Author: Bret Gordon
Just about anyone familiar with Japanese martial arts is familiar with the kneeling position of seiza. Literally meaning "proper sitting," the posture serves as the standard floor sitting position for most traditional formal occasions, and it is generally considered the respectful way to sit in the presence of superiors or elders unless otherwise permitted. It is used in meditation, prayer, bowing, rituals and ceremonies. As martial artists, we associate it with how Samurai would sit, except that's not really accurate.
The position of seiza as we know it was formalized during the Edo period, as part of a large number of edicts and customs imposed on the warrior class to prevent a violent outbreak. Another Edo period concept we attribute to the Samurai is the idea of Bushido, a code of ethics similar to European chivalry that supposedly holds warriors to a higher moral standard. In truth, Bushido was introduced as a concept to keep bored Samurai in line. Without wars to fight, professional warriors being paid to sit around can get fairly rowdy. Rape, pillage and murder were just par for the course during times of war when the army was stationed in a faraway land, but they become rather unfortunate side effects of boredom when you have drunk, testosterone-filled warriors accustomed to living on a higher rung on the social ladder and getting away with, well, murder. But I digress...
Seiza was introduced as the proper way of sitting for Samurai during the Edo period by the Shogun simply to make it harder for a visitor to quickly attack the host when conducting a meeting or ritual. Anyone who has sat in seiza long enough knows the feeling of numb legs and locked knees. When milliseconds matter, slowing down your would-be assailant by forcing him to attack from a position of discomfort can quite literally be the difference between life and death. So prior to the Edo period, when Japan was in constant conflict, what was the "correct" way of sitting for formal occasions?
The position of seiza as we know it was formalized during the Edo period, as part of a large number of edicts and customs imposed on the warrior class to prevent a violent outbreak. Another Edo period concept we attribute to the Samurai is the idea of Bushido, a code of ethics similar to European chivalry that supposedly holds warriors to a higher moral standard. In truth, Bushido was introduced as a concept to keep bored Samurai in line. Without wars to fight, professional warriors being paid to sit around can get fairly rowdy. Rape, pillage and murder were just par for the course during times of war when the army was stationed in a faraway land, but they become rather unfortunate side effects of boredom when you have drunk, testosterone-filled warriors accustomed to living on a higher rung on the social ladder and getting away with, well, murder. But I digress...
Seiza was introduced as the proper way of sitting for Samurai during the Edo period by the Shogun simply to make it harder for a visitor to quickly attack the host when conducting a meeting or ritual. Anyone who has sat in seiza long enough knows the feeling of numb legs and locked knees. When milliseconds matter, slowing down your would-be assailant by forcing him to attack from a position of discomfort can quite literally be the difference between life and death. So prior to the Edo period, when Japan was in constant conflict, what was the "correct" way of sitting for formal occasions?
While seiza as we know it has been used for rituals, meditation and prayer not only in Japan but across the world for centuries, the idea that a warrior must always be prepared does not stop when you enter a temple or are called to a meeting. In the absence of chairs, two positions were fairly common:
1. Anza - crossed leg
2. Tatehiza - kneeling with one leg up
The picture at left shows Toyotomi Hideyoshi, sitting in anza (also called agura). While still not ideal for attacking or defending, a warrior of his stature would have retainers and bodyguards available to dispose of an immediate threat and buy him the second or two needed to respond.
The next position, tatehiza, is the most tactical way of sitting. One leg is tucked under you, while the other knee is raised and prepared to stand. Ironically (or not so), compare tatehiza with the way modern BJJ students are taught to sit in preparation for a technical stand up.
1. Anza - crossed leg
2. Tatehiza - kneeling with one leg up
The picture at left shows Toyotomi Hideyoshi, sitting in anza (also called agura). While still not ideal for attacking or defending, a warrior of his stature would have retainers and bodyguards available to dispose of an immediate threat and buy him the second or two needed to respond.
The next position, tatehiza, is the most tactical way of sitting. One leg is tucked under you, while the other knee is raised and prepared to stand. Ironically (or not so), compare tatehiza with the way modern BJJ students are taught to sit in preparation for a technical stand up.
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The main difference between the two is simply in posture, which can be argued each is prepared for a different direction. With a blade, you want to project forward and meet the attack (or launch your own). During a technical stand up, you want to move backwards to create distance. Otherwise, in both positions, getting up is a lot easier when one leg is already there. Body mechanics are universal.
Before I continue, one thing that drives me nuts is seeing seated kata with katana. If you are seated, you are generally indoors. When entering any building, Samurai would leave their katana at the door. This is the exact reason they would carry a wakizashi or tanto, so as to not be unarmed. I do know that the Omori Ryu were notorious for practicing seated kata with katana, that many of the modern iaido kata are derived from Omori Ryu and that even some other koryu have adopted the practice in modern times. However, there is simply no historical basis for it.
