15/12/2025
Jōdan no Kamae - a stance sometimes taken to demonstrate “Zanshin” which means awareness or “lingering mind”. In this particular scenario you’ve just struck your last opponent and they’ve fallen to the ground. But juuuust in case they make a last ditch attempt to rise up and attack you again, you’ve assumed this strong pose of readiness and are watching them like a hawk, ready to finish them once more if necessary. Hence “Zanshin”.
It’s a very empowering stance but difficult to get right. The angle of the sword has to be just right or else the following move (Chiburi - “blood shake”) will not flow correctly. You can’t see your sword angle with your sight so you have to get guidance on the position from a senior, remember how that position feels and then practice to make it instinctive. One of my seniors took this shot of me so I could see my positioning. Stepping outside oneself and seeing it from the outside helps it make a lot more sense. Then he also said “oh, and put it up in your socials 😉”
