Of-course, everyone who does studies Japanese budo is familiar with the formal Japanese sitting posture SEIZA (正座). The more relaxed, crossed legged sitting posture is something that probably everyone does as well, though its name you might not know: ANZA (安座). However there is also a third seated term that we use in budo, and is probably something that most people who study iaido (also shinto, kyudo, and perhaps aikido and other budo that stem from yawara/jujutsu) do consciously on a regular basis without knowing the term or perhaps even its meaning. In fact, I had never heard about it until a kendo 8 dan told me and other members of my dojo at a recent gasshuku. Nobody else had heard the term either!!
The term describes the kneeling posture where you sit on the balls of your feet – something performed very often in iaido – and is called KIZA (危座). In iaido the posture itself is something of an in-between position, between getting out of seiza and performing some other movement, but there is more to it than this. Lets look at the kanji:
危 – DANGEROUS. Examples: kiken-na (危険な); abunai (危ない).
座 – SEAT / SIT. Examples: kamiza (上座); seiza (正座); zazen (座禅); suwaru (座る).
So what does it mean? Basically, KIZA refers to a seating position in which you can immediately launch an attack (or defend yourself) against an opponent/enemy. Its not an in-between position, rather its a physical state that is itself threatening and – at the same time – wary. If the opponent moves, you can react; if they make no move to attack you, then you can either launch your own attack preemptively, or remain there in a state of wariness. I am tempted to call it a kamae even.
In kendo we don’t think about these things very often, if at all. Its only when you begin to learn the full reiho for kendo no kata that it enters into our practise.
Anyway, this post might not interest most people, but recently i’ve found myself contemplating this every time I move into and out of seiza, and its part of a complete re-assessment of “kendo” and “budo” for me that started when I moved to Japan 5 years ago, and that I am still in the process of doing now. This blog is part of my struggle to digest and process this information. Expect more….
btw, the cross legged term ANZA (安座) mentioned about uses the kanji 安 which can be defined to mean peacful, safe, and secure.
Nice post, George. If I can provide some further information, I first came across this word in Japanese aikido books (I’d never heard it practicing in the States). It was written 跪座, with 跪 meaning “hizamazuku”, or “to kneel”. It’s also listed in Japanese dictionaries. As you can see, the character is made up of 危, which means dangerous, as you noted, plus 足, the radical for “foot”. According to Kanjigen, the use of the 危 character indicates instability, and so combined with “foot”, makes “kneel”.
As you probably know, in Yagyu Shinkage Ryu (specifically, Yagyu Seigo Ryu batto), it’s known as 居合腰 “iaigoshi” – “hips for iai”.
Thanks for the in-depth comment and additional information Josh…. especially since its your speciality area! I feel as if i’m just scratching the surface of things now….. new stuff everyday!
Interesting post Josh. Thank you.
George> It’s interesting what you say about calling it a kamae. Although I have never thought of it that way until reading it above, the state of alertness that you are in during kiza would qualify in my mind.
Excellent post, George. Thanks, Josh, for providing even more information.
Very interesting post, and as always the extra information from Josh is fascinating.
> As you probably know, in Yagyu Shinkage Ryu (specifically, Yagyu Seigo Ryu batto), it’s known as 居合腰 “iaigoshi” – “hips for iai”.
This is a slight tangent, but in Yagyu Seigo ryu batto, does “iaigoshi” only refer to this, or does it apply to the use of the hips in other positions as well? I know that individual ryuha use words differently, but “iaigoshi” in my line of iai refers to the deep, ‘floating’ position of the hips in all kamae – not just in kiza.
Richard,
“Iaigoshi” in YSgR refers only to what is otherwise known as “kiza”. I should probably note that in YSgR “iai” refers to sitting kata. Standing kata are referred as “tachiai”.
In YSgR, iai kata start with the practitioner in seiza. He then establishes metsuke, grips the saya, then the tsuka, and then moves into kiza. All iai nuki, nukitsuke, and kiritsuke start from that position, so I guess that’s why it’s called “iaigoshi”. I really get what George is saying in his post here. In YSgR, this position indicates someone’s about to get sliced-and-diced.
One thing I find interesting is that there are a few kata where the practitioner moves to “iaigoshi”, and then (usually in preparation for a backward move) they will move to what is known as “iaigoshi” in Katori Shinto Ryu iaijutsu. But there’s no name in YSgR for this position — it’s simply known as, “step back a little and raise the knee of the front foot”.
Josh, I hadnt clicked about my experience in Seigo-ryu until I read your post above (and I wasnt thinking about it when I wrote the post)…. now I have the EXACT images of what we are talking about in my mind… not because I used to practise it, but because I watched Yagyu-K sensei do it so many times its stuck in my head.
Richard, when you make it to the city for beer and keiko, I will demonstrate (badly!). Would be better to get Josh here at the same time for a real pro’s input!!!
hi george, just found your blog its exellent just started kendo again after 10 year lay off your site is very informative. all the best from taiseidokai glasgow