Stylized movements carried out in scenes of fighting with swords and hand-to-hand fighting are called Tachimawari. Tachimawari are sometimes staged as one against one, but in many cases, large numbers of supporting actors called Karami, playing the roles of soldiers or torite (policemen), challenge an actor in a leading role called Shin. A series of flowing movements is performed in synchronization with the Geza-ongaku (backstage music), and the Shin does a Mie (pose) at each important point. When a Karami is cut or thrown, he does a somersault called Tombo. All of these movements are designed for each production by the Tateshi actor, according to the role performed by the Shin and his likes and dislikes.
Tachimawari is also sometimes incorporated into Buyo works. This type of Tachimawari is called Shosadate, and is expressed by movements more closely synchronized with the music than are those of ordinary Tachimawari.