So where is your weight?

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[HL1978]

I just want to start a discussion, don't presume anything one way or the other by the below question?

Where do you have your weight committed when you step forwards? Why do you have it commited in this direction and what is the result when you touch a partner?

[Michael Varin]

Hello Hunter,

I thought I was going to be able to brag about my low body fat percentage but. . .

I try to keep my weight as low as possible. Preferably in the feet or even in the ground (that's tough though).

The direction is as near vertical, once it gets below the knee, as I can manage. I have it committed in this direction to help me align with gravity and to use the power from my connection to the ground.

The result on my partner varies, as I am not perfect. Sometimes not much happens, sometimes I have a great effect on them. However, they can most often feel the difference from when I am using horizontal movement and tension, so that seems to be a positive.

Nice thread. . . Hope it stays productive.

[Alec Corper]

What I am currently trying to do is keep my weight spread throughout me originating in seika tanden. the premise being when one piece moves all pieces move, as a coherent unit. The aim is for center to be everywhere so that upon contact my partner(opponent) receives all of me but is unable to locate a point of transfer to gain access. When it works (and it is a work in progress) people find it extremely difficult to move me whilst I feel very relaxed, whilst on the other hand I find it very easy to move them without employing a specific waza aimed at kuzushi. it helps that i have one hip due for reconstruction so big fancy movements are no longer an option. I won't leave the centre line, you will, and not because of me but because of you!

[chillzATL]

It varies depending on what i'm doing. When just stepping I'd say it's pretty low, knees to dantien, but in contact, depending on the forces involved, it fluctuates around the dantien, sometimes above, sometimes below, though less so.

as for why? Lower is better, IMO. I pretty much want to feel like this thing would if you were grappling with it:

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/03/07/Dual_Arm_Mk2_on_TALON_low_shot.jpg

the result? stability, but people are also easier to move, but that's not just a result of that alone. As I mentioned above, it fluctuates depending on the level of force we're talking about. In most aikido waza I think it's fairly easy to maintain and keep low because there isn't as much force involved, but if I want someone to feel the difference I'll do it from a clinch position or simple pushing. It's pretty easy to clinch up with someone and have them push you around, try to move you and let them feel the difference, but again, it's force dependent for me.

IMO it's all a product of focused relaxation and you cannot just will your body to relax against forces that are greater than what it's been conditioned against any more than you can go from curling 20lbs to curling 100lbs without building your way up. If you try, all the various muscles you're trying to avoid using will start to kick in and your weight will travel up to meet it.

[tombuchanan]

I've found that if I open my hips and can stay relaxed, that my weight just naturally falls on my opponent.

If any part of my body becomes tight or "constricted", that part starts to behave as a separate unit and its weight does not get added to the overall equation.

So, in the end, I don't really put it anywhere.

I am without any world titles, so not really sure how effective this is, but people can feel it and tell the difference between "on" and "off."