Just had first practice: Are my feet supposed to feel this way?

[New Guy]

Ahh....my first lesson. Really enjoyable, working on the basics, nothing complicated, got yelled at for stepping over my bokken during a stretch, but that's all right. Now I'll know not to do it next time. But now my forearms ache, and the balls of my feet hurt as well. Is this normal, then? Also, how much did you guys practice per week at my level? Just want to know that...In any case, I hope to be there next week, ready for my next practice.

[berghaan]

perfectly normal eventually it gets less painfull :)

oh and welcome ;)

[midnightdawn]

You are just working new muscles that you haven't worked before, or in awhile. The pain will subside eventually as you get stronger.

I say you should have at least one or two practices in of your own.

I, myself, have stepped up and basically do some sort of practice everyday, and days I at least don't get some subari practice in, I hit the gym for running and weight lifiting. After my watching my first tournament, I got super inspired to go work as hard as I could so I could earn armor as soon as possible.

[emitbrownne]

Welcome :)

Ive been training for about 20 months now and more often than not I still ache.
This week is going to be especially bad because I've been on holiday and have not really excersised for two and a half weeks.
My legs are wrecking from just going into sonkyo at last sundays training... :(

At your level.. dont over do it. Stick to one class a week. Once you get so the initial soreness is no longer there then bump it up to 2 lessons a week, then the blisters will start properly... then re-evaluate :) IMHO

good luck and enjoy

[Andoy]

Haha don't worry about it it's ok. Your forearms and feet will develop in no time. I've been doing kendo for 3years now and i've got to say that my forearms have gotten prety big! To the point where they're actually bigger than bicep/triceps :ermm: . oh well it's ok. Personally I thought the first couple of classes were tough, because you're learning not only basic stuff, but etiquette as well. But don't worry and keep up the good work!

Oh when i first started out I practiced 3 times a week and contine to do so today.

[nodachi]

Also for feet hurting, if it ain't a blistery skin issue, make sure you aren't putting 100% of your weight one one particular foot. That will make the balls of your feet hurt too.

[akacz]

heheh dont worry about your feets i have been training for 2 years now and i have the same thing with my feets. It is normal. But about your arms. If they hurt this mean that you are putting to much strenght in holding the sword. Try to loose your arms, and when you are making a hit try to work with your lower body parts not the arms.

[redwing]

Hi. I saw here some good advises so I decide to add something new. I´m practicing Kendo for two months. I have trainings once a week with my kenshi but trust me, it is far away from enough. I practise every day at least two hours (I change it with Iaido). First month was painfull. I had blister on my right foot, then on my left foot and meanwhile few blebs on my left hand. Now I have blebs over blebs on my left hand. Right on the place where ends bokken or shinai. I tought that sparing bokken for a shinai is a solution. I was wrong. With shinai you get the right weight into your hand but the blebs are even more painfull. So here is my advise: When you had problems with foots you should wear tabi or at least socks for a while. Your sensei should allow you this. (for a while!). Against my left hand blebs I use simple glove (fitness glove will do). I talk about it with my sensei. When I´m practicing at home and have problem with blebs (when it hurts) I put on glove and keeping practicing. On the trainning I do not dare to use a glove. And by the way, blebs on the right place is a sign that you are really practicing. And as said my sensei : don´t worry, there will be more of them.
One last thing: here also work the same old saying: NO PAIN - NO GAIN!
Write sometime, I see that we are on same level with same problems :nervous:

[Shiro]

perfectly normal, welcome to kendo! :)

[Nanbanjin]

Keep up the good work. Your feet will of course get used to kendo.
Please try and practice suburi or even just footwork every day.

[Foreigner]

yep its gonna hurt a bit....but no pain no gain

[samurai999]

Ahh....my first lesson. Really enjoyable, working on the basics, nothing complicated, got yelled at for stepping over my bokken during a stretch, but that's all right. Now I'll know not to do it next time. But now my forearms ache, and the balls of my feet hurt as well. Is this normal, then? Also, how much did you guys practice per week at my level? Just want to know that...In any case, I hope to be there next week, ready for my next practice.

Good! You are on your way young skywalker... errr wrong scenrio. As my sensei asked my on my first day.. "where are you feet blistered? If you are blistered on your toes or on the sides of your feet, you are doing your suri-ashi wrong!". If the blister is in the center, you are doing it correctly in other words. I usually practice 2x a week. 1x doesn't do it for me.. The first practice of the week is always my worst.

Tim

[Gen'ei]

Yes this is all true the muscles that you have never used will be a bit painful but it will soon be over. The upcoming tournaments will be the awakening for your killer instinct for you then you will be ready to learn the full amount of power the warrior with in your inner dragons heart.

Jama ta a to de: Gen'ei Ryusaki