New to Kendo, and new to here

[Denker]

Hello, I'm new to the forum, and it feels great to be here!

I started Kendo two weeks ago, and I've had three lessons so far. It's a lot of fun, and I'm having a great time with it. I do have one concern however.

After every lesson, my left ankle has been really stiff and sore, and it lasts a few days. Is this normal, and will I get used to it? Or is it bad, and something I should be wary of? Thanks in advance for your reply!

[stuartwilson]

If it's getting better after a few days, it's probably not serious. But keep tabs on it.

[Anime12478]

When you start Kendo, expect many muscles that you never knew existed to hurt. As stuartwilson said, you shouldn't worry about it if it feels better after a few days. I don't know what the problem might be, but you could try relaxing. Stay firm, but don't tense up cause that would cause you to tire easily, namely your ankle.

[Richiro]

Aloha Brahddah. An da ankle, ho bra jus soak um in sum hot wata and dey will fell mo betta.

[Pan-Chan]

Also, it would probably be good to stretch your ankles by rotating them clockwise and counter-clockwise. It is good to keep the blood flowing through them.

I hope you have a great time with Kendo! :D

[Richiro]

Seriously just soak your foot in some hot water.

[Denker]

Hey, thanks guys.

I took a nice long, very hot shower, and my ankle felt quite a bit better.

Yeah, stretching my ankles might be a good idea, they've given me troubles throughout weight training. Squats have never been fun, I assure you.

I'm not quite sure how to actively keep my ankles from tensing up. There are times when they're really tense; I can tell because they get very tired very quickly, and there are time that it feels like they aren't really tensed, but are firmly in place. It's something I do unconsciously, I'll have to pay attention to that.

Thanks again for the advice!

[Kyuuketsuki]

It is as good for kendo as it is for every other sport!!!
When you stretch befor practice, you prepare your body to move, after the practice, is to relax your muscles.
Remember that you'll never ever overstretch, it is never too much stretching. As long as you don't stretch over your own body limits.

Chill out.

[ISSAC RU]

don't wear underwear during pracitce ..
when u leave everything behind its just pure kendo...

[Denker]

Not sure how I should reply to that...

[Optomitrist]

I have learned that the best no komi-e stance involves little stress on any muscles. You should try not to have anything tensed. Relax shoulders and legs. Stand up as straight as bosible and check your feet. The only reason you might be having pain in ancle is because of the way the kendoka leans on teh left foot in komi-e. This will go away as you get used to it and learn to relax. be supple as a baby.

[DanDan]

o that happened to me when i started as well. it should go away. it's probably just that ur muscles arent used to it. train hard!

[Denker]

My muscles are used to hard work. I've done weight training for the past four years. Really, all the muscles sore from Kendo have been FAR more sore before. I've had trouble with my ankles in the past, I remember my doctor mentioning something called Hyper Reflexia, not sure if that was it though, where the muscles were really tense in my ankles.

Now, could my weight have something to do without? I'm 5'9", and weigh about 210. I've been losing weight steadily, however, so perhaps it will get better in time?

[Denker]

Now here's one of those funny coincidences:

Earlier today, I should say yesterday at this point, I was talking to my mom about Kendo, and how I was getting better at it. No sooner had I brought up footwork, did I jam my heel against one of our walls. That ended the conversation on Kendo, and had me hopping about a bit.

Now, several hours later, it hurts to walk normally. I find myself having to walk with my heel raised off the ground (My left heel, that is.) It's things like this that make you not want to express the urge to get used to something . . . It may happen, but in a rather unhappy fashion.

[nalogg]

I have horrible horrible ankles

(ruined from twisting them during my highschool skateboarding years)

some things that help me:

-stretching (do the achilles tendon stretch)
-jumping on the spot (do about 50 jumps off the balls of your feet)
-power walk (it sounds silly, but it gets those ankles loose)

and the best one that will help you the most

-just keep practicing zenshin-kotai (coasting along in kamae like a little tug boat around the room)

you'll always be feeling some discomfort after a good practice though so don't get too worried
embrace the pain