Martial Word Wednesday “Maai; 間合い”
Origin: Japanese
There are many Japanese words in martial arts that we try to translate into English, and don’t do justice to the term. Maai is one of those words. It’s often translated as “distance.” In Aikido, it’s described as “finger-tip distance.” As illustrated in the picture to the right. Kendo uses the term to describe the distance where the shinai (bamboo swords) just cross at the tip. They are both supposed to be the distance at which an attacker has to step to attack. And while distance is an okay translation, it doesn’t capture the nuance of the term.
Space and Time
A more accurate, though harder to communicate, would be interval. The interval is a combination of space AND time. It not only represents the distance that requires a preparatory step or action for attack, but also, the time interval that allows for the defender to react to the preparatory action, with their own action. It places the attacker and defender on equal footing of action and reaction.
Individual Maai
When you put in both factors of time and distance. Everyone’s maai suddenly becomes different. I’m short. My arms are even shorter. My maai, would therefore be a larger distance than someone with longer arms. Therefore, my reaction time is also different from other peoples. If I’m slower, my maai must be increased. If I’m faster, my maai is shorter. We all have an almost instinctual knowledge of maai. Spar with someone. That distance that people inevitably fall into, is your maai. In sparing, each side is trying to invade your maai. Aikido, as a martial art, is completely about maintaining that maai.
Do you have a different definition of maai? Leave it in the comments, and let everyone know.
Check out the Martial Word Wednesday back catalog and other Martial Journal articles.
- Review of The Ankō Itosu Biography - September 13, 2021
- Suparinpei-The Last Kata of Goju-Ryu Karate - July 12, 2021
- Swords Are Cool…That’s All I’ve Got - March 4, 2021
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