05/20/2026
Jōdan (High Guard) ⚔️
There are various forms of jōdan (high guard), but a common principle across all of them is staying in a half-body stance with the knees engaged and drawn in, always ready for the next movement.
The posture is designed to avoid openings while maintaining a clear line of sight to the opponent, which is why the elbows and sides are kept tightly engaged at all times.
In tate (stage/ film combat), there is also an important safety principle:
💫In order to maintain safety even in tight spaces, the kissaki (sword tip) is kept angled upward. This helps prevent injury to others who may be positioned behind you.
Tate is built on a foundation of technique that allows movement to be:
• Safe, even when repeated many times
• Structured within the frame of the stage or camera
• Aligned with the character’s emotional journey
• Clear in storytelling through movement
This is what makes tate unique, it is a form filled with layers of technical precision that support both safety and expressive storytelling.
