Wado Ryu – Hangetsu Dachi (Half-Moon Stance)
In some schools, this is taught later on in a Karateka journey, it is a much shorter stance and is more natural. The toes are pointed in and can be awkward to teach in some cases because of this and the toes point to the target area where the strike being applied is to be delivered, usually the center line of your opponent.
The stance and posture is important, the legs should be a little shorter than a normal step, with the feet shoulder width apart, and if you opponent was stood in front of you, your toes would point to his center, making a triangle between your feet and the opponents center line. The triangle is important, as this directs power of your strike, for example, if you stood, with your left foot pointing to the furthest left it could go, and punch with the left arm, there would be no power in that punch compared to if the foot was pointing at the opponent. Both legs should have equal weight on them, and bent to take the weight without locking up or being tense.
Because of the lack of tension, you can use not only hips, but knees to generally to generate the power in strike, with the added mobility it can be used for locks and throws and also to be able to maneuver around an opponent quickly to get into 45 degree angles to execute attacks.
The stance is taken from Hangetsu kata, which is taught in some Wado-Ryu schools.
When this stance is used with Karate Oi-Zuki punch, as the step in is completed the foot flicks in from the foot being straight forward, and this starts the power generation for the punch, going from ankle, knee, hip and finally shoulder to the punch. As the foot is placed pointed in, the knee should drop, this will whip the hip, then shoulder in to generate power.
Reference Sources
Red Dragons Karate School UK. Sensei Nathan Foster