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Front stance is likely the first stance that is taught to beginners in Tang Soo Do. But so often, this stance is not done correctly, & if this is not corrected early on, it becomes difficult to break the bad habits. Here are 3 tips for improving your front stance.
KEEPING SHOULDERS SQUARE
This is the number 1 aspect of a front stance that sets apart beginners from masters. In a front stance, your shoulders should be “squared”, meaning if you are facing a wall, then the line that connects both of your shoulders would be parallel to this wall. Another way to state it – the knot of your belt should face forward. Yet another way to state it – your feet should be shoulder-width apart.
The last point – feet shoulder-width apart – is the best way to get your shoulders squared. Do not “walk a tightrope” by having your feet too close together. An easy way to practice this at home is to lay a carpet out next to a wall. Make sure that the space between the carpet & wall are the width of your shoulders. Get into a front stance with 1 foot on the carpet & the other next to the wall. Then practice moving forward, & each time, your feet should be either on the carpet or wall to maintain the correct width.
WALK IN A CRESCENT MOON SHAPE
Once you do not have the aid of the wall & carpet, you’ll need a way to maintain the correct separation width of your feet. You can do this by changing the way you step in a front stance.
Instead of moving your back foot forward in a straight line, move it by dragging it along the floor in a crescent moon shape. Bring it to your front foot, then step out, tracing out the shape. This motion, but its definition, forces your foot to move out away from your other foot & helps maintain the wide stance.
FRONT KNEE
Your front knee should be bent, but there is a specific amount that it should be bent. Get into a front stance & look at your front toes. Bend your knee until you cannot see your toes. Done!