By David Aguero Kamae is the physical posture that a kendo practitioner takes prior to physically striking. Kamae is not a defensive posture, and not a vacant position where one waits for the next thing to happen. Kamae is part of a strategy to cut the opponent, a brief assessment point to quickly launch an attack. Even the kendo kamae or postures that appear to be open to attack are part of a strategy to confuse, draw in and conceal an attack. There are five postures in kendo yet only two are frequently used. A good kamae is a fearsome presence and can often cause great doubt and fear in an opponent when done properly. The following are descriptions of the five kendo kamae:
	Chudan no Kamae (water) Chudan kamae is the most versatile of kamae, the sword is pointed either at the opponent's throat, face or pointing at the left eye. When confronting an opponent with a steel sword the effect is that of an invisible weapon, since the opponent cannot see any part of the blade except for the very tip. When using a shinai or bamboo sword we can often see the blade, this helps in practice to gauge the opponent's distance. The hands are positioned in front of the navel about one fist away from the body.
	Jodan no Kamae (fire) Chudan kamae is the most fearsome of kamae. It is both an open invitation for the opponent to foolishly try to strike at the abdomen, yet a deadly trap because the person in jodan kamae can easliy strike and cut men or kote. When a steel sword is used the effect is that of an invisible weapon since only the cutting edge is seen by the opponent. This will cause great fear in the opponent, and doubt of the distance from the where you are. There are two postures that are termed jodan kamae, the illustration on the left shows the left foot forward and the sword raised to just one fist space above the forehead.
	Hasso no Kamae (wood) Hasso kamae is not comonly used in kendo matches, it is deceptively open to attack. The opponent is likely see this kamae as an invitation to attack which is just what a person in hasso kamae wants, who instantly strikes men or kote. The hands are positioned near the face, with tsuba of the sword near and level with the mouth.
	Gedan no Kamae (earth) Gedan kamae is not used very much in modern kendo matches, it is deceptively open to attack. The effect on the opponent is that of the appearance of an opening or invitation for attack yet because it is difficult to judge the striking distance when a sword is pointing down, and away from the opponent will be at a disadvantage. The opponent will foolishly launch an attack for which a person in gedan kamae can dodge and counter attack, or easily strike from underneath. The tip of sword is pointed towards the opponent's knees.
	Wakigamae (gold) Waki kamae is not used in kendo matches, the kamae places the sword to rear opposite from the opponent effectively hiding the sword. Hiding the sword makes it difficult for the opponent to judge the distance for a strike. Appearing defenseless, or inviting the opponent to make a careless attack creates doubt and even fear in the opponent.

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