Kosa Dachi

Kosa dachi is a karate stance. Pronounced 'cos-a-datch'. Kosa Dachi is the crossed legged stance found in karate.

The Crossed Legged stance of Kosa Dachi is achieved by stepping one leg behind the other and aiming to push the rea knee into the knee socket behind the front leg, with the rear knee reinforcing the legs and resting just above the calf muscle.

The crossed stance is mainly used for avoidance, to dodge a leg sweep for example or as in most cases as an aid for turning. The crossed stance of kosa dachi is found in many kata as a transitional stance used when turning or rotating towards a different direction.

In five element theories, this stance is a water stance, which also points towards the stance been used for transitioning into other stances as opposed to using the stance for fighting etc..

This stance is found in many of the styles of karate including both Shotokan and GoJu based schools.