Kamaete
構えて
The command “take your guard”. In karate the instructor or referee uses it to call on practitioners to move into the fighting position kamae.
Quick Facts
Term typeCommand and signal
LanguageJapanese
Formcommand (imperative)
Pronunciation[kah-mah-eh-teh]
Alternative Namesinto guard
Readings and romanizations
Reading (kana)かまえて
Hepburn romanizationkamaete
Word breakdown
Definition
Kamaete (構えて) is the imperative form of the verb kamaeru, to take a position, and means “take your guard”. In karate and other Japanese arts it is the command on which practitioners move from the starting stance into the fighting position kamae, for example before practising kumite or before a series of techniques in kihon. The command is related to the noun kamae, guard, from which it derives. After kamaete the command hajime, begin, usually follows.