Can you use Knee Pads in Aikido?

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[Sojourner]

Greetings all,

Just a question for those that are across knee problems in Aikido, is it possible to train Aikido - break fall and so forth and wear knee pads at the same time?

[rugwithlegs]

Very bulky pads can cause more strain on the top of the ankle as your knees are elevated when you are in seiza, or the bulk can lead to strain on the side of the knee with side falls if it prevents your leg from landing flat. Most pads aren't that bulky.

Something that goes completely around the knee tightly can bunch up under the knee or interrupt circulation to the lower leg. Stretching and range of motion without the pads on later can help restore this.

I had a lot of suwari waza coming up through the ranks, and pads saved my knees from bleeding too much but I never found a perfect pad. Aside from these two issues above, pads are not harmful IMO. Samurai armour - look up some of the designs of the suneate, they definitely did not have a problem with knee pads.

Some schools only practice pins from seiza or shikko dachi. Some, and it seems the older schools moreso, do standing pins or pins with one knee up. Don't bludgeon your knees through an injury. Modify as necessary.

Don't drop to the asphalt on your knees in a real situation, and be mindful that you will fight as you train.

In getting ready for grading, I found that to be ready for suwari waza and hanmi handachi I trained five to ten minutes regularly, then stopped for the day. I stopped with any sharp pain too. Not training these movements for months, then doing a marathon session to get up to speed is the most painful and damaging approach and ultimately counter productive in my experience.

Much further afield than your question, but hopefully that gives you what you need.

[dps]

Used knee pads all the time when training, no problem.

dps

[Janet Rosen]

Knee pads open at back can provide cushioning for suwariwaza. There is no reason for them to prevent any kind of ukemi.

[Janet Rosen]

I add: knee pads cushion for comfort but do NOT prevent acute meniscus injury nor can they prevent pain created (for some of us) by pressure WITHIN the joint caused by hyperflexion.

[robin_jet_alt]

Yes. If you are having problems with knee abrasion etc., they are a good idea.

[Riai Maori]

I use 2 sets of knee pads. A neoprene patella set that are closed in the back and an open back knee pad that have velcro straps You can purchase the latter set from Torzando. As John has already explained..."Something that goes completely around the knee tightly can bunch up under the knee or interrupt circulation to the lower leg. Stretching and range of motion without the pads on later can help restore this" ...which happens when in Seiza for long periods. This is a compromise I make for the safety of my wounded knees playing Rugby many years ago.

[SeiserL]

I have carried and used knee braces (not just pads) for years.
No real problem.

[Currawong]

I use a set of slightly sophisticated wrap-around pads from 3M or a set of regular sports knee pads, though for me wrapping my knees is important. I don't find a lot of cushioning is needed, but I never land hard on my knees.

[Walter Martindale]

Haven't used knee pads since trying them when gokyu. A hakama provides a bit of relief because the fabric of the gi-pants slips on the fabric of the hakama, reducing the shear load on the knee skin and bursa.

[lbb]

If the problem is abrasion, or you've just got a spot on your knee that kinda hurts when you roll over it with no padding, you may be able to get by with Janet's trick, fusible fleece interfacing on the inside of the gi pants (in the knee area). Get the thickest you can find.

[Janet Rosen]

If the problem is abrasion, or you've just got a spot on your knee that kinda hurts when you roll over it with no padding, you may be able to get by with Janet's trick, fusible fleece interfacing on the inside of the gi pants (in the knee area). Get the thickest you can find.

:-) thank for the reminder, Mary
Yes, for those with a little sewing skill, or a loved one with such skill....the effect is like having a pair of quilted potholders on your pants, right where you hit the mat and swivel to turn!
A golden oldie "how to" Mirror column almost ten years old http://www.aikiweb.com/columns/themirror/2005_11.html

[jonreading]

Dennis Hooker taught a seminar in the gymnasium of Mt. Juliet high school near Nashville many years ago. The attendance was pretty high and several participants were forced to practice off the mat on the hardwood floor. As it turned out, a sizable portion of the seminar was aiki ken and some of the seated set from Eishen ryu. So here all us dumdasses are sitting in seiza on the hardwood practicing our suwari waza because sensei was doing it. Well, all weekend long we are practiced this way until Sunday when we finally admitted the discomfort during a water break. Hooker sensei comes back on the mat and addresses class by saying, "some of you have asked why I am able to practice on the floor. It is because I am prepared to practice." Sensei then jumps and lands directly on his knees in seiza. He stands up, pulls up his hakama and reveals a pair of construction-grade knee pads he had been wearing all weekend.

Take care of your knees and do what you kneed to...

[lbb]

:-) thank for the reminder, Mary
Yes, for those with a little sewing skill, or a loved one with such skill....the effect is like having a pair of quilted potholders on your pants, right where you hit the mat and swivel to turn!
A golden oldie "how to" Mirror column almost ten years old http://www.aikiweb.com/columns/themirror/2005_11.html

It's a great trick, Janet -- I passed it on to a dojo-mate who works construction and spends a lot of time in crawl spaces. Internally his knees are in great shape, but he's got to where there's one spot that needs a little break from the pressure. The fleece did the trick for him -- got him through summer camp without a hitch!

[JP3]

Absolutely used knee pads for a while while I had a bone bruise from judo practice and had to do a bunch of sawari-waza while working on koryu. Worked fine. Seiza can be an issue with circulation, so be aware. Binding.

[Sojourner]

I like that idea of sewing patches into the gi, that is not a bad suggestion at all!