Kamae 2 - Other Forms

Other forms of kamae, or “Combative Posture,” include neko ashi no kamae and morote chudan sanchin no kamae (pictured top left and below right respectively). The many and various forms of kamae are combinations of stances and low, middle or high hand positions, with the hands closed or open, and so on, depending on the situation as well as on the individual’s physique. 

However, kamae should not be thought of as static poses. Rather, they should be taken up momentarily, allowing for speedy and fluid movement to the next stance, posture or technique.  Placing too much emphasis on assuming the kamae would give an opponent time enough to launch an effective attack. Therefore, the essence of the kamae is more important than the form; that is to say, the key is to be in a readied state of mind.

One is reminded here of the "The Lesson of Stance/No Stance" from Miyamoto Musashi's classic "The Book of Five Rings" (the quote here from the translation by William Scott Wilson): 

"What is called Stance/No Stance means that there is no stance that you should take with your sword at all. However, as I place this within the Five Stances, there is a stance here. (e.g. According to the moment, if you want to lower your sword a little from the Upper Stance, it will become a Middle Stance.) This is the principle in which there is a stance and there is no stance."

A similar principle  holds for kamae in karate.