Fudo dachi

Fudo-dachi (foo-doh dah-chee) is sometimes mistakenly performed as a Kiba dachi (Horse Stance) at a different angle. It is actually a modified front stance.

The front leg is the same as a front stance but the back leg is bent with the knee pushed as far back as possible. The width of the stance should be about 12-18 inches or shoulder width apart.

The front foot should point in the direction you are facing and the back foot should point about 45 degrees to the side. Do not push the opposite hip forward in this stance, even with reverse punch techniques. This will cause the rear knee to point forward and disrupt the of the stance.

Start in Zenkutsu Dachi, and let the back knee bend while pushing it back so it is closer to being over the rear ankle. The front knee will cave in slightly to allow this to happen. Weight distribution is 50/50.

[edit]Sochin

In the Kata Sochin there is abundant use of Fudo Dachi. When performed in Sochin, the stance is usually referred to at Sochin Dachi but this is incorrect