In Shotokan karate, shōmen and hanmi describe how your torso/hips are oriented relative to the opponent.
- Shōmen (正面) — square/front-facing position. Your hips and shoulders are facing straight toward the opponent. Both sides of the body are presented relatively evenly.
- Hanmi (半身) — half-body/side-facing position. Your hips and shoulders are turned about 45° away from the opponent, presenting less of your body and helping with positioning, evasion, or certain techniques.
Simple way to remember
Shōmen = square → 🧍 facing forward
Hanmi = half-side → 🥋 turned partly sideways
Please see video for visual demo.