| Pic: | EigaKamae-wiki.jpg |
| Piccap: | Brandon Japanese: Harada (Sho-Tokyo Dojo)|italic=no in transition from Japanese: Itto-ma to Japanese: Chikama against Japanese: [[Eiga Naoki]]|italic=no in Japanese: chūdan-no-[[kamae]] (on the right). Demonstration at Japanese: Mori Hai|italic=no Memorial Tournament, Jan 29, 2006, Norwalk, California. |
| Kanji: | 間合い |
| Hiragana: | まあい |
| Revhep: | maai |
, 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 Japanese: 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 Japanese: maai is farther away than a slower opponent.
It is ideal for one opponent to maintain Japanese: maai while preventing the other from doing so,[1] meaning that they can strike before the opponent can, rather than both striking simultaneously, or being struck without being able to strike back.
In kendo, Japanese: maai has a more specific interpretation. In physical terms, it pertains to the distance maintained between two opponents. When Japanese: maai is interpreted as the actual distance between opponents, there are three types:[2] [3]
Japanese: Itto-ma is the distance equaling one step to make one strike. It measures about two metres between opponents; from which either need advance only one step in order to strike the other. Normally, most techniques are initiated at this distance. Japanese: Chika-ma is the distance narrower than Japanese: Itto-ma (short/close distance), and Japanese: Tō-ma is greater (long/far distance). At Japanese: Tō-ma, there is a small margin of time to allow for a reaction to be made against an opponent's attack. But at Japanese: Issoku itto-no-ma there exists almost no margin at all, so that at this distance one's attention has to remain constantly alert and unbroken.
In terms of time, Japanese: maai pertains to the momentary lapses of awareness that are manifested in the opponent's mind. Extended further, it also embraces the concept of Japanese: Kyo-jitsu (emptiness-fullness of Japanese: [[Qi|Ki]]). These momentary lapses of mind, and Japanese: Kyo-jitsu, are known as the Japanese: [[:wikt:kokoro|kokoro]]-no-maai (mental interval). The implication of Japanese: kokoro-no-maai is that although the physical distance between opponents may be mutually advantageous, the mental interval possessed by individuals will determine who will have the decisive advantage.[4]