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-   -   Toe Warmups anyone? (http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14749)

D.Pascua 07-06-2008 07:46 AM

Toe Warmups anyone?
 
Hurray, first post!!! :D

Anyway as the topic shows I'd like to ask if anybody in the forum knows any good toe warm-ups to do before (and even after) Aikido training?

I've just started to take up Aikido for about two or three weeks now, though I've only managed to attend 7 sessions since my college schedule only allows me to attend 2 sessions per week. Being a beginner I've had trouble with my Shikko (the one when you have to go backwards). I've always dreaded doing it because it just does a number on my toes, plus its a bummer because I can't properly execute the Suwari-waza techniques being taught to me since I can't sit on my toes properly due to the pain :dead: I know that in due time my toes will get used to it but I'm just wondering if there are any warm-ups that I can do to minimize the pain.

The pain rides right down the last joint of each toe, so I'm assuming that I'm at least placing proper pressure since all of them actually hurt, or is this a wrong presumption? Anyway any tips would be greatly appreciated and if any of you guys happen to know of a site demonstrating warm-ups for my poor toes then that would be great :D

kartoffelngeist 07-06-2008 09:31 AM

Re: Toe Warmups anyone?
 
We do 'toe crawling' as part of our warm-up. Basically, standing and pulling yourself along the ground using your toes by taking the weight off that foot. If anyone else has a clue what I'm on about they can maybe describe it better...

Sharon Seymour 07-06-2008 05:07 PM

Re: Toe Warmups anyone?
 
Here are a couple of toe exercises that might help, both "borrowed" from yoga:

1) Sitting on the floor (or a chair), cross one ankle over your leg, insert your fingers as far as you can between your toes, then rotate your foot. You can also use your fingers to flex and extend your toes. This felt awful the first few times I did it, then got easier and easier. If you can't get your fingers in all the way, build up to this gradually.

2) Standing, relax and distribute your weight evenly through the bottoms of your feet (about hip width apart). Without rocking your weight back onto your heels, lift all your toes. Lower just your big toes; lower just your little toes; then lower the 3 in the middle. This one is more for awareness and grounding, but has a bit of a flexibility element.

Yours,
Sharon

Lan Powers 07-07-2008 08:47 AM

Re: Toe Warmups anyone?
 
Ikeda's video "Za" has him stretshing to warm-up his toes at one point. I would be VERY surprised if you could stretch the same amount. (I know I can't) :)
Lan

Trish Greene 07-07-2008 12:30 PM

Re: Toe Warmups anyone?
 
Here is what we do to stretch our toes.

Go down on all fours. Balance on your forearms in front and on your toes in back. Rock back and forth so that you can feel the stretch in your toes and all the way up your feet.


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