Shuto-dachi (手刀立ち)

Shuto-dachi (手刀立ち)

Shuto-dachi is the stance most people recognize from the open-hand blocks of karate. The feet form an L-shape, the front foot pointing forward and the back foot turned out. The weight is shared evenly, which makes it more stable than a cat stance but lighter than a deep back stance. It is used in many Shorin-based systems because it supports the natural mechanics of shuto-uke. The hips stay open, the shoulders relaxed, and the body is ready to rotate or step without losing balance. In practice, the stance teaches calmness, centered posture, and controlled movement, which is why it appears early in kata like Keishin.