I’m sure I’ve spoken about Maai before, but it came up in class on Tuesday, so here it goes again.
Definition: Maai, for this discussion, is the distance from which you can strike your opponent with one move. Generally, one step, so maai is issoku itto, one step distance.
Fixed distance: Think of Kendo, you stand with your bokuto in chudan, the tips crossed at the yokote line (an inch or so, just at the tips). This is your starting maai in Kendo, it’s one step distance, or should be, you work at it until you can hit your partner in one step.
Your body: Now consider your long legs, long arms and massive jumping ability, your issoku itto is longer than this standard distance isn’t it? And your short legs and arms, your bad knees, your issoku itto is less than this distance.
Movement: Match (awase) at the proper maai, now you walk forward while your partner keeps the distance, at some point you leap in and strike. Easy. Your body is moving forward and you can use a full step (ayumi ashi, crossing your legs) to drive forward.
Do the same while moving backward, your issoku itto shortens up a lot, you have to stop your motion back, reverse and… you don’t reach the target.
Mental attitude: OK getting woo woo here, but if you have an attacking attitude, you move further. If you are cautious, not so far.
Good so far?
We were working on Shinto Ryu, the kenjutsu of Jodo, and there’s a lot of nisoku itto no maai here, the two-step distance which we see all over the place in Jodo. You get to work even harder to figure out the distance. Hooray. If you keep distance in mind, the kata make more sense. (Also targets, also timing, also…)
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