Which of the following is one of the basics every junior black belt should master?

Mastering stances is fundamental for any martial artist, especially at the junior black belt level. Stances provide a solid foundation for techniques and movements, allowing for better balance, stability, and body alignment. They are essential for executing punches, kicks, and defensive maneuvers effectively. Proper stance allows a practitioner to maintain a strong position and generate power in their movements, while also being prepared to respond to an opponent’s actions.

In contrast, elements such as advanced sparring, weapon training, and breathing techniques, while important, may not be considered foundational skills at this stage. Advanced sparring requires a higher level of proficiency and experience, which builds on the basic techniques learned through practice and mastery of stances. Weapon training usually comes later in a martial arts journey, after a solid grounding in the basics. Similarly, while breathing techniques are beneficial for overall performance, they often complement the primary skills rather than serving as a core foundational element like stances do.