tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380831531289624078.post8704916891904336192..comments2024-02-12T08:46:26.595+00:00Comments on Shugyo: Return to the keyboardAndy Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487592175723217904noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380831531289624078.post-57471907809740641702012-04-19T09:53:40.693+01:002012-04-19T09:53:40.693+01:00Hi David
Regarding the toes and feet I have disco...Hi David<br /><br />Regarding the toes and feet I have discovered for myself a few bits and pieces:<br /><br />1. They need to be "manually" stretched before training i.e. sitting down and using your hands to wiggle and stretch each toe for about 30 seconds each. When the toes are bent forwards then I give a little massage to the top of the toe where the tendons become a bit tight.<br />2. The toes get "cold" i.e. tight very easily and quickly when they are not being used. If I move from tate hiza kata to standing kata for just a few minutes then they often need another little massage and stretch before doing tate hiza again.<br />3. I have a complete hip to toe stretch routine which I will try to get into the next blog as it requires graphics.<br />4. A physio friend of mine recommended practicing picking up tissues with my toes when sitting down at home. I haven't tried this yet in case there are any hidden cameras in my house but I understand that it builds up important strength in the delicate muscles in the feet and toes.<br /><br />I do believe that just as many martial artists use stretches to develop long term strength and flexibility in muscles (and to a lesser degree in joints) that the feet are of utmost importance to do the same in iaido. No other martial art or sport that I know of puts as wide a range of stresses on the feet. We should consider these leg-ends to be the most important part of our body in iaido IMHO.<br /><br />Regarding the hakama length, this was a bit of crass comment after last year's iaido grading (or massacre as it has become to be known). If the kendo regulation is that the hakama should end at the ankle bone then it is the same as iai. A couple of things to consider though:<br />1. I think a lot of kendoka, for very good reasons, wear their hakama slightly higher off the foot. With the very sharp movements in various directions in kendo I guess it is very important that it doesn't get caught up in the feet.<br />2. When doing iaido, the performance of the katas with a sword weighing down on one side only, as well as the saya being pulled around inside the obi tends to a) drop the hakama down during training and b) drop it more on the left hand side. With this in mind I think that the hakama length needs to be considered, measured and cut within 5mm accuracy (ish) - especially if one's grading depends on it.<br /><br />Hope that helps.<br /><br />AndyAndy Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487592175723217904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380831531289624078.post-45563076258665989842012-04-19T01:14:13.236+01:002012-04-19T01:14:13.236+01:00Hi Andy,
Do you have any tips on developing flexi...Hi Andy,<br /><br />Do you have any tips on developing flexibility of the toes and feet?<br /><br />Also, can you clarify shortening the hakama? Is the guideline for hakama in iaido same as kendo? Or shorter?DCPanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01564348482059176164noreply@blogger.com