Seiza (sitting)
Seiza posture is one of the most common in the Japanese martial arts, with students assuming this attitude at the beginning and end of the training session to formally bow, meditation etc. Aikido, in particular, using Seiza for basic moves to learn, a technique performed “on knee “(Suwari-waza) and many schools use Seiza Iaijutsu as a basis for the foundation.
Seiza words written with two Chinese characters, “sei” means “correct, correct, correct” (and thus can be said Tadashi, what is “right” or “appropriate”) and “Sat” meaning “posture” (written with ideograms that looks like a person sitting on the floor under one roof raised).
In Japanese culture, sitting in Seiza (kneeling, sitting at the ankle) is the most correct formal posture, beautiful, and “good”, especially when sitting inside (usually on the tatami mats).
Many people complain that Seiza make their feet “go to sleep” (known in Japan as “shibireru”), but this is likely due to the lack of proper training, weak muscles and poor circulation, not necessarily because of the position of sitting in Seiza. If one is good, one should be able to do Seiza for anything up to an hour a day without discomfort.
Seiza right, helps naturally align your body and the spine, focusing on the “center” and leads to an alert mind and body – then commonly used in meditation.
Different schools of martial arts can have slightly different versions of Seiza, but a rough guide, in Seiza is as follows:
• Sit with knees tucked under your feet, with your thumb on the left leg over the other.
• Knee one to two fists together.
• Sit with your back straight, but in a relaxed position.
• Natural Let your hands in your lap.