Neko-ashi-dachi / Cat Stance

猫足立ち

Flexible cat stance placing 90% body weight on the bent rear leg with the front heel raised.

Quick Facts

CategoryConcept / Principle

Pronunciation/[neh-koh ah-shee dah-chee]/

Alternative NamesCat stance, Cat leg stance

Definition

Neko-ashi-dachi ('cat foot stance') maintains 90% of body mass rooted on the bent back leg. The front foot rests lightly on its ball, allowing immediate front-leg snaps, sweeps, or evasive footwork without shifting weight first.

Related Terms

Ashi足

Foot or leg in Japanese martial terminology.

Sanchin-dachi三戦立ち

Rooted, tensioned stance with toes turned inward, central to Naha-te and Goju-ryu Karate.

Zenkutsu-dachi前屈立ち

Fundamental forward stance with 60% body weight on the bent front leg in Karate.

Kokutsu-dachi後屈立ち

Defensive posture in Karate with 70% of body weight placed on the flexed rear leg.

Associated Martial Arts

Takamura Shindo Yoshin-ryu Tenjin Shin-ryu Jujutsu Jikishin-ryu Jujutsu Byakuren Kaikan Asayama Ichiden-ryu Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu Jujutsu Shotokan Kyushin-ryu Jujutsu Takagi-ryu Jujutsu Chokushin-ryu Jujutsu Shindo Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Unkei-ryu Jujutsu Seidokaikan Karate Sekiguchi-ryu Jujutsu Hontai Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Jundokan Goju-ryu Shinno Shinto-ryu Jujutsu Kyokushin Budokai Shibukawa-ryu Jujutsu