Left foot

[Winter_Wolf]

Hi all,
I am a newbie to Kendo and to these forums so forgive my beginer(ish) question, but does anyone know a training method that would help with my left foot's position after my movements? I'm not sure why my feet never land where I want them to, but other than trying to do my foot work across a straight line I can't think of a way to correct myself. My sensei says I should be pushing w/ my left and my right will just naturally go, but I always land on my right with my left either to far behind or out to the left or pointing left(which causes me to fall in an embarrasing fashion)! Maybe i'm just to clumsy for martial arts...
Thanks,
W.W.

[stevemcgee99]

During a class one of the sensei asked for a show of hands of who was getting blisters on their left foot. I was one. That's when I realized I was twisting my foot when I went forward. I really thought I wasn't!

In class, there is a lot of fast movement, especially later in the class, when I'm tired. I don't have years of experince in footwork. So like other hings I'm new at, I practice slowly, exaggerating the movement. I'll even sometimes flex my muscles in the "correct position" to try to help the muscle memory. Just doing suriashi(sp?) 20 times, but several random times during the day, adds up to a lot of practice. I think it's important to go slow, and try to exaggerate the movent while I practice without a sensei watching. It's easy to develop bad habits

[Kendoka]

Originally posted by stevemcgee99
During a class one of the sensei asked for a show of hands of who was getting blisters on their left foot. I was one. That's when I realized I was twisting my foot when I went forward. I really thought I wasn't!

This harder to explain in writing than it is in the dojo !!

Try gentle (at first) correct kendo okuri-ashi moving forward across the floor or along the hall. Work on making the right foot slide forward because you are pushing with the left foot. When the right foot has stopped/contacted the floor, SNAP the left foot up quickly to the postion that it was in at the start of the movement.

Correct for parrallel, steady your self and do it again and again and again and again and again and again and so-on. Then when your space has run out do it backwards by reversing the technique. That is push with the right, slide the left etc..

If you are getting blisters, correct you feet to parrallel, prior to each repetition.

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/6360/terms.html
http://www.isu.edu/~jon/kendo/technique.html

[Karaken]

This from my sesei : Point your left foot to your target. Hit a big men. When left foot follows your right foot, point it again to your target - and so on..so on.. so on for 10 20 years..till done.

"Korean Marines motto : Till Done "

[Winter_Wolf]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice, i'll keep working on it, but practice is coming up tomorrow so don't know how much I can improve before my sensei gets ahold of me . Any other advice for a complete newbie keep posting, this is really helpful!
Thanks,
W.W.

[munenmuso]

Hello WW,

Always maintain a straight body as the center of your gravity and avoid leaning forward. In this manner, you'll avoid those excessive steps. Try to practice in front of a mirror.



munenmuso

[Steve]

You just need to practice it endlessly. Concentrate on the position of your hips as well. they should be square and under your shoulders before and after your step. if they "skew" during your step, so will your feet.

the FIRST muscles that should contract during your step is your hip-flexors...the muscle group surrounding your hip. If you do this, your hip will stay straight.

When people say to push forward with your left, they mean push your torso, hips/butt, and your right leg forward all as one piece. Imagine you're right foot is on a skateboard, or one ski or something. As you push on the ground with your left leg, your WHOLE BODY moves at the same time. get it?

Start out with small steps and gradually increase the distance as you learn control.

Hope that helps.

[Winter_Wolf]

Hi,
Well, things are going a lot better now as far as left foot.
Starting some new stuff and think i'm startin to getta hang on things( I hope ) anyway, thanks to all who helped and feel free to post any more advise.
thanks,
W.W.

[stevemcgee99]

I'm not experienced in kendo. The ideas I mentioned earlier were based on practicing other things in the past- it seemed to help then. I can't say for sure now that practicing that way is helping me now. I would guess so, but any improvement is hard for me to notice, anyway.

One thing that's obvious enough to risk sounding insulting is simply go to class and do your best to do the drills laid out for you. It must work or the seniors wouldn't expect you to do it.

[Marine_Boy]

One idea you could try is to walk slowly in a straight line. Slowly transfering your body weight from one leg to the other.

This would help you find your centre line and thus also improve your attacks and movement. Another thing could be to try and keep a good body posture all day, i.e. straight and upright back and shoulders pulled back!

sTan

[supernils]

1. Work in pairs. Do a lot of Ashisabaki exercises where one reminds the other to "Keep you feet straight!" as soon as he/she moves.

2. Cut of your torso above the waist.
Put it on a small cart an tell it to relax.
Shove it in desired direction with your legs.
it's easy..