One of the characteristics of a good karateka is a “low hara”. Conversely, you’ll sometimes hear a sempai or sensei comment on how a lower ranking student has a “floating, high hara”. I know you folks realize that hara refers to the lower stomach area of one’s body. For the martial artist, we’re talking about the so-called “one-point”, generally denoted as about two inches below the navel. From a physical perspective, it’s also the center point of the human body. You also know that the lower your center of gravity, or hara, the better balance one has, the stronger one’s techniques become. It’s no secret that when pushing a car or pulling the rope in tug-of-war, we automatically lower our hara and grip or thrust the ground with our feet. Seems simple enough, but exactly what’s involved in lowering one’s hara?

Well, to start off, your legs and calves have to be stronger, the lower you drop your weight. That’s why so many beginners (especially kids) do a little bit of cheating in their stance, especially in the static position… in the zenkutsu-dachi, it’s probably twice as much work for the forward legs quad muscles, just to hold the stance a couple of inches lower. So a warning to beginners… if you start your training with a high stance (it’s easier, I know) you will only be able to stand/move at that level no matter how long you train unless you work on strengthening your leg muscles. Also, the later you decide to correct your stance level, the harder it gets to do. So, a lower hara helps you develop your leg muscles, which in turn, help you in all things in life.

With proper training and focus, these muscles will grow like magic. Many beginners literally double their leg strength within the first few months and this phenomenon continues (though not so dramatically) for the first few years. Karate-do involves much more than just the stance, it involves the dynamics of movement from one stance to another, quickly and with thrust. As important as leg strength is to a lower hara, it can’t be effectively done without flexibility and strength within the ankles and knees. Unlike leg strength it takes good stretching and proper training over a period of years to begin to see real improvement in joints and ligaments. Stiff ankles and knees are a major reason why beginners have a hard time dropping their hara and why they often lift up their ankles during stepping exercises, even if their legs are strong.

The third component of lowering one’s hara is even more subtle, and unfortunately, is not understood nor correctly utilized by many, many karateka… the muscles/ligaments around the groin. One can be in the same length zenkutsu-dachi as his neighbor, with equally strong legs and flexible knees/ankles, and still have a higher hara… simply because he/she isn’t letting the muscles connecting abdomen with leg release properly, the stance remains an inch or two higher. Using each of these components together is what leads to a lowering of hara, and ultimately, a stronger movement and technique in karate-do. This is why it takes so long to simply lower one’s hara and make more effective use of a lowered center of gravity.