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 Kamae 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.

Ko-hassō no Kamae 小八相の構え

“Small Hassō guard.” A variation of Hassō no Kamae in which the sword is held in a lower or more compact position. Its precise form varies among traditions.

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-dachi 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

Dattō 脱刀

Removing the sword from the obi. The opposite of taitō.

Keitō 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.

Taitō 帯刀

Wearing or placing the sword in the obi. In iai etiquette, taitō refers to inserting and positioning the sheathed sword in the belt in preparation for practice.

Teitō 提刀

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