Fighting Stance

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In a sparring situation, there is a gentile moving of weight from front to back feet and a slight up down motion. This makes it easier to either move, perform a technique, or to do a dummy move.

Practice doing a straight front kick from both the left and right legs to get a feel. A straight front kick is done by raising you knee up as far as comfortable with either leg, all weight on the other leg; ignoring this will result in you falling over. Then kick out straight in front with the ball of your sole with all toes pulled back; ignoring this will result in breaking some toes. Coming back into the stance should be done quicker than the kick out.

In a sparring or self defense situation, front leg kicks are either to "keep the opponent at a distance" kick (because you are knackered) or the first of a series of techniques or kicks. Off the back leg, the same applies; although it is possible to land a decent forceful kick off the back leg, particularly if you launch a pre-emptive strike.

Please see more of Steve’s insight and tips at his excellent site: http://www.steveconway.net/stances/fighting_stance.htm