Proper Kamai

[marioyu]

I am getting confused with the proper stance.
I see in demonstrations where the demonstrater's stance is a horse-stance. Isn't it supposed to be that right leg forward and left feet tip-toed?
What are the differeces and why are they different?

Thanks

[Arnold Strong]

I don't know what you mean by horse stance, but kamae is right foot forward, left toe just about even with the heel of your right foot, and left heel slightly above the ground(not really tip-toed).

[marioyu]

I don't know what you mean by horse stance, but kamae is right foot forward, left toe just about even with the heel of your right foot, and left heel slightly above the ground(not really tip-toed).
Horse stance is both legs wide apart and bent

In chinese kung fu, horse stance looks like you a riding an imaginary horse where your ankles bent inwards to secure yourself on the horse.

[hyouriittai]

I am getting confused with the proper stance.
I see in demonstrations where the demonstrater's stance is a horse-stance. Isn't it supposed to be that right leg forward and left feet tip-toed?
What are the differeces and why are they different?

Thanks

That's kind of odd. I've never seen a horse stance used in kendo training, myself. The positioning of the feet that I'm familiar with is a right footed lead. I wouldn't say that the left foot is "tiptoed," but what I understand is that the heel isn't supposed to touch the ground. The same is true, however, with the right foot. The various sensei at our dojo instruct that, if you were to lift either leg in the proper stance, you would move in that leg's respective direction, as both feet are pushing toward your body's center at all times.

I don't know if that makes any sense, or if it is correct. Senpai on the forum, feel free to correct me.

[Kirin]

I am getting confused with the proper stance.
I see in demonstrations where the demonstrater's stance is a horse-stance. Isn't it supposed to be that right leg forward and left feet tip-toed?
What are the differeces and why are they different?

Thanks

You are right

proper 'kamae' is right foot front.

horse stance 'kiba dachi' ... we use it during our suburi keiko
its good exercise for your shoulder and back


ps. oh one thing ... its not left feet tip toed....... left heel should be 1/2 to 1 inch off

[Hai_hai]

I am getting confused with the proper stance.
I see in demonstrations where the demonstrater's stance is a horse-stance. Isn't it supposed to be that right leg forward and left feet tip-toed?
What are the differeces and why are they different?

Thanks

So, you have never taken one lesson in kendo from the sounds of it.
Chudan no kamae is the basic kendo stance - right foot forward, left foot back. Most kendoka use this as their kamae. This is the first kamae one learns.
There are other kamae where the feet and hands are in different positions.

[Catherine]

Horse stance can be used in suburi practice to make the workout harder on your legs and to toughen you up.

I went to a kendo workshop run by a sensei for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. He was particularly fond of suburi done in the horse stance.

It is not a kendo footwork position though.

Catherine

[marioyu]

You are right

proper 'kamae' is right foot front.

horse stance 'kiba dachi' ... we use it during our suburi keiko
its good exercise for your shoulder and back

what is suburi keiko?

[litige]

try to analyse it

[Catherine]

what is suburi keiko?

Suburi is the practice cutting you do at the start of practice to warm up and check that you are cutting properly. You don't use kote or men for this practice.

Catherine