Positioning

The Basic Posture     Distance     Stance

The first thing aikidoka should know is the basic posture one should be adopt, when facing an attack.  One needs to assume and maintain the basic distance to the uke, along with the basic stances.

The Basic Posture

It is defined as Kamae or as natural.  Depending on the positioning of your feet, it is either a right natural posture called migi gamae or a left natural posture bearing the name of hidari gamae.

A person holding this natural pose will be positioned in a normal alignment with the axis of gravity.  Physically, this brings about the basic coordination of the body with this world’s most prevailing force. 

This alignment begins with recognition of one’s anatomical centers.  Each of these rests in full balance upon the one that is structurally below.  They consecutively reside along this gravitational axis, which starts wit one’s head.  Even a smallest amount of deviation of the head from its balance vertical axis has the effect on balance centers of rest of the body.  First, it influences the position of the neck along with shoulders.  Acting as in a chain reaction, the central and the lower parts of the body follow.

One should keep the vertical alignment of centers without any great self-conscious efforts to keep one’s balance.  Head, spinal column, and lower abdomen are the three anatomical centers one needs to keep on this axis.  This ensures that one is able to keep their balance, regardless of whereabouts of one’s feet. 

These, one may place in shizentai gamae – side by side, or in combat stance, where one stands in migi gamae – with one’s right foot forward, or in hidari gamae – left foot leading.  This ought to create a triangular posture – sankakutai, typical of aikido.  It does not make one firmly grounded or fastened to the matt.  It is not still, rigid, immobile, nor fixed.  It does not require one to focus constantly on vertical support in search of one’s balance.  It is relaxed, as well as adjustable to everyday life, and applicable to combat situations.  This is due to its potential for a practical, efficient, and adaptable equilibrium amid rest and the dynamic prospect of movement, as well as its vertical stability.

Resting in this position, gives a person opportunity shift the weight of one’s body at an instance and move smoothly and fast to the almost unlimited amount of desired directions.  This choice obviously is a desired element in the event of an attack, which may come from any distance or direction.

Thus, aikidoka should keep a balanced, relaxed, and possibly dynamic posture all time.

 Distance

Amount of space kept amid individuals should be relative to individual's limits and potential for defensive response  should an attack occur.
In order to develop a sense of this distance, one should practice stretching the arms forward, together with, and towards uke. The proper distance will be the one, where the two of them can touch their outstretched fingertips.

Stance

Hanmi, or Hammi, is the natural or shizentai gamae posture, with its two basic forms, that is the left and the right stances,  applied as the initial position of defense.  It is usually applied in ai-hanmi or gyaku gamae.

Ai-hanmi is referred to as a mutual or closed stance.  In it, when uke applies migi gamae –the natural posture with right foot forward, nage responds by also taking a migi gamae pose, and thus standing in right hanmi.  When uke assumes hidari gamae – a left posture, nage also stands in hidari gamae, and thus standing in left hanmi.

gyuku gamae or reverse or open stance is when after uke assumed a migi gamae, nage responds by switching to hidari gamae, and vice versa.

Your hands should be placed contingent upon the situation.