Tsuruashi-dachi¶

Name¶

Tsuruashi-dachi (鶴足立ち)
Crane stance

Introduction¶

Tsuruashi-dachi is a one-legged stance in which the whole body weight is carried by one leg while the other foot is lifted and placed lightly against the inside of the supporting leg’s knee.

In Masutatsu Oyama’s Vital Karate, crane stance is described very simply: the stance resembles the way a crane stands on one leg, and the lifted foot is placed lightly against the knee while all the weight is carried by the standing leg. In Mas Oyama’s Essentials of Karate, this is developed somewhat further. There it is said that the sole of the lifted foot is placed against the inside of the knee and that the stance should be held ready for yoko-geri and uraken. The same work also describes tsuruashi-dachi as a transition stance between defense and attack.

Tsuruashi-dachi therefore belongs to Kyokushin’s balance and special stances. It is not a wide main stance for heavy basic technique, but it is important for developing balance, hip control, one-legged bearing, and readiness in transition.

Definition¶

Tsuruashi-dachi is a stance in which the body is carried entirely on one leg while the other foot is lifted and placed against the inside of the supporting leg’s knee.

The stance is characterized by:

one-legged bearing
lifted leg
compact body posture
clear balance over the supporting leg
high readiness for quick technique or transition

Structure / form¶

Feet¶

all body-bearing work lies on the supporting leg’s foot
the supporting foot is held stable against the floor
the lifted foot is placed lightly against the inside of the supporting leg’s knee
the lifted foot should not be pressed hard, but held in a controlled and light way

In Oyama’s own description, the main point is that all the weight is carried by one foot and that the other foot is only placed lightly against the knee.

Legs¶

the supporting leg carries the entire body weight
the supporting leg is kept strong but not locked
the lifted leg is bent and kept gathered
the knee of the lifted leg points outward to the side or slightly forward depending on the body’s organization

What matters is that the lifted leg does not hang slack, but is held with active control.

Hips¶

the hips are kept gathered over the supporting leg
the pelvis must not fall to the side
the hip on the lifted side must be kept under control
the body must not twist away from its vertical axis

Tsuruashi-dachi therefore requires clear hip stability. If the hips are not kept actively organized, the whole stance falls apart.

Torso and spine¶

the spine is kept upright
the upper body must not lean sideways to save the balance
the body is kept gathered over the supporting leg’s center
the head is held still and natural

Since the base is very small, the stance immediately reveals whether the spine and head are not being kept in order.

Arms and hands¶

When the stance is trained as pure form:

the arms may be held neutrally

When it is used technically:

the position of the arms is determined by the requirements of the technique

In Mas Oyama’s Essentials of Karate, it is emphasized that the stance should be ready for yoko-geri and uraken, which shows that the arms often have to be kept in active readiness rather than passively.

Gaze¶

the gaze is held straight forward
the head is held still
the eyes should be focused without the body becoming unnecessarily tense

Weight distribution¶

Tsuruashi-dachi is carried entirely on the supporting leg.

100% on the supporting leg
0% weight-bearing load on the lifted leg

The lifted leg has contact with the body but does not carry the body against the floor.

Center of gravity and balance¶

The center of gravity is held high and gathered over the supporting leg’s base.

Tsuruashi-dachi differs from most other stances in that it has a very small base but still must be stable. It therefore trains especially:

one-legged balance
vertical control
hip stability
the body’s centering
the ability to maintain readiness despite a limited base

The stance requires calm and precision. Small errors in the hips, foot, or head immediately have a large effect on balance.

Technical purpose¶

Tsuruashi-dachi is used to develop balance, control, and readiness in transition.

Its technical purpose is to:

train one-legged bearing
develop the body’s vertical line
keep one leg ready for kicking or stepping
function as a transition between defense and attack
give the body control in a narrow and unstable base

In Mas Oyama’s Essentials of Karate, it is explicitly stated that the stance is ready for yoko-geri and uraken and that it functions as a transition between defense and attack. This captures the stance’s core function well.

Use¶

Basic training¶

Tsuruashi-dachi is used to train:

balance on one leg
hip control
the body’s vertical organization
lightness in the lifted leg
mental concentration in a small base

Technical readiness¶

Since the lifted leg is already unloaded, the stance may be used to train transition to:

yoko-geri
other quick one-legged movements
step or change of direction

In Oyama’s later description, the stance is also connected with uraken, which shows that the lifted leg position can be combined with quick hand technique.

Transition stance¶

Tsuruashi-dachi often functions as a transition form rather than as a long-held working stance. This applies especially in connection with:

defense to attack
preparation for stepping
balance-demanding sequences
certain kata sequences

Movement and kata¶

In This is Karate, Oyama specifically mentions crane-stance walk as a walking method for intermediate and more advanced students. This shows that tsuruashi-dachi is not trained only in stillness, but also as part of advanced balance in movement.

In kata, the stance is used to mark lightness, concentration, and technical control in one-legged position.

Relation to other stances¶

Tsuruashi-dachi differs clearly from several other stances in the system:

in relation to nekoashi-dachi, it is even more unloaded in front and completely one-legged
in relation to kake-dachi, it is not hooked but vertically gathered
in relation to sanchin-dachi, it is not centered over two legs but concentrated into one
in relation to fudō-dachi, it is not neutral but clearly specialized

Tsuruashi-dachi is therefore important for understanding how Kyokushin also trains lightness, not only weight and rooting.

Technical key points¶

all the weight is kept on the supporting leg
the lifted foot is placed lightly against the inside of the knee
the supporting leg is kept strong but not locked
the hips are kept gathered over the base
the spine is kept upright
the body is kept centered, not leaning to the side
the lifted leg is kept active and controlled
the gaze is held straight forward
the stance should be light but not loose

Common mistakes¶

The lifted foot is pressed hard against the knee¶

The stance should be controlled, not cramped and tightly compressed.

The supporting leg is locked¶

This makes the balance stiff and increases the risk that the body loses its finer control.

The hip falls to the side¶

This is one of the most common mistakes in one-legged stances.

The body leans to save the balance¶

Tsuruashi-dachi should be carried vertically over the supporting leg.

The lifted leg hangs passively¶

The leg should be held light and active, not dead.

The gaze drops or wanders¶

This easily disturbs the balance.

The stance becomes tense in the shoulders and neck¶

The balance should be carried through the foot, leg, hips, and center, not through upper-body tension.

Comment¶

Tsuruashi-dachi is a small but very revealing stance.

It does not require great width or a low center of gravity, but it does require control. It therefore quickly shows whether the practitioner can really keep the body’s center over a small base. In Oyama, it appears both as a symbolic crane stance and as a practical transition form that can lead into kick or hand technique. Precisely for that reason, it is important in a complete dachi system: it teaches the body lightness without losing structure.