Should the left hand position in chūdan-no-kamae change depending on the opponent?

by Riley
(China)

Hi Sensei, I have a question about chūdan-no-kamae. Should the distance between my left hand and my abdomen always stay the same, or can it vary slightly depending on the type of opponent—like aggressive versus passive, or someone who applies strong centre pressure? I understand how maai and seme change, but I'm specifically wondering about the left hand position relative to the body. Is it fixed, or is subtle adjustment acceptable based on the situation?

Thank you in advance!

Kendo-Guide.Com: Hello, and thank you for your question. I appreciate you taking the time to write to me. That is a great question.

I do not know what dan rank you hold, so I will share the general idea with you first.

In general, do not change the position of the left hand.

The Left Hand is Your Anchor: Your left hand should be about one fist away from your tanden (located between your navel and crotch). This position anchors your posture.

However, moving the left hand forwards and backwards does change the distance (maai), so this can be used as a technique. By slightly changing the left hand position, you can make your opponent misunderstand the distance, which you can then use to your advantage.

I also believe that the left hand position is vital for executing an effective cut. So, you must find the left hand position where you can stabilize your kamae and easily execute your technique.

You can see where my left hand is in my videos. Following the advice of an 8-dan sensei, I actually lowered my hand position. It felt weird at first, but now I know it should be there (at least for now).

I hope this helps your training. Keep practicing hard!

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