means "doing/receiving sword" and is one of the two roles in

kata ''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practiced in Japanese martial arts ...

budō is a Japanese language, Japanese term describing modern Japanese martial arts. It is commonly translated as "Martial Way", or the "Way of Martial Arts". Etymology is a compound of the root ( or ; ), meaning "war" or "martial"; and ( or ; ), ...

and bujutsu, the other being uchidachi (打太刀).Uchidachi & Shidachi
by Nishioka Tsune
Koryu Books
1999.
by Kendovereniging Shinbukan.Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu. The Origin of Samurai-Swordsmanship from KASHIMA SHRINE, The God of BUSHIDO KASHIMA - A Symbol of Justice by the Sword.
by Masaru Iwasa. Japan
SAMURAI-BUSHIDO SOCIETY
2005, hardcover. . Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage Ryū 鹿島神傳直心影流 by Yamada Jirōkichi 山田次朗吉. Suishinsha, hardcover, 1927. In modern

Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords ( shinai) as well as protective armor ( bōgu). It began as samurai warriors' customary swordsmanship ex ...

this is normally written .松延・山崎・野島 atsunobu, Yamazaki & Nojima��剣道」図解コーチ(27) eibido Sports Series 27: Kendo成美堂出版 eibido publishing 1989, 東京 okyo This

role A role (also rôle or social role) is a set of connected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms as conceptualized by people in a social situation. It is an expected or free or continuously changing behavior and may have a given indi ...

which does a technique and is best described as an adolescent

child A child () is a human being between the stages of childbirth, birth and puberty, or between the Development of the human body, developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking ...

(or disciple) whose goal is to eagerly acquire the skills presented by uchidachi's technique. Shidachi is led by uchidachi who provides a true attack; this allows shidachi to learn correct body displacement, combative distancing, proper spirit, and the perception of opportunity. Unfortunately, students often act as though they want to test their skills against those of the higher-ranked uchidachi. They consider this competition to be their practice. In fact, this leads to neither better technique, nor greater spiritual development, because the correct relationship between uchidachi and shidachi has been obscured. Especially during the parts of a kata with identical movements or intensely linked movements, shidachi will move like a shadow of uchidachi, neither being ahead of the movement, nor lagging behind.

References

{{reflist Japanese martial arts terminology