Kneepads?

[CypherSushi]

Is it common anywhere else but here to use kneepads when training the seiza forms in Iaido?

I went and bought a pair and since then I can actually do the seiza forms more than once per class.

So... am I unusually weak or is this a common practice?

[alexpollijr]

That's very common.
Even my japanese sensei uses them when he has to do long practice. I never had this problem, I have a tough pair of knees.

[Jerry Wellbrock]

Cyphersushi.....I think it is common to use kneepads....I wear them on a regular basis for iaido practice.....after 30 years of karate training and other arts there has been a fair amount of wear to my knees.....I am hoping of at least another 30 years of karate kendo and iaido which I am currently practicing....injury prevention is most important and often the floors we train on are not the smoothest.....I am interested in other replies to this....excellent question in that many may not have thought of wearing them....Jerry:p

[chidokan]

I use those shin/ankle ones, cut the elastic at the top and pull them over my knees. They seem to last longer for some reason. There is a negative side, if you dont suffer a little pain you will not learn to take the weight off your left knee and use your hara correctly, so if you can do a couple of waza without them sometime during the session it would be a good idea....

Tim Hamilton

[CypherSushi]

and even if the floor is smooth, getting a small wrinkle in your hakama just where you put the weight on the knee can result in pretty big bruises.

I am glad that I am not the only one to use'em... My knees feel so much better now. Our Iaidopractices are on the days after eachother so the knees don't get a chance to recouperate after each traing without the pads.

Thanks for the replies.

[Confound]

My sensei uses one on his left knee, but I don't. Probably because I'm too cheap, and I don't mind the pain.

c

[roar]

yoga is sometimes refered to as "the way of pain", but for Iaido I think another approach is more fruitful. There are so many things to have in mind/body, that your awareness and martial focus will suffer if you have something like sore knees dominating your mind. It tends to lock your mind, just like a too heavy sword will steal your attention and make the overall picture suffer. If your knees hurt, use kneepads. Dont let cronic kneeproblems end your iaido-career. Too many has gone down that road.
Perseverance is a virtue, adding useless stress to your body is plain stupidity. If you practise iaido regularly, the knees will undergo some exhaustion even if you wear kneepads. Boys in the early twentys tend too put a certain manly virtue to undergoing physical pain in the martial arts, until they one day doesnt show up for practise. Why risk becoming one of them?
I prefer two kneepads, just one disrupts the balance in seiza a little bit. If your teacher wont let you use kneepads, I would keep the kneepads and find a new teacher
:rolleyes:

[Hyaku]

I have had knee injuries through over working the joint. Mostly caused because I was not wearing any pads. The main reason I wear them is to prevent injury. Just the neoprene ones. They support and warm the joint as well as give it protection and don't disrupt the balance.

I suppose another factor is what kind of floor do we have to practice on? I am indeed fortunate enough to have a purpose built dojo floor.

Hyaku

[Confound]

My sensei encourages me to use kneepads, however I have a high pain tolerance. It doesn't distract me from practice.

c

[chidokan]

saw a nice variation at this years seminar. A guy from finland had an old pair of karate bottoms folded up just below the knee and stuck some pieces of carpet underlay down where he had folded them up and stitched. They looked loose and comfortable and shouldnt dig in behind the knee like pads do... I'm going to try it anyway...

Tim Hamilton

[Confound]

After reading Hyaku's post again, and having a talk with my sensei (who is a doctor coincidentally) and having a typhoon remind me that the aches in my knees could become permanent, I have switched to using a thick kneepad on my left leg for now.

The jury is still out on whether the right knee will be encased in white foam and spandex. Though it could just be the newness of the support, or the muscles on my legs, I do find that there is a little bit of restriction in blood flow while wearing the knee pad. This bothers me a bit.

c

[rottunpunk]

hello im new...
what kind of pad are you using?
if it is possible-try cutting a circle out of the part which goes behind the knee-that seemed to help for a friend of mine

:p

[CypherSushi]

Actually I have that problem too... I will try to cut out a piece to see if it gets any better.

[roar]

one of my fellow iaidokas have bought budo-specific kneepads from www.bestkneepads.com. These pads seem to function excellent, as the padding is rather hard, and the straps are made in a way that will not narrow the bloodflow in the legs as much as ordinary sportpads.

[Hyaku]

If you use the wetsuit type neoprene pads the back of the leg is not a problem.

Hyaku

[Dobedog]

Now, I on the other hand NEVER use pads! Whimps! :-)
I just have also never done iaido on a hard floor. We practice on a padded judo floor, or in my home workout room which is firmly, but nicely padded for gymnastics = NO stress on knees!! (lucky me). I actually agree with the knee pads when you have a hard floor - it is foolish to ruin your knees to show how tough you are, it distracts from the important aspects of iaido.

Speaking of circulation though, how about long seiza, like in mucuso? I'm older and my ankles freeze up, not to mention the circulation. Any helpful advice?? Please?? It takes several moments to "uncramp" when I get up, which is also quite painful to do.

[rottunpunk]

um, dont sit down?

or get some new legs...

:p

[chidokan]

If you watch older Japanese sensei they rock from side to side, and sometimes put their hands under their legs. Iaido on a mat is difficult, you cannot move properly from seiza. I know, I have to use a mat as well! I just do standing waza there and basic suburi.

Rottunpunk, as the only girlie I know you can make me some of the karate bottoms (as I described above) when you come home for Xmas. It might keep you out of trouble for a while and also give me the added bonus of not having to try to teach you... silk purses and sows ears come to mind...:D

Tim Hamilton

[rottunpunk]

i cant sew-it falls apart, cuz im not a proper girlie-as you well know

besides i thought that was what the wife was for

:p

[chidokan]

Cant sew!!!??? I'll have to tell your mother. I've just passed the other comment on as well...what do you want written on your tombstone?:D

Tim Hamilton

------------------------
your pen, my sword, outside now.... Tim , this week,to a smartypants at work who thinks "the pen is mightier than the sword"is a funny thing to say to me...

[rottunpunk]

um..."killed unjustifiably by a man who obviously doesnt know what he's doing cuz he's a man, and as a result will feel the wrath of God" will do nicely...nice and catchy

:p

[roar]

kneepads?:rolleyes:

[chidokan]

she's disruptive in class as well as on message boards!
My teacher advised trying to do without for a little while each class as you learn to protect your knees as soon as it starts to hurt. Wonder if the old masters used neoprene equivalents....:D

Tim Hamilton

[webstar]

Don't leave home without them.
As a beginner the pain of kneeling on a hard surface for longer than a few minutes will completely distract you from the task in hand.
And it will make you knees turn an unsightly red!
Whether seasoned practictioners get used to this I don't know, maybe your knees will toughen up?

[Confound]

Admittedly, I've taken a 180 on the issue, but I recommend always using kneepads. Try this catchy slogan:

"Kneepads: Recommended by 99% of Miyagi-ken iaidouka! (+ or - 2% accuracy 19 times out of 20)"

c

[kendokata]

Hello All,
I always use knee pads and always tell people to use them. I never understand why you wouldn't use them on a hard floor and still don't understand why some people feel the need to prove they are tough. Then again, most of the tough people never really do it for a long time. What I mean is they try it a few times and stop altogether.
My recommendation is getting a nice pair of volleyball knee pads, they are the best made and really made for tough work.

Later
Michael Castellani