, stay grounded, and adapt to changing situations.
If someone grabs you or tries to push you off balance, a strong stance can help you resist or escape. If you're caught off guard, your footwork and body position will determine whether you can defend effectively or not.
Learning how to shift stances fluidly—moving from front stance to back stance, or horse stance to sparring stance—makes you more versatile and adaptable in dynamic situations.
Final Thoughts
In the world of Taekwondo, stances are more than just positions—they are the blueprint for every technique, the root of every kick and punch, and the silent measure of your discipline and progress.
So the next time you step into the dojang and begin class with a ready stance, remember: your stance sets the tone. Take it seriously, refine it constantly, and you’ll find that every other part of your training improves with it.
At Chang’s taekwondo we emphasize strong foundations, because we believe that great martial artists aren’t built on flashy kicks—they’re built on solid stances.
