Video: Kendo Basics : Fighting Stance, or Kamae and Sonkyo - The Kendo Show by KendoStar - The Kendo Show. Not affiliated with MatRecap; their version may differ from this drill.
Technique recap
Chudan-no-kamae is kendo's central guard, with the shinai tip pointing at the opponent's throat. Every strike starts and ends from it.
3 key details
- Left fist about a fist-width in front of the navel.
- Kensen (tip) at throat height.
- Right foot forward, left heel slightly raised.
Your 10-minute home drill
- 2:00Grip and posture check
- 3:00Holding kamae
- 3:00Kamae with suri-ashi
- 2:00Shoulder relaxation
Safety
Keep shoulders down; tension ruins kamae.
Instructor disclaimer
Follow your instructor's version. Schools and styles teach this technique differently. This page is general education, not a substitute for qualified instruction.