Now, fighting from seiza is not any less difficult empty-handed as it is with a blade. Many jujutsu kata exist where a seated opponent is attacked and disposed of. One ryuha where these roles are reversed is the Daito Ryu. To my knowledge, Daito Ryu is the only koryu with an extensive handachi curriculum that involved the seated practitioner "winning" the engagement. Why is that?
Before I continue, one thing that drives me nuts is seeing seated kata with katana. If you are seated, you are generally indoors. When entering any building, Samurai would leave their katana at the door. This is the exact reason they would carry a wakizashi or tanto, so as to not be unarmed. I do know that the Omori Ryu were notorious for practicing seated kata with katana, that many of the modern iaido kata are derived from Omori Ryu and that even some other koryu have adopted the practice in modern times. However, there is simply no historical basis for it.
Now, fighting from seiza is not any less difficult empty-handed as it is with a blade. Many jujutsu kata exist where a seated opponent is attacked and disposed of. One ryuha where these roles are reversed is the Daito Ryu. To my knowledge, Daito Ryu is the only koryu with an extensive handachi curriculum that involved the seated practitioner "winning" the engagement. Why is that?
If we are to believe the oral tradition of Daito Ryu, the art stems from the Minamoto family's bujutsu taught in secret and passed down through the family line (Minamoto Yoshimitsu's son adopted the surname Takeda) under various names including oshiki uchi (inside the threshold) and gotenjutsu (palace art). The tradition states that the Takeda family, having settled in the Aizu domain, were employed as bodyguards and palace security.
Given that context, along with further development during the Edo period, it would not be uncommon for such guards to find themselves in seiza while in the presence of the daimyo. Should the lord come under attack, they would be the first line of defense and need a series of techniques designed to deal with the attacker quickly and without footwork or large movements.
Given that context, along with further development during the Edo period, it would not be uncommon for such guards to find themselves in seiza while in the presence of the daimyo. Should the lord come under attack, they would be the first line of defense and need a series of techniques designed to deal with the attacker quickly and without footwork or large movements.
That is where many of the Aiki no Jutsu techniques come in. Should an attacker try to seize you, whether to stop you from drawing your weapon or to restrain you so that you cannot aid while their accomplice attacks the daimyo (which answers the question of how come they don't just let go), you need techniques that are quick and efficient at disrupting the attacker and putting them in a position to be disposed of. Practicing these techniques and refining them to such a high degree of proficiency that they can be done with minimal motion then becomes just part of your job.
That's really where the idea of "internal" martial arts comes from in the first place. It has nothing to do with chi or any mystical force. It's simply movement that generates great power yet is so subtle and imperceptible except to the most trained eyes that it seems like it origins from "inside" the body. The Aiki arts use this type of power to off-balance or completely throw their opponent, while its Chinese counterparts (Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan) often use it for devastating striking.
In modern times, training from seiza and learning to shikko (knee-walk) has several benefits. Shikko itself is a great way to strengthen the muslces around one's hips/waist to help achieve a lower center of gravity and to aid in stabilizing one's upper body when executing various techniques.
That's really where the idea of "internal" martial arts comes from in the first place. It has nothing to do with chi or any mystical force. It's simply movement that generates great power yet is so subtle and imperceptible except to the most trained eyes that it seems like it origins from "inside" the body. The Aiki arts use this type of power to off-balance or completely throw their opponent, while its Chinese counterparts (Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan) often use it for devastating striking.
In modern times, training from seiza and learning to shikko (knee-walk) has several benefits. Shikko itself is a great way to strengthen the muslces around one's hips/waist to help achieve a lower center of gravity and to aid in stabilizing one's upper body when executing various techniques.
Much like the tatehiza position, we see this exercise also used in Judo and BJJ as a fundamental conditioning exercise (sometimes called duck walking). Now, suwari waza (seated techniques) in general are about isolating your hips from your legs. When kneeling down, you cannot "cheat" with your legs meaning all the power must come from your core. It teaches that economy of movements can have massive impact on the opponent provided that said movements are focused, making it a fundamental exercise in understanding how to properly execute many techniques.
So is seiza the proper way to sit like a Samurai? Technically, since it was in use prior to the abolition of Samurai in 1868, but it was simply a way to make it harder for the host to be attacked when in their home, much like the proper arrangement of tatami in a room (that's an article for another day). I'd argue that if one was truly interested in understanding the Samurai mentality and culture, learning to sit and practice from both anza and tatehiza has more cultural significance and practicality. That said, suwari waza do have their benefits and should not be discarded. Like everything else, however, just don't have any misconceptions about their origins.
