softening exercises for uke
 

apart from doing techniques does anyone know any good softening exercises to help uke practice

thanks

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

I'm not sure what you are asking - could you be more specific or word the question a tad differently to cue me/us in?

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

Pasta and Doughnuts...:)

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

i was taught that being uke; relaxing into the pin at the end of every technique is a loosening exercise. Aikido I think presents an amazing deep library of biomechanic softening exercises (amongst so much more). Find out which pins hurt the most; then try to figure out how to apply that move ('failure mode') to yourself. then get strong to that attack(/tightness/slackness/etc).. Just an idea for ya
Josh

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

Lots of ukemi? Pound them repeatedly into the mat? Rinse. Repeat.

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

i would like to say, specifically, take the pin slowly each time it is applied, and progressively. it will open up. Best is under total control. Let it unwind. But it has to be strong enough first for the brain to really let it go (i.e. "Do you, muscle, promise, you're not going to get hurt if I loose up?"). When you're nage; apply the pin slowly to him and uke will get the message. I always enjoyed the pins ... good chance to practice extending ki. Makes you stronger too. But don't push it too hard..Don't get hurt like I did, though. (there's 'yer advice, for ya)
: ]

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

We simply do what we call kokyuho exercises.

Take shihonage/iriminage/kokyuho and do it in slow deliberate movements, focusing on the breath with the movement, and allowing uke to stretch and breathe with the movement without being thrown, or pinned. [This is a warm up exercise good for softening up both people... is that what you mean?]

Peace

dAlen

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

If they are stiff on grabs, you might want to tell them to keep connection with their palms without closing their fingers around your arm. This helps uke to maintain connection while still giving you a lot of energy (by a push through the palm). They must be soft and sensitive to nage or else they will loose them since they don't close their fingers around you.

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

This method works best while deeply planted in a recliner or divan watching videos (and calling it training).

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

thanks for all the responses

lots of good stuff,

what i was mainly asking abut was when the nage applies the techniques exercise to make my body soft and relaxed so i don;t go down like a slab of concrete, but can yield and accept then go into ukemi

thanks

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

Mr MacDonald,

All joking aside...ask your teacher. Without a reference as to who/what/ where you train, you wil be lost, confused and/or skeptical.

Personally, I always suggest Waite Shihan as an example, even though I do not train in soft ukemi, I believe he examplifies great ability to use as a model.

Good luck in your training,

Mickey

Re: softening exercises for uke
 

Like Mickey says, it will vary dep. on where you train but some general principles would include breathing, esp exhaling as has been mentioned I think, if its a lock or pin literally relaxing into it, and keeping yourself/your center aiming toward nage's as long as possible, just as nage want to connect to your center.