Karate – Stances [Tachi Waza 立技] EnglishJapanese ReadingJapanese script Shoulder-width stanceheikō-dachi平行立 ( or alternatively 並行立 ) Attention stance (ankles together)musubi-dachi結び立 Feet togetherheisoku-dachi閉足立 Forward stance (or lunging stance)zenkutsu-dachi前屈立 Half-forward stancehanzen-dachi (often abreviated to hanzen)半前立 Squatting stance (lit. 4 thighs stance)shiko-dachi 四股立 Horse-riding stancekiba-dachi騎馬立 Cat stance (or cat-legged stance)neko-ashi-dachi猫足立 Crane stance (or crane-legged stance)tsuru-ashi-dachi鶴足立 Hourglass stance (lit. Three Battles Stance)sanchin-dachi三戦立 Notes: 1. In technical documents often words are shortened by omitting hiragana as they are 'understoood'. For example: tachi 立ち shortens to 立, and musubi 結び becomes 結. 2. When used as a suffix -tachi 立ち often changes to -dachi for ease of pronunciation.