Waki-gamae is a stance involving the swordsman hiding the length of one's own blade behind their body, only exposing the pommel to the opponent.

It also serves to conceal the orientation of the blade to one's opponent, as to give him no hint about your own intention for the next attack.

Other Koryū schools may define "Waki-gamae" differently from its current form in Kendo.

Waki-gamae is also known as the Kamae of Metal (金の構, kin-no-kamae) in the five elements classification and the Light Stance (陽の構, yō-no-kamae) in the Ittō-ryū teachings.

Coda Lunga (long tail) refers to postures where the sword is held to the outside of the knee.