Ken no Kamae 剣の構え

Ken no Kamae 剣の構え are sword positions or guards used in Japanese sword systems such as iaidoIaido (居合道) is the art of drawing the Japanese sword (katana), cutting, and resheathing it — performed with control, awareness, and grace. More and kenjutsu.

Kamae 構え | Sword Guards

Chūdan no KamaeChūdan no Kamae 中段の構え is a middle-level guard. The sword is held in front of the body with the kissaki directed toward the opponent’s centerline. A balanced and versatile position that allows quick transitions between attack and defense. More 中段の構え

Middle-level guard. The sword is held in front of the body with the kissaki directed toward the opponent’s centerline. A balanced position suited to both attack and defense.

Gedan no Kamae 下段の構え

Lower-level guard. The sword is held low with the kissaki directed downward and toward the opponent, leaving the practitioner prepared to attack or counter from below.

Hassō no Kamae 八相の構え

A sword guard in which the sword is held upright beside the head or shoulder, providing a ready position for delivering cuts in several directions.

Jōdan no Kamae 上段の構え

Upper-level guard. The sword is raised above the head in preparation for a powerful downward or diagonal cut.

Kasumi no KamaeKasumi no Kamae 霞の構え – “mist guard”; a sword posture found in several traditional Japanese sword schools. Its exact form varies by ryūha, but often places the sword high across or beside the head. The name kasumi (“mist” or “haze”) has historically been associated with concealing one’s intentions and with actions that receive or divert the opponent’s sword. More 霞の構え

“Mist guard.” A sword position in which the blade is held high and across the body. The exact position and application vary among sword traditions.

Katsugi no Kamae 担ぎの構え

A shoulder-carried position in which the sword is brought toward or over the shoulder. Katsugi derives from katsugu, meaning to carry something on the shoulder.

Mukei no Kamae 無形の構え

“Formless guard.” A posture or tactical concept characterized by having no fixed outward form, allowing the practitioner to respond freely to changing circumstances.

Seigan no Kamae 正眼の構え

A central sword guard in which the kissaki is directed toward the opponent’s eyes, face, or centerline. Closely related to forms of Chūdan no KamaeChūdan no Kamae 中段の構え is a middle-level guard. The sword is held in front of the body with the kissaki directed toward the opponent’s centerline. A balanced and versatile position that allows quick transitions between attack and defense. More.

Waki no Kamae 脇の構え

Side guard. The sword is held low toward the side or rear of the body, partially concealing the blade and preparing it to be brought forward into an attack.

Shisei 姿勢 | Body Postures and Stances

AguraAgura (胡坐 / あぐら) which is the ordinary Japanese term for sitting cross-legged, typically with the legs folded loosely in front of the body. More 胡坐

A relaxed cross-legged sitting position commonly used in Japan and sometimes encountered in martial arts.

Hanza-dachi 半座立ち

A lowered or half-seated stance in which the body is partially raised rather than fully standing or sitting.

Hiza-dachi 膝立ち

A knee-standing posture in which the practitioner remains upright on the knees rather than sitting back on the heels.

Kiba-dachiKiba-dachi 騎馬立ち | Horse-Riding Stance — A wide, symmetrical standing posture with the feet approximately parallel, knees bent outward, hips lowered, and weight distributed evenly between the legs. Commonly used in karate for developing stability, leg strength, and body control. The posture is not widely documented in classical Japanese swordsmanship. More 騎馬立ち

“Horse-riding stance.” A wide standing posture with the knees bent and the weight centered, providing a stable base.

KizaKiza 跪座 means kneeling posture and refers to a kneeling position in which the toes are flexed under so that the balls of the feet remain on the floor. More 跪座

A kneeling posture similar to seiza but with the toes flexed under and the balls of the feet on the floor, allowing the practitioner to rise or move more readily.

Sankakudai-dachi 三角台立ち

“Triangular-base stance.” A standing position in which the placement of the feet forms a triangular base for balance and movement.

Seiza 正座

Formal kneeling posture in which the practitioner sits back on the heels with the tops of the feet resting on the floor.

Shizen-tai 自然体

“Natural body.” A relaxed, naturally balanced standing posture from which the practitioner can move readily in any direction.

Tatehiza 立膝

“Raised-knee” sitting posture in which one knee is raised while the other leg is folded beneath or alongside the body. Variations of tatehiza occur in traditional iai and sword schools.

Sword Carrying and Wearing Positions

DattōDattō 脱刀 | Removing the sword from the belt — The act of withdrawing a sheathed sword from the obi (belt). In iaidō etiquette, dattō describes removing the sword from its worn position, often at the conclusion of practice or before performing a formal bow to the sword. It is the opposite of taitō (帯刀), placing or wearing the sword in the belt, and is distinct from battō (抜刀), drawing the blade from its scabbard. More 脱刀

Removing the sword from the obi. The opposite of taitōTaitō 帯刀 refers to wearing a sword at the waist, particularly with the sheathed sword inserted into the obi (belt). In iaidō, it also describes the action of placing the sword into the belt in preparation for practice. Dattō 脱刀 is the opposite action of taitō 帯刀. More.

KeitōKeitō 携刀 is a sword-carrying position in which the sheathed sword is held at the left hip, approximately where it would rest when worn in the obi. The left hand supports the sword, with the thumb resting on the tsuba to prevent the blade from slipping out of the scabbard. More Shisei 携刀姿勢

Sword-carrying posture. The sheathed sword is held at the left side with the left thumb on the tsuba, as though the sword were being worn in the obi.

TaitōTaitō 帯刀 refers to wearing a sword at the waist, particularly with the sheathed sword inserted into the obi (belt). In iaidō, it also describes the action of placing the sword into the belt in preparation for practice. Dattō 脱刀 is the opposite action of taitō 帯刀. More 帯刀

Wearing or placing the sword in the obi. In iai etiquette, taitōTaitō 帯刀 refers to wearing a sword at the waist, particularly with the sheathed sword inserted into the obi (belt). In iaidō, it also describes the action of placing the sword into the belt in preparation for practice. Dattō 脱刀 is the opposite action of taitō 帯刀. More refers to inserting and positioning the sheathed sword in the belt in preparation for practice.

TeitōTeitō 提刀 refers to carrying a sheathed sword in the hand, rather than wearing it in the belt. In some traditional iai schools, the sword is held in the left hand at the left side, with the cutting edge upward and the thumb resting on the tsuba to secure the blade. More 提刀

Carrying the sheathed sword at the side. The sword is held naturally in the left hand rather than worn through the obi.