In budō and koryū, kamae 構え is more than just a physical stance; it refers to a stance or guard position that dictates the placement of the sword, body posture, and mental readiness in combat. Each kamae has specific offensive and defensive purposes, optimizing movement, balance, and attack angles. Kamae has three components:
1. Physical posture – How your body and weapon are positioned. For example, you can hold your hands or a sword in a middle position called Chūdan no kamae (中段の構え) – middle guard; a high position, called Jōdan no kamae (上段の構え) – high guard; or a low position, called Gedan no kamae (下段の構え) – low guard. In this sense, kamae can mean a fighting stance.
2. Mental readiness – Kamae also means your psychological posture. Are you alert? Do you have intention? Are you calm and ready? A good swordsman always maintains kamae even when not moving.
3. Strategic posture – In advanced traditions, kamae also refers to the way you manage distance; how your presence pressures the opponent; and your tactical relationship with them. So kamae includes body position, intent, maai (distance), seme (pressure), and metsuke (gaze).
| Term | Meaning | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Kamae (構え) | Guard / stance / readiness | Your fighting posture |
| Tachi (立ち) | Standing | Your vertical position |
| Shisei (姿勢) | Posture | Structural alignment |
| Tai-sabaki (体捌き) | Body movement | How you change position |
Kamae includes all of these, but goes deeper than any one alone.
Common Kamae
These appear across multiple arts:
Ai-hanmi no kamae 相半身の構え – same-side stance
Aigamae 相構え – mutual guard / same guard
Chūdan no kamae 中段の構え – middle guard
Gedan no kamae 下段の構え – low guard
Gyaku-hanmi no kamae 逆半身の構え – opposite stance
Hanmi no kamae 半身の構え – half-body stance
Hasso no kamae 八相の構え – eight-phase guard
Heisoku-dachi 閉足立ち – closed-foot stance
Hira no kamae 平の構え – flat guard
Ichimonji no kamae 一文字の構え – straight-line guard
In no kamae 陰の構え – hiding guard
Jōdan no kamae 上段の構え – high guard
Jūji no kamae 十字の構え – cross guard
Kasumi no kamae 霞の構え – mist guard
Seigan no kamae 正眼の構え – true-eye guard
Soto-gamae 外構え – outer guard
Waki-gamae 脇構え – hidden/side guard
Yō no kamae 陽の構え – active/open guard
Sword Kamae (Kenjutsu / Iaidō / Kendō)
Chūdan no kamae 中段の構え
Gedan no kamae 下段の構え
Hasso no kamae 八相の構え
Hidari jōdan 左上段 – left high guard
Ichimonji no kamae 一文字の構え
In no kamae 陰の構え
Jōdan no kamae 上段の構え
Kasa no kamae 笠の構え – umbrella guard
Kasumi no kamae 霞の構え
Seigan no kamae 正眼の構え
Ura seigan 裏正眼 – reverse true eye
Waki-gamae 脇構え
Yō no kamae 陽の構え
Jo Kamae (Jōdō / Aiki-jō)
Chūdan no kamae 中段の構え
Gedan no kamae 下段の構え
Gyakute kamae 逆手構え – reverse grip
Hasso no kamae 八相の構え
Hira no kamae 平の構え
Jōdan kamae 上段構え
Kamae-te 構え手 – guard hand position
Tsubame no kamae 燕の構え – swallow stance
Waki kamae 脇構え
(Used in Shintō Musō-ryū and Aiki-jō traditions)
Empty Hand Kamae (Aikidō / Jūjutsu / Karate)
Ai-hanmi 相半身
Hanmi 半身
Heisoku-dachi 閉足立ち
Hidari-hanmi 左半身
Jigotai 自護体 – defensive body
Kokutsu-dachi 後屈立ち – back stance
Kosa-dachi 交差立ち – cross stance
Kumo no kamae 雲の構え – cloud stance
Musubi-dachi 結び立ち – natural stance
Neko-ashi-dachi 猫足立ち – cat stance
Renoji-dachi レの字立ち – L-shaped stance
Shizentai 自然体 – natural posture
Zenkutsu-dachi 前屈立ち – front stance
Translation
構 (kamae) = to construct, prepare, set in position
構え = posture, guard, stance, readiness
So kamae literally means a prepared posture or a ready position that combines body position, mental state, and strategic intent.
