Seiza
正座
Formal Japanese kneeling on the heels, literally “correct sitting”. In the dojo one bows, meditates and practises iaido and part of aikido from it.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Seiza (正座) means “correct sitting”: sei is correct, za is sitting. The practitioner kneels with the legs folded under the thighs, sits on the heels, the insteps lie on the floor and the big toes slightly overlap. The back is straight but not rigid. The settled form of seiza arose with the spread of tatami. In the Edo period it became a samurai habit, a sign of obedience, and spread widely around the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. In Japanese martial arts seiza is the starting position for the bow zarei and the meditation mokuso, and kendo, aikido and iaido are practised from it. In aikido one also moves kneeling, and knee-walking is called shikko. Long sitting in seiza presses on nerves and vessels, causing tingling and numbness in the legs.
Relations to other terms
See also
The bow and respect in general in Japanese martial arts. One bows standing (ritsurei) and kneeling (zarei) on entering the dojo, to a partner and to the teacher.
Mokuso黙想Brief silent meditation in seiza at the start and end of training, literally “silent contemplation”. It is ended by the command mokuso yame.
Reiho礼法A set of rules of proper conduct, literally “law of respect”. In the martial arts it governs bowing, sitting, dressing and the handling of weapons.