Tag Archives: kendo stance

Kamae pertains not only to a physical posture but more importantly to an inner kamae. The inner kamae is an alert mental presence and a purposeful attitude that seeks to defeat the opponent. Both the physical stance and the inner stance must not be fixed, but fluid, changing to the circumstance. The inner kamae should be of no surprise to many expert swordsmen, as the inner kamae is vital from the beginning to the end of a kendo match. Miyamoto Musahshi: “Although the positions are divided into five, they all have the aim to cut men.” “No matter which position you take, do not think of it as a position, think only of it as a process of cutting.” The master swordsman Noma Hiroshi (1910-1939): “the aim of all kamae is to defeat the opponent.” “As long as one continues to rely on ones sword and ones stance one is still a long way from becoming an accomplished swordsman. Ones mind must strike the mind of the opponent and with it penetrate through the opponents defense.” It is important to study and practice this idea of the “inner kamae” as it relates closely with strategy and defeating the opponent using your mind first. No matter how fearsome or perfect the outward kamae (stance) without an inner kamae that is fluid, calm and skillful in command the outward kamae is meaningless as a position of attack, as an army without a general.