Chudan-no-kamae

KAMAE OF THE FEET

1. Both feet should be pointing forward.

2. Right foot forward in front of the left foot, the toes of the left foot should be level with the heel of the right foot with about 6 inches distance between them or shoulder width.

---> A good way to adopt this position is: Stand with feet together, rotate your left foot on your heel so that your toes now point to the left (90 degrees). Then, moving on your left toes straighten up your left foot. Both feet are now pointing in the same direction.<---

3. Both heels should be off the floor, left heel slightly higher than the right with the right heel only just, raised off the floor.

---> you should be able to bounce on your toes without your heels slamming down, just be careful not to be ballet style i.e. not on tip-toes <--

4. The weight of the body should be even on both feet.

KAMAE OF THE HANDS

1. Left hand grips the end of the tsuka (handle); the right hand grips the tsuka about  an inch below the tsuba (sword guard).

---> A way to find the correct grip distance for you, is to put the bottom end of the shinai in the bend of your right elbow, point hte shinai upwards, and then grip the handle with your right hand.<---

2. The tsuru (string running along the back of the shinai) must face upwards. The shinai must be held from the top edge so that if the tsuru continued down the tsuka would pass between thumb and first finger of both left and right hands.

3. The shinai should be held by the middle, third and little finger of left hand, third and little finger of right hand (little fingers having the strongest grip).

4. While holding the shinai the left fist should be positioned one clenched fist in front of and below the naval.

--->So... hold the shinai in your left hand at the bottom. Then make a balled fist with your right hand. Put your right hand over your belly button. Shift your hand bown until the wrist joint is on your belly button. Put the Shinai (in your left hand) against your right hand. Keep the shinai still and move your right hand. Now finally put your right hand on the grip as described above. <--

5. The Kensen (tip) should be pointing somewhere between eye and throat height on your opponent. This will vary with opponents height.

---> Just be careful not to look down the length of the shinai and try and put the tip under the chin of your opponent. If you do this your shinai tip will probably be way too high. A good starter is to walk to a wall. Measure your own throat height on it. Now go into Chudan no kamae with the kensen pointing at the measured spot. It may feel low to begin with. <-- 

KAMAE OF THE BODY

1. Keep your left knee straight.

2. Your back should be straight with the abdomen held in.

3. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your body square onto your opponent.

---> If you bunch your shoulders or your hips and shoulder are not pointing square against your opponent, your cut will not be straight and you will be using the incorrect muscles in your cut. <---

STUDY YOUR KAMAE

Try to study your kamae when ever possible in a mirror.

Pay attention to:

1. The height of your kensen.

2. position of your hands.

3. Position of your feet.

4. The balance of your body.