Tatehiza

[Yzakj]

I just run into the sitting position of Tatehiza on Sunday during Iaido practice, and it was awkward. At first I didnt' know what the hell was going on, but then I sort of figured it out. My sensei told me that it was a sitting position for samurai in full armour, and I believe I have seen it before in movies. I wonder if anyone else knows about tatehiza or has pictures.

[Halcyon]

I just run into the sitting position of Tatehiza on Sunday during Iaido practice, and it was awkward. At first I didnt' know what the hell was going on, but then I sort of figured it out. My sensei told me that it was a sitting position for samurai in full armour, and I believe I have seen it before in movies. I wonder if anyone else knows about tatehiza or has pictures.
you were most likely practicing kata no. 4 in the seitei kata, but here's a short video clip of a koryu kata starting from tatehiza.

http://www.iaido-basel.ch/film/oroshi.AVI

by the way, which ryu are you studying? both musoshinden ryu and muso jigiden eishin ryu (two of the most widely practiced ryu worldwide) have an entire set of tatehiza kata. the above clip is a jigiden kata, though an almost identical kata exists in msr.

[chidokan]

most westerners initially find it uncomfortable due to having long legs. If you want to speed up the process, use a thick cushion or mat and sit on that while you watch tv etc..

[Yzakj]

Hey thank you guys both for replying, and I don't really know which ryu I am practicing yet. I basically just recently found out that there were different styles in Iaido.. gasp! But I'll find out.... The position is uncomfortable at first, but I can find a position that feels good, plus I'm asian, and I do have short legs hahah, not implying anything...
What I really wanted to see is a picture of a Samurai in full armour doing it, because at first I didn't know if it really was the best position. But obviously if they did sit in the position it must have worked, I was just wondering why it was better.

[Shiro]

I do not practice iaido but I have talked about tatehiza with some friends who do. According to them, it's the position of sentries and guardians.

[Yzakj]

I do not practice iaido but I have talked about tatehiza with some friends who do. According to them, it's the position of sentries and guardians.

OMG sentries? You seriously have got to be kidding, you mean those guys I see in movies hiding in the closet sitting usually in seiza? With Seiza I can probably understand how they can sit so long, but Tatehiza, you must be kidding! Wow that must hurt.. But I've read it's for samurai in full armor, becuase its easier to get up from and strike, than from sitting in seiza.

[Shiro]

OMG sentries? You seriously have got to be kidding, you mean those guys I see in movies hiding in the closet sitting usually in seiza? With Seiza I can probably understand how they can sit so long, but Tatehiza, you must be kidding! Wow that must hurt.. But I've read it's for samurai in full armor, becuase its easier to get up from and strike, than from sitting in seiza.

I had the same reaction when they told me that :). The guys in the closet are just servants, I guess.
It is indeed a painful position......

I think I've seen tatehiza during kagemusha, when Nobunaga and Ieasu meet.

[Halcyon]

But I've read it's for samurai in full armor, becuase its easier to get up from and strike, than from sitting in seiza.
yes, that's what my sensei told me too. if you're in full armor, it's very heavy, so getting up from seiza to attack will be very cumbersome. ... in fact, my sensei showed us how samurai used to settle into tatehiza without first getting onto one knee, as we do in iaido.

basically, you bend your right knee just a little bit (as though you're about to sit into a chair) and then place your left foot approximately under your butt, with the top of the foot towards the floor. then you lower yourself slowly down toward your left foot, with your right leg bearing all the weight of your body until you 'touch down' on your left foot. ... you need strong thighs for this. :-)

[roar]

Tenshin shoden katori shinto ryu do all their seated forms from iai-goshi, that bears some resemblance to tate-hiza, you have the toes on your left foot curled, so you sit slightly higher. Their cuts are also based on wearing kabuto, so they dont go to a "regular" jodan, they "angle" the sword along their left arm when raising the sword for cutting. Quite interesting.

[HEIJO SHIN]

Great idea about something soft under you whilst watching TV.

I find sitting on my feet/legs very difficult (as I'm starting Iaido late in life) As you get older the bones in your feet/legs are a lot less supple, and at the moment I can only managed a few minutes. But I'm sure with time!!!