Kendo and Injuries/Knee Problems

[tanizaki]

Hi,

I have practiced Aikido since 1987 and I am in my 40's. I have some questions about Kendo and injuries:

1) How hard is Kendo on the knees ? I've had knee surgery. I still practice Aikido, but I'm starting to get a little more pain in my knees. The ukemi and suwariwaza can be stressful on the joints.

2) What are the typical types of injuries (bumps, bruises, etc.) that can occur in Kendo.

Thank you !

:wink:

[Neil Gendzwill]

1) How hard is Kendo on the knees ? I've had knee surgery. I still practice Aikido, but I'm starting to get a little more pain in my knees. The ukemi and suwariwaza can be stressful on the joints.

2) What are the typical types of injuries (bumps, bruises, etc.) that can occur in Kendo.

1 - not too bad, most of the people I know with bad knees don't have a problem with kendo. Many of them can't do seiza due to limited range of motion but we just modify the positition to suit them. I suggest you try it - the worst risk is the stomping attack called "fumikomi" which is a lunge where all your weight lands strongly on your right foot. But the leg is straight and the knee is bent. There is little chance of sideways or twisting stress on the joint. If this stomp is not workable for you, there is alternate footwork.

2 - A fair number of mild bruises to the forearm and side of chest from missed cuts is the most common thing. Sometimes people get a badly bruised heel from poor technique on the stomp, cured easily by rest. The most common serious injury is torn achilles' tendon, which can be prevented by proper stretching. Another common injury is plantar fascitus, you can find discussions of pf here. Overall kendo is a very safe sport, our club has seen only one serious injury in over 20 years of operation.

[Old Warrior]

At last, a topic I can address as one with modest knowledge. I have 55 year old knees, overused from European fencing and one torn to bits in a motorcycle accident (acl, mcl and meniscus). Since you always face your opponents square shouldered, and all cuts come from the centerline, all you need is modest fleexion and extention. I am exempted from sitting in seiza and I can only sonkyo on some days. Everyone knows its not a matter of lack of respect but a real physical limitation.

I have never missed a class due to knee problems. I wear two good braces to prevent my doing something stupid. Since I do nito (2 swords) I get sore elbows but even that is bearable. In sum, I find Kendo to be old warrior friendly. The bruises from getting hit are minor and the initial foot problems (blistering) go away in a few months.

[Nishi]

1) How hard is Kendo on the knees ? I've had knee surgery. I still practice Aikido, but I'm starting to get a little more pain in my knees. The ukemi and suwariwaza can be stressful on the joints.


Suwariwaza is evil, ive done aikido (although not to your extent), and although ive more or less just turned 30, my knees where getting worn down by suwarigeiko...we have nothing in kendo that is this evil. I suppose after 30-40 years of sonkyo there is a certain amount of wear and tear on the knees but as the above have pointed out, there is nothing in kendo that cant be altered to suit commited kenshi,

[kendomushi]

When I started kendo over 10 years ago, I would fall over every time I did sonkyo and seiza was next to impossible for me. I had surgery on one knee, bone spurs on both, and years of damage playing american football on school and semi pro teams. I had to wear braces on both knees just to function and at the end of the day, could hardly move.
Now, I never wear braces or supports, I can sit in seiza longer than anyone I know, and only once in a while do I feel my balance slipping away in sonkyo. In short, kendo has strengthened my knees. One of the many reasons I'm happy I took it up. Oh, I'll be 40 this coming may.

[kawa]

Turning 31 soon, with ACL surgery on both knees (left 1997 right 2002), so far so good. But once a while feels stiff, a little stretch goes a long way.