Maai | |||||
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Japanese name | |||||
Kanji | 間合い | ||||
Hiragana | まあい | ||||
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Maai (間合い), translating simply "interval", is a Japanese martial arts term referring to the space between two opponents in combat; formally, the "engagement distance".
The concept of maai incorporates not just the distance between opponents, but also the time taken to cross the distance and the angle and rhythm of attack; collectively, these all factor in to the exact position from which one opponent can strike other – e.g., a faster opponent's maai is farther away than a slower opponent.
It is ideal for one opponent to maintain maai while preventing the other from doing so,[2] meaning that they can strike before the opponent can, rather than both striking simultaneously, or being struck without being able to strike back.