間合い

間合い（まあい）とは
剣道では向かい合った相手との距離のことを「間合い」と言います。
「間合いを詰める」「間合いが近すぎる」というように、頻繁に使われます。
間合いが遠ければ踏み込んでも相手に竹刀がとどかないし、近すぎては相手から打たれる危険があります。
間合いの基本になるのは「一足一刀（いっそくいっとう）の間合い」です。これは一歩踏み込めば相手に竹刀が届く距離のことです。
一足一刀の間合いは、その人の体格や跳躍力などによって違います。自分の「一足一刀の間合い」をつかむために、練習中に打ち込む位置を変えて確認しましょう。
そうすれば間合いの感覚を体で覚えることができ、試合でも一足一刀の間合いから、いい技を出すことができるようになります。

In Kendo, the distance between yourself and your opponent is called ma-a-i.
This term is frequently used, as in the phrases such as "narrowing the ma-a-i" and "ma-a-i is too close."
When the ma-a-i is too far, your shinai will not reach your opponent even if you step forward.
When the ma-a-i is too close, you can be hit by the opponent.
The basic of ma-a-i is "issoku ittou no ma-a-i (ma-a-i of one-step, one-strike)," which means the distance in which your shinai will reach your opponent just when you take one step forward.
The actual distance of "issoku-ittou no ma-a-i" can vary, depending on how big your body is, how much you can jump, etc. Confirm your own appropriate "issoku issou no ma-ai," by trying a variety of distance during the practice. Through such practice, you will become able to master the sense of taking appropriate distance, and to make good moves during the Kendo matches.

[Translated by Yujiro and Mayu Nakano]