Meaning of "Kuraizume"?

[Kent Enfield]

Do any of the speakers of Japanese here have a good understanding of what "位詰" [kuraizume] means beyond being the name of a set of kata in MJER? I'm reading about kendo kata and finding phrases like "位詰にて何々する". I have a decent idea based on the context and separate meanings of the components of the word, but I don't want to miss some subtle or idiomatic meaning. As further context, a lot of these are pre-war rather than current uses.

[Josh Reyer]

This may not be applicable, but in Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, I have seen the term "kuraizume" used to describe, for example, the follow up cuts in certain kata. After shidachi has "won" in the primary part of the kata, uchidachi retreats, and shidachi follows up with "kuraizume" -- a cut done in such a way and such a position as to completely close off ("tsumeru") any further attack by uchidachi. It has both a physical aspect (the angle of cut, and position of sword and body, physical readiness to deal with any further attack, no physical suki) and mental/spiritual aspect (spirit and mental readiness to deal with any further attack, no mental suki) both which fall under the rubric of "kurai". And further, it dominates uchidachi's kurai so that they have no recourse but to end the kata. Thus, "kuraizume".

[R Stroud]

From the Niten Ichi Ryu Musashi Kai Kendo Kata guide they talk about kurai zemi, with the following definition;
"To menace one's opponent into a disadvantageous position through physical and mental intimidation without actually striking at an opponent."

位攻め is the kanji used in the original Japanese, so I guess this might help you understand the "kurai" part...

You can see it used by the uchitachi in kata's #10-13 from the PDF nito kata quick guide here http://www.idaho-kendo.com/nito/

[Josh Reyer]

That's kurai-zeme 位攻め, "kurai" + "attack". Kent's asking about kurai-zume 位詰め, "kurai" + "stuff, stifle".