Name this exercise, and is it beneficial?
 

Hi folks,

I am trying to find out the name of an exercise, could you please help?

It consists of being in a standing position and imaging you are holding a ball in front of you between both hands. You then move your hands around this imaginary invisible ball, keeping an equal space between your hands... I think you can increase or decrease the space between your hands, and I think you also keep the imaginary ball in front of your center so that when you twist to the left or right it remains attached to an imaginary line from your center...

Apologies for this explanation but i've only seen this technique once, the guy I asked about it said it was called "shotoque", that's his spelling, and it maybe his phonetic spelling. I've had no luck googling it.

Also if you can decipher my explanation and know this technique, how is it beneficial?

Many thanks

Dave :)

Re: Name this exercise, and is it beneficial?
 

Hi Dave,

Sounds like a Qigong to me...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong

Re: Name this exercise, and is it beneficial?
 

Cheers John... I've been trying to "youtube" the exercise without success. Qigong is something that I have looked at previously to compliment my Aikido... Still something I think about... So thanks for the reminder :)

Re: Name this exercise, and is it beneficial?
 

You probably saw this... and it's not exactly what you described (and it's certainly not "Aikido"), but I thought it was interesting so decided to share it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Iu-...eature=related

Re: Name this exercise, and is it beneficial?
 

Thanks for posting Mathew... That is very interesting.

It wasn't quite like that though, although very similar... If you imagine the man when he picks up the ball... It was like that but without the ball... Like moving whilst holding an imaginary ball.

Cheers anyhow :)

Re: Name this exercise, and is it beneficial?
 

I have done this exercise many times a part of my Qi gong practice but I don't know what it is called.
The purpose of the exercise is to practice how to gather your Ki between your hands.

The type of Qi gong I do is called "Nei yang gong", try and google it and maybe you can find the exercise.

Re: Name this exercise, and is it beneficial?
 

Hi Dave,
thanks for the reply! I didn't notice it until today. Is the exercise a standing exercise or is there more moving around?
I'm suddenly reminded of a little exercise I've seen my sensei do, which so far seems to be done at hara level. It looks just like he's holding a ball. I believe it's an extension of our shomen uchi practice...or at least that's what it reminds me of. As I recall he rotates by extending out the "pinkie line" (tegatana surface) so the bottom of the "ball" rotates away and up. Later he extends so the top of the "ball" moves forward and down. I really like this exercise because I get the sense it helps me focus on where hara is and how my hands/etc. might affect it (and vice versa). For the first rotation, I like the sinking/settling feeling I get. It makes me feel a little more grounded.
Take care,
Matt