Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

Space, Time and Ma-ai in the Martial Arts

While teaching a Jyodo class recently, I was asked the following question, “Why do we practice the 12th Kihon from ma-ai, when we are actually inside ma-ai when we do the put away at the end of Kata?”
For those of you who don’t practice Jyo, the put away (Osame) is the point in Kata, where the jyo man (Shidachi) returns the jyo to the ready position at his side (Tsune no kamae). This occurs after the swordsman (Uchidachi) has indicated his surrender by lowering the bokken to the right and relaxing his wrists (Hodoku position).
The 12th Kihon (Tai Hazushi Uchi) is a technique used when a dishonorable swordsman attempts to re-attack while Shidachi is putting the stick away. The Kihon is practiced from ma-ai. Ma-ai, in jyodo, is measured when the partners, in appropriate kamae, extend their weapons so the tips cross 3 to 4 inches passed each other. This distance is advantageous to Shidachi, by using the longer reach of the Jyo to keep Uchidachi at ma-ai (jyo ma-ai), Shidachi forces the swordsman to make an over extended attack in order to reach his target.
In Kata the technique that causes the swordsman to surrender usually leaves the parties closer than ma-ai as described above.
I answered the question, but was not satisfied with my own answer (neither was the person who asked the question). My mistake was failing to realize the error in the question itself.
It is our first Aikido class and our sempai is explaining about ma-ai, distance. We advance right feet and touch hands with unbendable right arms. We are told that this is the distance at which we must react to the attack. If sempai feels talkative he may explain that this distance works partly because the first step of a trained athlete (from a neutral position) is not significantly faster than that of a reasonably healthy 70 year old. We practice and learn ma-ai.
Several months have passed, we have reached Brown Belt and we are getting pretty darn good at Kata. One day the Sensei running the class says “for a change of pace, let’s do Kata while walking towards each other.” All our beautiful technique goes to hell. Uke is coming too fast, our timing is all wrong, our arms bend and we feel like white belts again. Then half way through the class, our techniques magically start working again. What has happened? We have subconsciously started to react sooner to compensate for the higher closing speed between Tori and Uke.
We have just discovered what I refer to as Dynamic (or True) Ma-ai. Dynamic Ma-ai takes both space (distance) and time (velocity) into account.
We usually practice Static Ma-ai. Travelling at normal (low) speed the distance we commonly regard as ma-ai is more than adequate guide. When swords and stick are being swung at high speeds or you are stepping out of the way of a car coming at you at 60 miles per hour, the time factor becomes more important.
In physics the behavior of objects at “normal” velocities can be described quite well with Newtonian Physics. Things that travel extremely fast are better described using Einstein’s theories. In the martial arts world Static Ma-ai works well most of the time, but sometimes we need to consider Dynamic Ma-ai.
What does all of this have to do with the initial question? As I said earlier, the question contains an error. It assumes that because we are closer than normal to Uchidachi we are inside ma-ai.
Let’s look at how we typically leave Uchidachi at the end of a Jyo Kata. We’ve broken his balance and posture, he is probably leaning back. We’ve got a stick shoved up his nose (actually pointed at his face). His weapon is lowered, pointed away from us and gripped poorly. Uchidachi is at ma-ai, Dynamic Ma-ai! It would take him longer to regain posture, balance and bring his weapon into action from this position than it would to cover the greater distance from a good starting position (Hasso) as in the 12th Kihon.
Have you ever watched a master demonstrate Kata? Those watching always say the same thing, “He’s got such great timing!” What they are really describing is the master moving at Dynamic Ma-ai. His years of practice have enabled him to adjust ma-ai to account for Uke's balance, posture, breathing etc. He moves not at the appropriate time (Static Ma-ai) but at the perfect time, Dynamic Ma-ai.
Many of the “exceptions to principal” we encounter in jyodo and aikido are not really exceptions, but manifestations of Dynamic Ma-ai. Uke appears to be inside ma-ai (Static Ma-ai, measured by distance) but because of body position, balance problems etc., the time required for him to close that distance is as long as or longer than were he at Static Ma-ai.

well put -- ma-ai as a feature space is just a convienent place to start learning from --
ma-ai as an interval of time makes all make sense

Yes, yes, wonderful...

Nice work Roger. Very cool.

One day I hope to know enough that a seemingly simple question will reveal such an answer. Thanks for the discusion on Saturday.

Isn't it amazing how someone asking us a simple question will teach us an answer we didn't know we knew? 😄

Aboslutely right on. Interestingly, the character MA in Japanese is translated as "space" but can literally mean an interval of time as well as physical distance.

Since we are always in different variations of balance, posture, timing, etc., couldn't you then conclude that we are always in Dynamic Ma-ai? Static Ma-ai seems like it is built around the condition that everything is perfect on one plane. Could it be that Dynamic Ma-ai is the reality, and Static Ma-ai is just and unachievable illusion (based on the impossibility of absolute perfection in our balance, posture, etc. when we are standing still)?

Tristan, You are right on target when you say that Dynamic Ma-ai is the reality that we are seeking. I view Static Ma-ai as a very useful teaching device. The human nervous system has a problem dealing with empty space. Basketball coaches teach young players to shoot the ball "over the front rim" rather than at the opening of the basket, the solid rim giving a concrete object on which to focus. There are many things that can be learned that can not be taught, Dynamic Ma-ai is one of them. We teach Static Ma-ai as a starting place, the student learns Dynamic Ma-ai though hundreds of hours of practice.

