Moto-dachi

Moto-dachi (the cardinal role):

Albeit it is pronounced like a motorised Dutch, in kendo, it's the cardinal role in certain exercise patterns who sets the pace or tell the other side what type of cut they should strike.

It might seem boring to do moto-dachi, but it is an equally important part of kendo practice and good moto-dachi skill need to be acquired through good technical understanding and execution. When you are doing moto-dachi, you are still practising kendo.

Usually moto-dachi role is not attached to the grade of a player hence the role is interchangeable even if a no-grade is pairing up with an 8th-dan, except for a moto-dachi-geiko (a fixed cardinal exercise 1:1 to a queue of people - the same system as supermarket till).

In a pair formation, each side performs moto-dachi role in turn.

In a carousel formation, the side standing close to the club flag would assume the cardinal role. As the people rotate, everyone will get an even opportunity to perform the cardinal role.