Sagi Ashi Dachi
鷺足立ち
Literally: heron-leg stance
Also known as: Tsuru Ashi Dachi, Ippon Ashi Dachi
A one-legged stance in which the raised leg holds the thigh horizontal with the toes pointing down; it repeats many times in Kanku Dai and Gankaku.
Quick Facts
Katas containing this technique
About
Sagi ashi dachi (鷺足立ち), literally the heron-leg stance, is a one-legged stance. According to the Japan Karate Federation (JKF) the non-supporting leg holds the thigh horizontal, the knee bent and the toes pointing down; the stance's axis forms an angle of about 45° with the frontal plane. JKF also notes that the exact execution varies by style. The Wiki Karate Cosmos describes a variant in which the instep of the raised leg hooks behind the knee of the supporting leg. For the same or a closely related one-legged stance the names tsuru ashi dachi (crane-leg stance) and ippon ashi dachi are also used. In Shotokan kata according to JKA listings it appears in eight kata. Most often in Kanku Dai (12 movements, among others 10, 11 and 17) and Gankaku (11 movements between 25 and 41), further in Heian Yondan (movements 5, 8 and 25), Hangetsu (movements 28, 34 and 39), Bassai Dai (19 and 28a), Tekki Nidan (11a and 19a) and Empi (movement 15).