That's a good start ! I really want to know this character story :) The pose reads as someone standing still rather than ready for action. A few ideas: Shift the weight: Right now both feet are flat and evenly planted. Have one leg bear more weight (bent knee) while the other extends, creating an asymmetric stance. Angle the shoulders and hips: They're parallel to the viewer. Tilting one shoulder down (the sword arm) and rotating the hips slightly would add instant dynamism. Push the gesture of the sword arm: It's hanging passively. Either extend it more dramatically or pull it back like he's about to strike. Quick gesture sketches as a warm-up before detailed work will help loosen up your poses :)