From Sensei Matt Kaplan, Shihan
Ueshiro Okinawan Karate Family Club
State College, Pennsylvania

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Cat Stance - Back leg, knee over heel

One way to check for proper weight distribution in the cat stance (neko ashi dachi) is to make sure that the knee of the back foot stands straight above the point of the heel of the back foot. A common tendency is to move the back knee forward, whereby it stands above (or in front of) the toes. Beyond providing a poor foundation for techniques delivered from this stance, letting the knee move forward places undesirable tension on the ankle and other parts of the foot. To correct, put all the weight on the heel and push back the knee.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu,
Matt Kaplan, Shihan
Ueshiro Okinawan Karate Family Club
State College, Pennsylvania