Basic Stances - Offense/Defense

Offense

Our "Offense" stance is what most schools would term "Fighting Stance".  Most people are right-handed and fight with the weak side forward (left side forward).  In the "Offense" stance, the strong hand is closer to the body, and the weak hand is closer to the opponent.  You often feign attacks and/or misdirections with the weak hand, then follow through with the powerful rear hand.  Same tactics typically apply to the legs.

In the Offense stance, the leading hand can be open for palm strikes or grabs, or closed for fist punches.  Either are acceptable.

Defense

Our "Defense" stance is the symmetrical opposite of "Offense", with the strong hand forward and the weak hand closer to the body (assuming you are right handed).  This is often called the "south-paw stance" in boxing.  To get to this stance, many other schools call "Fighting Stance", then call "Switch" (or "Bah Kwah" in Korean).  We simply call "Defense".

Just as in the Offense stance, with the Defense stance the leading hand can be open for palm strikes or grabs, or closed for fist punches.  Either are acceptable.

Taekwondo Fighting Stance

The above "Offense/Defense" stances come from Moo Lim Do, which in turn seem to have come from Tang Soo Do.  It is a bit different from Taekwondo fighting stance.  Most Taekwondo people have their leading foot turned inward slightly, like this (notice the leading leg):

Below is a traditional Tang Soo Do fighting stance (which is also like Moo Lim Do's fighting stance).  The leading hand can be open for palm strikes or grabs, or closed for fist punches.  Either are acceptable: