Does breaking balance, break Kamae?

Good question at training the other night: What’s the difference between breaking balance and breaking Kamae? Breaking balance doesn’t necessarily break Kamae, but breaking Kamae breaks balance.

Balance is the physical equilibrium we depend on to steady our movement and technique; the rudder, so to speak, without which would cause us to drift in turbulent waters. But Kamae is more than a simple posture or some martial-esque pose. Physical Kamae are positions not unlike positions played in sports - the center position in soccer, the goalie position in hockey, or the receiver position in football. Each of them play and own a certain roll within the confines of their sport. When playing these positions, players understand what their job is and how it relates to the game and their team’s outcome.

I see great similarity with martial Kamae. Photos of Kamae are the same as photos of leaping horses – in motion. Kamae can act as waypoints on the map of Taijutsu, preventing us from getting lost. Whether unarmed or using weapons, a solid understanding of Kamae and how they operate can close gaps in one’s movement. ‘Distance,’ that expandable and collapsible macguffin inside the Kukan, is the key to the study of Kamae, specifically how positioning is used to repel someone fiercely or invite them to almost “certain” victory. There is much to be studied here, but Kamae is still more than this.

In war, if we were to break through the enemy’s line, we could say we had broken their balance. But if they were to turn tail and flee, we could say we had broken their Kamae. This is the other part of Kamae, the non-physical or psychological aspect, one’s attitude, spirit, or will. Breaking the will of an opponent is often the catalyst to breaking their balance. But taking balance doesn’t always ensure Kamae will break, in fact, it may galvanize the opponent’s will to fight even harder. Drills in training to break balance by one partner are usually met by new positions to maintain Kamae, and regain balance/break balance in return.

Kamae breaks when the will questions its orders to keep going, it breaks when the spirit’s endurance finally tires and the opponent can no longer impose threats or violence. As Budoka, we must become accustomed to breaking Kamae instead of simply relying on upsetting the balance. This is partly experience and maturity acknowledging their roles in our martial growth, allowing us to transcend the usual, and reach ever higher for a new perspective.