Hanmi No Kamae 半身の構え means Half Body Stance. Hanmi is one of the core structural ideas of all Japanese martial arts essentially meaning “half-body posture.” You don’t face your opponent square-on. Instead, you stand sideways at an angle so that: your front shoulder and hip face the opponent, the rear side is withdrawn, your centerline is protected, and your attack and defense can come from the same structure. The reason: it reduces target area, keeps the sword aligned with your centerline, and makes rotational cuts more efficient (koshi no hineri). Keeps your center (tanden) aimed through your front foot. When executing a sword strike, it allows quick rotation (koshi o kiru) for evasion or power generation. Engages the rear leg and hip as your main engine — not your arms.
Right Hanmi (右半身 migi-hanmi): right foot forward, right hand leading.
Left Hanmi (左半身 hidari-hanmi): left foot forward, left hand leading.
Ai-hanmi (相半身) = “matching stance” (both in same-side hanmi: right vs right or left vs left).
Gyaku-hanmi (逆半身) = “opposite stance” (right vs left). This is a mirror stance. Partners have the opposite foot forward (right and left or left and right).
Translation
半 (han) = half | 身 (mi) = body | “Half-body” or “turned body posture.” | 半身 Hanmi translates directly as half body stance.
