Kumitachi, crossing/meeting of swords, were the partnered forms practice of aikido. It tought how to alternately control the center line and move off it to avoid attacks and how to blend with an opponent's attacks. Ichi-no-tachi was the first of sword, Ni-no-tachi was the second of sword, San-no-tachi was the third, Shi-no-tachi the fourth, and Go-no-tachi the fifth.