Perfect suri ashi?

[StylophonePet]

Is there such a thing?
I've been watching other kenshi, trying to pick up a pointer here and there, and noticed that even high grade kenshi don't get it quite right. I've seen feet in line, angled left feet etc.etc.....

Might sound a bit insulting, but I assure everyone, it is not intended.

How long does it take before you do good suri ashi? 5 years? 10 years?
20 years? 50 years?

Might sound like a stupid question, but it just makes me wonder

[Charlie]

I don't know the answer, but I have heard some sensei say that your footwork can become individualized to an extent. That is, within the framework of tsuri-ashi, there's room for a little individuality. I've noticed this, too - sometimes a left heel edges inward, sometimes the feet seem too close together or too far apart. But, like I said, either it's a bad habit (even sensei has them!) or there's room for indivisuality on that aspect.

Your thoughts?

[Hongsermeier]

I think Charlie's right. Every person is a little different. The basic move is the same. I know mine is different because of my *#&$^% up knee. I'm sure Old Warrior's is also a little different for the same reason. :cross_eye

[Neil Gendzwill]

Footwork is something everyone struggles with. People trying higher dan often have to revisit their footwork and correct it as it has drifted over the years. Common bad habits include a twisted left foot, left heel raised too high and stance too long. The latter two are more serious problems. Most people have a slightly twisted left foot, so long as it isn't too twisted and isn't being rotated during the motion it's not really a problem.

Currently trying to get my left heel down and shorten up my stance...

[Charlie]

I see some of these things in championship shiai from the best fencers in kendo, and wonder about it! I wonder if some of these don't creep in when one is trying to win in shiai...

[Hongsermeier]

Many things creep in during shiai. There is so much to concentrate on you sometimes let little things slip some. :cross_eye

[Charlie]

True! Or, in your effort to get your point, you let things that might seem good for shiai happen. Like, sometimes I see one of my mentors turn his heel inward when he is really chasing someone or reversing directions after a hiki attack, you know?

Just thinking out loud... Of course my own footwork is flawless. ;D

[StylophonePet]

Great replies
I guess it's hard to watch where your feet are going when you should be watching the other guy's shinai

Having the left heal to high is quite stressfull for your achilles tendons,
have the same problem

[William Honda]

You should not be watching the other guy’s shinai.

I don’t know if you meant it figuratively or literally. So…I said it.

[StylophonePet]

Neither, but you can't see your feet if you keep your head level and try to see the whole picture - metsuke
Or this my mistake?

[Nishi]

Originally posted by StylophonePet
How long does it take before you do good suri ashi? 5 years? 10 years?
20 years? 50 years?


When i asked how long it would take before my footwork became more fluid a managable i was told "How long is a piece of string?".

Now i fumikomi to the shop, okuri ashi-from the stove to the fridge, and practice kamae when standing there doing nothing. I also take two pens and fence with them at work when im bored...
Pathetic???mabye, but my footwork is managable my stance is balanced and quicker (than it was)....my point is, its up to you. The dojos not the only place to train.
______________________________
save the comments, i realise i'm pathetic :D
http://kendo.fotopic.net/photo.php?id=687951

[D'Artagnan]

"The dojos not the only place to train." -Nishi

I definately agree

There are four of us who practice kendo (Me, My Girlfriend, Her Brother, and Her Father) this gives us excellent opportunities for private training, infact not long ago we were 'encouraged' to leave the pub as we were fencing with steak knives.

[samurai999]

Originally posted by StylophonePet
Is there such a thing?
I've been watching other kenshi, trying to pick up a pointer here and there, and noticed that even high grade kenshi don't get it quite right. I've seen feet in line, angled left feet etc.etc.....


"perfection is in the eyes of the beholder" applies to kendo even more so. I have been told 2 or 3 different ways to do the nana-hon-me kata and all of the sensei that showed it to me told me that their method was the absolute correct way. Try to grab similarites between sensei and work it in your own way. If you are asking if there is some standard out there, it is described in IKF books about kendo probably. But the variations are so many that you have to determine (on day of taikai or shinsa) what you should and shouldn't do.

My $0.02 (US),
Tim

[S. Takamori]

Hey, StylophonePet, where are you during the teaching with Hirakawa sensei??? He's in Belgium since beginning of June now, and I'm not sure to have seen you at the dojo... maybe there you can learn about ashi sabaki...

[justforkendo]

Perfect suri ashi. I believe is possible if you train from a young age and have on sensei that keeps on your back till you get it right. Miyazaki sensei the former all japan winner has in my opinion perfect suri ashi. Try to see it on video sometime. The way to practice is it go up and down the dojo doing suri ashi slow and correct and as fast as you can while trying to keep it correct. This practice might not give you perfect suri ashi, but if you do it you can only improve.

[Chook]

not long ago we were 'encouraged' to leave the pub as we were fencing with steak knives.

LOL - I know the feeling. I seem to end up doing Kendo in carparks, for some reason.

[Nabeel]

Well my last practice was a nightmare. I in my attempts to slide (suri ashi), I couldn't do it and ended having to drag my feet as it seems to have too much friction. I tripped up so much that my stance collasped, my 'cuts' went all over the place and I got sapped quickly. This just further proves to everyone the importance of footwork.

Anyone got any other pointers for suri ashi? What I got from my instructer is to align the left toe and right heel, horizontal distance between left and right feet not too small and big, lift left heel and right heel slightly and bend both knees slightly. More weight on left feet then right. Push off with the left foot and slide.

The problem I face is that when I try to slide either feet across the floor it always feels as if theres too much friction, and when I try to drag them along anyway I trip. Any help?

[Nabeel]

oops just realised this is called okuri ashi. Sorry, my bad, I'll move this to another thread.

[neko kenshi]

I have a quick question. Partly as habit, and partly as preference, I keep the distance between my feet (not the length, but the width) smaller than most people. Like instead of having my feet be say / / they are / /. I feel like it keeps me faster and more agile. I also hear it hurts your stability, though I've never had a problem with that. My question is, is it bad that my feet are like that? Thanks for any feedback you could give me on this.

[neko kenshi]

Odly, It won't let me change it back, but those slashes, the first one is supposed to have two spaces between them, sorry. I hope that will help it make more sense.