Dachi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A position used in martial arts, especially in karate, referring to specific stances ; a Japanese term indicating various formalized foot and leg placements in combat training ; a part of terminology distinguishing different ways of standing for balance and technique in certain fighting disciplines
2. In the context of martial arts, particularly karate, a word describing particular stances or poses ; a traditional Japanese term for techniques involving distinct ways of standing ; a specialized label for arrangements of the feet for stability and movement in combat practice
3. Refers to various standardized stances in martial arts, most notably karate ; a Japanese word representing forms of standing essential for technique and defense ; a component of the vocabulary that categorizes leg and foot positions in fighting arts

Etymology: In Japanese, "tachi" (立ち) means standing or a standing posture, from the verb "tatsu", to stand. Karate stance names are formed by placing a noun before it, as in "zenkutsu-dachi" (a long forward stance) and "kiba-dachi" (a horse stance). When "tachi" follows another word in a compound, its initial "t" becomes "d" through rendaku, a regular Japanese sound change, which is why the form appears as "dachi" in these names. The spelling also matches the Russian "dachi", the plural of "dacha", a country house. That resemblance is coincidental, and the karate term comes from Japanese.

Synonyms: dachas, cottages