Standing and Sitting (Tachikata and Suwarikata, 立ち方・座り方)
In aikido, even the simple acts of standing up and sitting down have meaning. They are part of etiquette, and they are also practice in moving without wasted motion.
Standing Up
Standing up. 1 Seiza → 2 Tuck the toes under (kiza) → 3 Raise one knee → 4 Stand up → 5 Draw the back foot in to finish
- Begin sitting in seiza.
- Tuck the toes of both feet under and sit on your heels. This is called kiza (跪座).
- Draw one knee back slightly as you raise the other knee. It does not matter which knee you raise.
- Stand straight up.
- Draw the back foot in beside the front foot to finish.
Sitting Down
Sitting down. 1 Stand upright → 2 Step one foot back → 3 Lower the knee into a one-knee-up position → 4 Draw the raised foot back into kiza → 5 Lay the toes flat into seiza
To sit down, simply reverse the way you stand up.
- Begin standing upright.
- Step one foot back. Again, either foot is fine.
- Lower that knee to the floor so that you are kneeling with one knee raised.
- Draw the foot of the raised knee back to make kiza.
- Lay the toes of both feet flat and sit in seiza.
Last updated November 1, 2026 · This book continues to be revised after publication.
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