Quite possibly the dumbest use of center

I was vaccuuming the other day on the lowest setting for carpet and I was using my arm to push and pull the vacuum. AND THEN, I decided to move through my center while vacuuming and lo and behold it was so easy! Is this the dumbest use of center or maybe I finally got it?

Genius!

We have a carpeted mat at our dojo. Whenever I vacuum before class, I use my center. Helps set me up for class. Now, try THIS one...

Go grocery shopping and move the cart from your center! Believe me, when you have a loaded down grocery cart, you know when you're using muscle and when you're working from the hips.

I'm goofy like that.

Fantastic!
I do that with the vaccuming too! And i thought i was the only one! Well met fellow aiki-vaccumist!

Oh..and another one i have is pushing doors open through my centre with an unbendable arm

And i know a guy who drives with his arms unbedable in the happi-hando position

The practical uses of aikido, beyond "flipping out and killing people"! Excellent, I shall do it the next time I vacuum, or go shopping.

I've never tried vacuuming. But I do try to move from my center when sweeping the mat at our dojo (I've got to get the strength from somewhere after getting beat up for two hours).

I like to practice my unbendable arm on my steering wheel and when opening doors.

Good stuff.

I open doors using my center and unbendable arm, I also try to throw in an Atemi as it swings shut. I thought I was just strange, but apparently we all are.

I thought I was just strange, but apparently we all are.

I don't know whether to take comfort in this or fear... hmm...

Dumbest use of center:
1) get on subway
2) stand in middle of car.
3) drop center and stay balanced while the suicidal subway driver rockets at 90mph. to the next stop.
4) ignore the "What a dope" looks from the other passengers as you wobble around in the middle of the car like one of those cheesy plastic dashboard hula-girls.

When dong the shopping cart thing try it one handed. Keep one hand in the center of the handle and steer with your center...good fun

I used to be a night janitor at a movie theater and we had to mop the theater floor, between all the seats. I learned to move the mop from my center to get it to go under the seats as I moved through the aisle.

Bronson

Dave Organ wrote: Dumbest use of center: 1) get on subway 2) stand in middle of car. 3) drop center and stay balanced while the suicidal subway driver rockets at 90mph. to the next stop. 4) ignore the "What a dope" looks from the other passengers as you wobble around in the middle of the car like one of those cheesy plastic dashboard hula-girls.

Don't knock it; I hear my teacher used to do that in the trains and subways in Japan...

-- Jun

Its good to stand in surf and not get knocked down too!

I do the door opening thing, and the irimi walk through crowds.

Aikido is just great!

Shopping carts are for riding, not pushing!

I open doors from center while telling whoever i'm with that i shall now use the amazing power of Ki. They look at me like i'm nuts.

Dave Organ wrote: Dumbest use of center: 1) get on subway 2) stand in middle of car. 3) drop center and stay balanced while the suicidal subway driver rockets at 90mph. to the next stop. 4) ignore the "What a dope" looks from the other passengers as you wobble around in the middle of the car like one of those cheesy plastic dashboard hula-girls.

This is great practice. I used to do it often standing on the InterCity when I worked in London years ago. If I was standing coming home, used to do it with my eyes shut too, you can't beat sleeping whilst standing, very relaxing.

I do the door thing too, always "push" open with unbendable arm and centre.

Irimi in a crowded shopping centre is also a good one, but don't forget to taisabaki or step off line when you get the odd muppet who has no idea that you are right in front of them. Worst case, if you do colide with someone, stay centred and make sure it's them going backwards after

Guess I'm as wacky as anyone here

Yep - have done / still do all of the above. Also mowing the lawn from centre is cool.

These days I like to give myself more of a challenge in crowds, seeing how close I can get to the other people before taisabaki-ing out of the way. Also in the supermarket when there are metal things on wheels and pushchairs to contend with. This hasn't gotten me into trouble YET but then I move faster than most when shopping

The most difficult use of centre ocurred when I was leaving the bank one day, and was shoved hard from behind by some impatient bitch who wanted to exit more quickly. The reason I was moving slowly was because of the person on crutches right in front of me, who obviously couldn't move that fast. I absorbed the attack into my centre and managed to catch my balance so the person on crutches didn't get knocked into by me. Unfortunately the impatient bitch shot off up the street way fast and I wasn't able to catch her. Probably just as well

Ruth

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the posting, but have been reading the forum for a few month.
I too am guilty of the centred door opening, lawn mowing and trolley pushing!

I also have found a quick flick of the wrist whilst stepping through the door seems to have a nice effect....

thx,

Rob

relax your arms and extend ki through your fingers when you have to type a lot on a keyboard. it helps me type all day and my fingers don't get tired. it also sounds as though I press them very hard but it doesn't feel like that.

oh and the door thing is absolutely outstanding!

How does one move from their centre?

Ah, grasshopper, that is the Secret of Aikido!

relax your arms and extend ki through your fingers when you have to type a lot on a keyboard.

Yeah I've extended key through my finger before also... but not while typing

Devin McDowell wrote: How does one move from their centre?

Move your body forward, backwards and side to side by pushing the koshi first. The body will follow. But in order to do that you have to have proper posture.....your head and koshi must be in alignment.

At least it works for me when I think to do it. I easily fall into the habit of walking with my legs first.

Devin McDowell wrote: How does one move from their centre?

Watch how good ballroom dancers move. They've got it down.

Bronson

Go grocery shopping and move the cart from your center! Believe me, when you have a loaded down grocery cart, you know when you're using muscle and when you're working from the hips

Lol, I do this one all the time since I have a 10 month old who cannot sit still for a long trip to the grocery store. I noticed the other day that it is now easy for me to push a loaded cart with one arm while holding my son in the other, but I didn't think much of it. I do remember that it used to make me tired and now I don't feel it at all. I hadn't thought much of it until now.

Jill Jenkins wrote: Lol, I do this one all the time since I have a 10 month old who cannot sit still for a long trip to the grocery store. I noticed the other day that it is now easy for me to push a loaded cart with one arm while holding my son in the other, but I didn't think much of it. I do remember that it used to make me tired and now I don't feel it at all. I hadn't thought much of it until now.

The "trolley arm" doesn't look like one of popeye's does it?