Maai is the distance between opponents, in kendo maai or space/distance is manipulated to one's advantage. Beginners often take many years to develop awareness and appreciation of maai and its value.
	Toma (toi-ma-ai) Refered to as a "Long distance" or "too far distance", both opponents cannot gennerally strike from this distance. This distance is the distance a kendo match starts from.
	Issoku-itto-no-maai This distance is the distance you can strike an opponent in one step or "one step distance". In practice a taller person's one step maai will be longer than a shorter persons one step maai.
	Chika-ma (chikai-ma-ai) Chika-ma is the term for "close distance." This distance is so close once in this close you must attack immediately. Generally the older a person is the shorter the distance they are able to strike from so other factors such as experience, and masterful skill enable a kendoka to remain in a close distance.

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