In aikido and judo, suwariwaza techniques are performed by practitioners seated opposite to each other in the seiza position, the formal style of sitting in Japanese culture.
In iaido, a single practitioner starts in many cases from suwariwaza, and executes sword techniques from the seated stance, though not necessarily from a static and immobile position.
Suwariwaza originated in the martial culture of the samurai who were expected to respond to various attackers from the seated position, with the implication that these codified techniques helped in the improvement of body stability, the maintenance of the ki (the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese Qi), balance, and strengthening kokyu-ho (breathing power).
It forces them to learn how to throw and take down an attacker using leverage, proper breathing, and hip action leading to sliding movements that compensate for the lack of leg support and strength.
These three postural forms historically bear reference to the transitional boundaries between kenjutsu and jujutsu in Japanese sword-fighting arts, depending on the initial distance between the combatants.