Kamae
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Kamae (構え:かまえ?) is a Japanese term used in martial arts. It translates approximately to "posture".
Kamae is to be differentiated from the word tachi (立ち:たち?), used in Japanese martial arts to mean "stance." While tachi (or dachi (だち?) when used in a compound) refers to the position of the body from the waist down, kamae refers to the posture of the entire body, as well as encompassing one's mental posture (i.e., one's attitude).
Although it is technically a generic term, many modern styles use kamae as the name of a specific posture; usually that style's basic stance for sparring or self defense.
As a further note, adding the modifier te to the end of kamae makes it the command for "assume the position" (構えて:かまえて). Thus, a karate instructor ordering his students to assume a front stance might shout, "Zenkutsu dachi... kamaete!"
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