大東流・Daito-ryu / Six Principles of Training / Maai

Overview

In this video, Mark (the presenter) explains the third principle in Kondo Kashi Ki Sensei’s “Six Principles of Training,” focused on maai (often translated as distance or interval in combative situations).

He begins with a full reading of the text, then breaks it down sentence by sentence.

Core Ideas: What Maai Means

• Maai is physical distance between things, but it’s more than a simple “far vs. close” concept.
• Maai is also understood as space-time—how quickly an opponent can move, access movement, and (if applicable) draw or use weapons or secondary tools.
• Maai often determines outcomes in combat more than many other factors, because it can change suddenly. Someone may believe they have the advantage, but a small shift in distance can flip that advantage.

Perception and Deception

The concept involves deception/perception:

• You don’t only manage your own distance.
• You also shape what distance your opponent believes is safe or advantageous, so they misjudge the range and situation.

Maai Beyond Unarmed Grappling

While Daito-ryu studies maai in terms of striking and grappling, the instructor emphasizes that it should also be considered when:

• weapons are present or accessible, not only in unarmed contexts.

Kata Training: Distance Must Continue After the Technique

In kata training, distance management doesn’t end when a technique is applied. Practitioners must maintain awareness after the action by:

• keeping zanshin (continued presence/awareness),
• avoiding immediate relaxation after completion,
• continuing to manage the gap so the opponent can’t quickly respond or attack again.

Common Training Mistakes

He highlights a frequent issue in dojo practice:

• Students often keep their focus until the technique finishes, then loosen their attention, failing to preserve effective distance and responsiveness.

Broader Importance in Martial Arts and Dojo Practice

• Maai is pervasive across most combat-oriented martial arts.
• In dojo training, it also includes awareness of surroundings (e.g., walls, furniture, obstacles) to prevent accidents or loss of balance.

Closing Note: Next Principle

He concludes that the next episode will cover kuzushi.

Presenters / Sources (as stated)

• Mark (video presenter)
• Kondo Kashi Ki Sensei (author/source of the “Six Principles of Training”)
• Daito-ryu / Daito-ryu teachings (context of the maai principle)
• Derek Steele (translator, as mentioned for the English translation of the text)