Closed Stance
In Ashihara Karate, one of the very worst things you
can do is try to meet an opponent head-on. (The reason being that in an
"equal" fight, the bigger man is always going to win in an situation.)
So take care to present your opponent with the smallest possible area to
attack, and always maintain a tight guard.
Position of the Hips and Upper Body
Don't overdo the crouch! If you are already small it
can be especially dangerous, as it will bring your face into just the right
position to take a devastating kick, and there's not much to be gained
from handing the fight to your opponent on a plate.
Incline the body slightly forward. This makes it easier
to shift weight forward for smooth punching.
Position of the hands
The hands may either rest open or clench into fists.It
is usually easier to block or parry with an open hand, though during real
fights, you should punch with fists clenched tightly, impacting at the
point of the knuckles.(When sparring, use the heel of the hand to prevent
injuries.)
Stance
During a fight the feet will tend to move apart, so keep
in mind that shoulder width is about right. A very wide , open stance makes
no sense in practical fighting. (This stance, however, does have the advantage
of being very stable, and can thus be used for throws.)
The back foot should angle 30 to 40 degrees away from
the line of the front foot. For fast consecutive attacks, adopt a somewhat
narrower stance for added rhythm and smoothness.
Guard
The human body's weakest points are the eyes, the chin,
and the groin. Get this into your head, and be sure to always guard these
vital points.
The hands and arms have not only to attack, but guard
everything from the shoulders up. Never forget this in fights.
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