Hmmm.....looks like a few folks beat me to the punch. Jeez I'm getting too slow in my old age [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG] (Maybe I should have adopted a more offensive stance? - Sorry, couldn't resist).

Wu Fei, did that answer your question? If not, it's what cxt said.

Yes, neutral stances are usually the best as far as element of surprise goes, and just the nature of the situation. I was asking about the form side of it because, surprisingly, I have been involved in three altercations in which the other guy took a "mock-boxing" stance and attempted to square off with me, which surprised me because I thought something like that would be rare. Two out of the three situations allowed me to settle it without any strikes to either of us.

Sorry, I should clarify. I do primarily aikido & jujitsu (but I've done TKD, karate before so I know what you are talking about).

There are no stances as such. Remember that stances are simply transitory postures, i.e. you move into a stance to momentarily maintain stability or obtain postitional advantage, before moving again.

Certainly none used in squaring-off or self-defense situations. Even in practice sparring, we never adopt a stance. The only time a "stance" appears is during the "kake" (execution) of the technique.

Every stance has its weakness. Remember the draw a line joining your toes on each foot and bisecting the line in the perpendicular plane?

In all honesty, it doesn't matter whether you're side-facing or front-facing your attacker, but the depth of your stance does. A deeper stance sacrifices mobility for stability. A higher, more natural stance provides mobility (which is what you want in a SD situation).