Big Belly Aikido

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[deathlinenetworks]

Alright. All instructors in my dojo have a big and fat belly. The chief instructor has the biggest then the 2nd instructor has the second biggest then the 3rd instructor has the 3rd biggest. NOW, does aikido makes your belly big? seriously, even o' sensei has a big belly. is it because of the chi thing or because we practice our center that;s why? hahaha..... it would be funny if aikido really makes your tummy big.

[Kevin Leavitt]

Maybe from Chee...Toes.

[Tony Wagstaffe]

Do your instructors have big bellies 'cause they eat or drink too much or is it just a big belly aikido club? ha ha!
Is it partly down to middle aged spread or just bad habits?
Some people do develop big bellies, partly down to their genetics when older. Some people stay thin some get fat ...... its no indicator to ability, but I would imagine it cannot be good for health if it is too big.....
At 55 years I have developed a small paunch even though I still do 'V'crunches of 60 - 100 reps 3 - 4 times a week and isometric crunches when I think to do it......
I am able to take full punches to the belly area as was Tohei Shihan was known to be able to do...... no big deal as it can be done by anyone with a trained belly.... boxers have this ability also....
So maybe depending on one's genetics, general fitness and diet will determine whether or not you will develop a fat belly when YOU get older...... who knows?
Ya might get lucky!!

[John Brockington]

Actually, not necessarily a humorous observation. Certain training paradigms emphasizing power generation from the lower body, hips, and center/tanden while simultaneously de-emphasizing upper body power sourcing may cultivate such a physique. Sort of the "pear-shaped" opposite of the "triangle-shaped" body habitus that some people seek through upper body weight training, etc. It may not be coincidence at all that Tohei and Ueshiba developed this body type over time. I don't think there is anything to indicate that gluttony played a role in those two. Someone like Mike Sigman may be able to give you a much more eloquent answer, though, if he is still on Aikiweb. It might be interesting to talk with your instructors about their own training techniques and points of emphasis, too!

Regards-

John

[Voitokas]

Maybe the better you get, the less you have to move. So a big belly is a sign of the aiki adept: "Mwa ha ha, I just threw you six fellas all over the mat for an hour and only burned 400 calories! Feel the power!"

[AnniN]

Maybe a big belly helps keep balance cos the weight of the upper body is concentrated lower? ;) My instructors actually follow a different pattern: the assistant instructors have big bellies whereas the chief instructor is completely flat :) Actually I think he's the only one of the chief instructors in my organization who doesn't have a pot belly :)

[dps]

Don't forget that the formula for force is F=MA. Some martial artists increase the A (acceleration or speed) part of the formula to increase the force applied in the technique. The wiser ones increase the M (mass) part of the equation for the same effect.

David

[Voitokas]

And the centrifugal moment increases with the distance from the center of rotation, so the actual girth also lends some aikido-mechanical advantage :)

[Janet Rosen]

When I first started training, a sempai whispered to me in the changing room that from what she could tell, karate attracted ascetics and they tended to be thin, while aikido attracted gourmands, hence smoking, drinking, overeating and bellies :-)

[Eva Antonia]

Round forms roll better :p

Eva

[wideawakedreamer]

^ Amen :D

[Walter Martindale]

Depending on the dojo and the tradition... In some places there is a tradition of rehydrating with several barley sandwiches after training. Add sushi, tempura, and a few more barley sandwiches, and the more experienced one is at post training discussions, the bigger the belly. ;)
sorry it's not the real answer, but I've seen really experienced sensei who had big bellies who also had this habit, and I've seen really experienced sensei who didn't (don't) have big bellies who limit their 'rehydration' to one beer.
Cheers, (the kiwi greeting, cheers, not the toast)
Walter

[curlytops]

They may eat a lot after training. :)

[Jamie_Macc]

haha, thats quite funny, ive noticed that! all the instructors i have met/trained with have a 'big belly'. If any of the brit practioners have met sensei david yates from manchester, he was rather big, but when he got back from Japan he had lost so much weight.

jamie

[Ethan Weisgard]

I have heard the part of the anatomy in question referred to affectionately as the Ki Tank...

In aiki,

Ethan Weisgard