Ma-ai (間合) is when both parties are safe and must move closer to attack. The distance is described as 一足一刀 (ISSOKU ITTOU) – “one step, one sword” – which applies to arm length as well. The kihon sotai are practiced from maai for safety and because this distance must be trained. Similarly basic practice of the releases is from static maai. Or are they…? Ever line up with someone at "static" maai and just know they already have you? I think you are right, Roger, for really good players there is no static in their maai.

In the omote kata Ichirei, the only kata where kihon-style taihazushi uchi is performed, you are at maai because uke has stepped back to hasso. In all the other kata where you are inside maai, the jo has a control on uke and uke is not safe. He cannot move to attack because you can tsuki without moving. The danger point at the transition from the draw to the closing honte position is mitigated by the fact that uke is not in a position to attack (sword is off line). So the reason you do osame from inside maai (and it doesn’t become taihazushi uchi) is because you can.

In Midaredome, you freeze the swordsman with the feet-together gyakute strike at the eyes when he enters maai to cut kesa. When you move back to striking position, you have to maintain the eye threat by stretching the jo forward so it doesn’t recede as you adjust back. This is a dynamic ma, where you have to play the distance to make the kata work. The swordsman has to keep the jodoka honest by being aware of when he is safe and can attack.

Even in Tsukizue, when you drop back to grasp the stick, you have adjusted from the static maai to a new dynamic maai. (In koryu there is no pause at maai like in seitei, so even the initial attack is from a dynamic maai.) If uke raises the sword to strike again, he opens up a nice big target for you to tsuki. That is why the kata is called “thrusting stick” even though there is no explicit thrust – it’s implied, and it’s why uke freezes. He should know he’s had, right then. It is maai because both sides are safe and must step to attack. However in this case, uke cannot even prepare to attack without losing.

I guess the original question of kata taihazushi uchi being inside maai is that it is BECOMES maai dynamically, at the moment of the transition where the jo goes off line to the side. Even though you are close, when the jo threat disappears, briefly both parties are safe and one step from attack distance. This is the same as the static maai of kihon because the sword in kata must prepare before attacking, as opposed to being ready in hasso. Hasso is really not a static position after all.

These are interesting questions because the answers raise more questions.

I almost forgot the hairiest of dynamic maai, the awase that isn't, right after the kurihanashi in Ranai. The sword cuts, you retreat to hikiotoshi, and you meet the sword thrust with a strong honte kamae, taking the center line. You are at maai distance, it materalizes as both combatants attack together, both are technically safe and must step to attack, but uchidachi is not safe and cannot even hold position as the jo presses its advantage. This is like some of the Go kata where tori chases uke in shikko, aggressively taking the techniques instead of waiting for the attack to come. So a definition of dynamic maai and control in budo might be when uke cannot attack at all without being defeated. Like Ueshiba Morihei said, before you move I have already won.

Jack, you bring up an interesting point about the problem of accurate use of Japanese terms by someone who does not speak Japanese. As you point out the definition on Mai-ai is when both parties are safe from attack.

I have been looking at Dynamic Mai-ai strictly from Uchidachi's point of view, places where he is safe because of factors other than distance. These often are due to Uchidachi having the initiative but not always. Is there a better term to use for this condition?

Hmm. I was taught that "maai" depends on threat-- so in ushiro kube gatami as tori you have maai because uke cannot attack you even though you are close. His effective "weapon" range is basically nil. We used to say tori is inside of uke's maai, but tori has maai in regard to uke. The idea is sound but the terminology is imprecise - I remember Geis sensei insisting there is only one maai. But maai is a personal safe zone defined by the enemy's reach (eg, hand vs knife vs sword vs jo). As long as we know what we are saying it doesn't matter.

On reflection, I wouldn't call an accomplished technique "maai" just because you have the other guy helpless. That's just called victory, or control. In Jodo you have the stick up in his eye socket or something. The element of distance is compounded by orientation, time and initiative, so space is not the only factor in "length" of the weapon. So at osame you are inside of maai spatially, but as you point out, not in terms of preparedness and real capability. You have to give "maai" back for a moment in order to put away the jo, and for a brief moment you could conceivably be attacked. But the sword still has to prepare and take that step, which you do not allow him to do.

The point of budo is to control the opponent so that he cannot effectively attack. The issue of being inside of maai depends on manipulating the effective range of the opponent's weapon. Maai is a balance point where the engagement begins. So if I have a control on uke, I am necessarily inside our mutual maai, spatially, and am using other factors to prevent the attack.

A Japanese term that may apply is SEME (attacking), meaning when you maintain physical threat to your enemy; if you do not have it then osame isn't safe and jointlocks don't work. SUKI (opening) is what you do not have, in relation to uchidachi, when you have control of him. KATSU is victory. SHIHAI is a common noun meaning control (shihai suru = to control, shihai shite = controlling).

Just for fun, here is a web site with a nice glossary. There are a number of mistakes on quick perusal, but it has a lot of terms. I haven't gone through it, or the Budo Dictionary, but I am sure there is a term for having control of your opponent.

Sometimes my geek side takes over.

It's not about words. You felt it, created an understanding of it, and are exploring the world in light of it. It's good work and it got me thinking and I hope I can help. Learning Japanese terms is just one way of accessing the body of experience out there. Ultimately we have to experience it ourselves.

So don't be hung up on words.

Jack - thanks for the comments. I think we are saying basically the same thing. We teach (static) Mai-ai as a starting place that the beginner can understand. With years of training it becomes something the master's body knows by feel. Then that old problem of words not being adequate to describe reality raises its head.