i actually dont understand the weight on the back leg in this instance unless it is to avoid sweeps.
Well, to some extent. When I trained in Praying Mantis the primary fighting stance we were taught had the majority of the weight on the back leg (more than the 70% usually associated with Taekwon-Do's
niunja sogi). The front leg's foot was lightly on the ground. The length of the sance was a bit shorter than a
niunja sogi, which is a shoulder and a half length from the front foot's toes to the back foot's heel. This set up was to minimize the likelihood of being swept, a very common threat in that style. In Taekwon-Do, having the majority of the weight on the back leg could make one less vulnerable to a front leg sweep.
It also, however, allows one to transfer their mass more substantially (for want of a better word) when executing a kick from the rear leg.
I think back stance is defensive because it is meant for primarily counter attack of the opponents attack. I understand this in open hand because my expectation is a kick or punch or perhaps a weapon strike, sweep and am ready for that. Open hand in the stance allows me full protection on all three levels on all facing angles. with the front leg easily moved to stop sweeps or for blocking the lower extremity, the second level protected by the right hand and third by the left (head). It allows for both blocking but also with the purpose of once a persons other limb is in my reach i may be able to trap it or the open hand allows greater flexibility for me for take downs.
Technically speaking, there is no hard and fast rule for whether one carries their hands in fists, knife-hands, semi-open, or whathaveyou in such a stance. I will say this, however, beginning students who don't keep their hands closed when sparring are liable to get a broken finger or two when blocking.
My goal being kick at me and i dont plan on you getting your leg back.
I love when people try to grab my kicks
Front kick is of course easier but the front kick limits your reach (coming from the thread on distance i started). Tkd being a kicking art primarily i would think the distance and concentration would be on preparing the back leg leaving that free to move instead of taking the weight and extending your reach with a roundhouse type kick instead of the front kick.
Well, yes and no. Taekwon-Do does favor kicks as its primary weapon. But not all kicks travel in the same trajectory. Nor do all kicks have the same length on full extension (just execute a front kick from the front foot and one from the back foot to see the difference; that doesn't even take into account different kicks). Just because people tend to associate kicks with long range, outside fighting doesn't mean that they cannot be used closer in. I've seen many people close to punching range and get kicked in the stomach, on the chest, and in the head. Heck, I rmember sparring my instructor some years ago and moving in on him with a couple of straight punches and then an upset punch (which is a very close in technique). He countered by kicking me in the head with a vertical kick :shrug:
Having a back stance with close fists i dont really understand in tkd. Open hand perhaps as you are attempting to move the fight to a different distance and gain control using your opponents actions (kick for example) to you advantage for counter and engagement.
Like I said previously, there's no hard and fast about hand position when fighting.
Tkd isn't really for close engagement though is it? So why would you want to have a back stance and invite it?
I love when people think Taekwon-Do isn't for close in fighting.
As for a back stance inviting close in fighting, maybe. That would depend on the person and the kind of guard they have. The normal body position for a
nunja sogi is half facing which, coupled with a good guarding block position makes for a very limited number of possible targets in the first place.
Pax,
Chris
