physical differences

**rottunpunk** · 14th August 2006, 02:22 AM

ive been having a lot of trouble lately in standing up 'bum first' in iai
i.e at the end of a waza, or going up into the first cut in tsuki kage
its almost as if im getting up like an old woman getting out of a soft chair.
i was wondering if maybe its because:
- im a woman so move differently
- my broked knees mean that im just have to/used to getting up that way
- or im just doing it plain wrong and need to stop it (somehow) now
i think its probably the latter, but i was wondering if any of you lot have had similar experiences, whereby because wimmin are differently made up than blokes, the way they move is different.
if so what? how is it different? and if youve met a physical problem how did you adapt?
thanks in advance for any comments

**David** · 14th August 2006, 03:28 AM

Ah...I know this is the women's forum, but I'm pretty sure it's in regards to kendo only. You should probably post questions about iai in the iaido forum.

But anyways, getting to your question: I doubt it has anything to do with being male or female. Aside from males maybe having a little bit more muscle, I'm pretty sure we're all built the same in the legs. Could be wrong though.

My guess is it's either reason one or two. You should talk to your sensei about it.

**rottunpunk** · 14th August 2006, 04:15 AM

i have, hes the one i that noticed it. (if i was a bloke hed be sticking a bakken up my arse

)
women have larger thighs and bums in general.
if my bum sticks out more it may look like its dragging?
i thought about putting it in iai, but technically its a womans issue.
also i was aiming at directing the different physical issues between men and women to all arts. including kendo.
using hara for instance. our abdomen muscles are slightly different, does this effect methods used by females?

thanks for your input though david

**Alison2805** · 14th August 2006, 09:49 AM

geez David, look how many posts Rottenpunk has. I think she would know where to put a thread. And there are some big differences between guys and girls to do with hips and legs - our hips are wider and at a different angle.

What exactly do you mean by "bum first" rottenpunk? I always thought girls are more flexible than guys tho.

**rottunpunk** · 14th August 2006, 06:49 PM

hehe thanks alison. see what happens when blokes move into our territory, they get all confuzzled.

its mainly aparent after the kneely down during noto bit, where one stands up again.
aparently im getting up with my bum sticking out (and probably leaning forward with the body) instead of all straight like (its a feeling of rising up with the bum so as not to leave it behind)
i dont know if its a habit ive just caught, or one ive always had. ive just put on a load of weight, so maybe its making my waza look different. or im just being crap

**Lounge** · 14th August 2006, 07:12 PM

Hi all, my 10p worth...

When I was able to do kneeling kata (Those days gone by before my leg gave out!!) I had a similar problem and I'm a bloke so don't I know if it's a female only thing?!?! there may be other factors!!

Has your sensei/other told you about the feeling of tensing/squeezing your thighs prior to moving out of seiza and then initiate the movement by pushing up and forward with your pelvis? The same applies to the standing after noto, use your abs/pelvis to lead the movement upwards and forwards. I know it sounds silly and at first it will feel odd and look a bit wrong, but with practice it becomes a more natural movement that feels better. I do NOT mean do a massive pelvic thrust upwards!!

you're likely to either fail miserably or just hurt yourself!! I mean just a tension in the muscles that leads the movement upwards.

I hope this helps, please understand that this is only my advice. If someone else knows better I will not dispute their methods or techniques as I have not done sawari waza for a while now.

**rottunpunk** · 14th August 2006, 07:23 PM

cheers lounge.
i know i tense, but im not sure off hand where.
ill have a play in a bit

**runsyi** · 14th August 2006, 07:45 PM

When you say "the kneely down during noto bit" do you mean kneeling with one knee touching as in the first couple seitei kata or do you mean from sonkyo like in the suwari-waza?

My Kendo sensei likes to tell me to stick my belly out when I'm getting up from sonkyo. Doing some weight training to strengthen the leg muscles (especially the quads and glutes) might help as well.

**rottunpunk** · 14th August 2006, 08:14 PM

with one knee touching (after o'chiburui-infact i have the same problem in the standing up bit of o chiburui aswell)
i think (though will have to check) that i get up ok after sonkyo. though tate hiza no bu does hurt my broken knee because of the standy uppy bit.

**ne0r** · 14th August 2006, 08:39 PM

I think it's similar to kendo when you go out of seiza.

I noticed that when I'm very tired I tend not to go out of seiza with a straight back but with leaning forward to put the mass of my body forward to get up -> what results in the bummy-sticky-outty motion (like the old woman that gets up from her chair). I think you need to hold your back straight and tense your thighs to push your whole body up (with a straight back).

I don't know if this helps...

But I think Lounge's post was a good one. ^^

**Beckmeisterrr** · 14th August 2006, 10:50 PM

I definitely agree with the earlier posts saying that you use your quads and gluts to get up. I've been taught to rise from seiza, and any other kneeling/sitting type of position by (i) squeezing thigh muscles (ii) clenching bum muscles *giggles* and (iii) breathing out.

As for differences between boys and girls: it could be attributed to the fact that we have wider hips and (often) bigger bums. Personally, I see it as my anchor. Some of us may also have less developed lower body muscles. I know that is one part of my body that I have to constantly work on.

**Lounge** · 14th August 2006, 10:54 PM

I just have a fat arse that sticks out

**rottunpunk** · 15th August 2006, 02:01 AM

dont worry lounge everyones arse looks big in hakama.thats why they are traditionally black or navy in the modern day world, so it give the illusion of sleekness...or summit...

tried getting up, i do tense where you said.
im sure ill get it sorted out at the scotland seminar on t'weekend if not before.
may have to resort to bokken down the back method though-ho hum.
so, the second part of my question, have you ladies found anything that needs to be adapted from the male way of doing things?
for instance tsuki-ing behing at chest height where the boobies get in the way?
or just being better at cutting as we arnt as upperbodily butch as the boys?
i appreciate your views

**lucy** · 15th August 2006, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by rottunpunk

so, the second part of my question, have you ladies found anything that needs to be adapted from the male way of doing things?
for instance tsuki-ing behing at chest height where the boobies get in the way?

You mean like in tsukaate, in seitei, right? It's no "big" problem for me. Literally.

**Alison2805** · 15th August 2006, 10:29 AM

SQUATS!!! LOTS AND LOTS OF SQUATS!!! Do them concentrating on keeping your centre of gravity over your knees (ie hips, back straight). That would fix it I reckon. Even if it only gets you into the habit of doing it with the right posture. Besides, if you keep getting up the wrong way it puts a lot of strain on your back (according to a gym instructor I knew).

Boobs can get in the way if Im trying to reach right out (only happens if my distance is wrong anyway). Im trying to bend my doh at the moment so it curves more and fits better, hopefully it wont get in the way quite so much. E-bogu has instructions on thier website about how to do it without damaging it.