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Old 05-13-2004, 08:36 AM   #1
Jeff Lynne
Location: Florida
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Soreness?

I am a seasoned cyclist and have been for years. Thus, it comes as a suprise that my legs and especially my glutes are sore. Is it possible to attribute this soreness to the aikido training which I just started last week? It seems plausible, but I never felt that we did that much to cause this level of tightness. Any thoughts?
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Old 05-13-2004, 08:42 AM   #2
GaiaM
Dojo: Bend Aiki Martial Arts
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Re: Soreness?

I am almost certain that the soreness is caused by Aikido. It seems that just about everyone who begins training gets sore, often in those areas, regardless of their athletic ability/background. When I come back from a summer of no training (guiding river trips in Alaska) I am always sore for the first week or so. It must be that rolling and falling in general use different muscles or use them differently. Don't worry, in a few weeks it will go away! Good luck with your training.
Gaia

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Gaia Marrs
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Old 05-13-2004, 09:39 AM   #3
DarkShodan
Dojo: Shuurin Dojo - Omaha, Nebarska
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Re: Soreness?

I agree. I thought I was in pretty good shape when I started Aikido. I ran almost every day and did weights every other day. The first few weeks of Aikido I was very sore. Your muscles develop memory, that's no secret, and get used to working in a specific manor. But when you change the routine your muscles need time to adjust. Welcome to Aikido! Keep practicing.

Victims, aren't we all.
-- Eric Draven
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Old 05-13-2004, 12:47 PM   #4
Janet Rosen
 
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Re: Soreness?

To what has been said, I'll add that a couple of minutes of stretching legs and glutes after class and a hot shower will both help. But you probably knew that....

Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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Old 05-13-2004, 11:46 PM   #5
Lan Powers
Dojo: Aikido of Midland, Midland TX
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Re: Soreness?

Good to have sore legs instead of sore upper body. Using the best part of your anatomy as I have been told.
Lan

Play nice, practice hard, but remember, this is a MARTIAL art!
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Old 05-14-2004, 12:20 AM   #6
Infamousapa
Dojo: Aikido Institute of America
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Re: Soreness?

I feel what u are saying Jeffrey,I used to practice muay thai before and that used to get me very sore.However aikido doesnt use as much effort as muay thai but i came home as a new aikido practioner very suprised to be sore the following day.But it seemed that i was sore with muscles i have never used before..It was just a different kind of soreness but one that was pleasant and fulfilling.
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Old 05-14-2004, 04:01 AM   #7
actoman
Dojo: USA Martial Arts Center
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Re: Soreness?

heck yes! I just got done with a full hour of nothing but breakfalls and I am sore as hell!
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Old 05-14-2004, 06:58 AM   #8
ruthmc
Dojo: Wokingham Aikido
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Re: Soreness?

Is the length of time the soreness lasts any indication of how used to the exercise the muscles are? F'rinstance, after Aikido I mildly ache for about 14 hours. After starting to do some crunches to sort out my stomach muscles 2 days ago, I'm still in pain.

Hope my stomach gets used to it soon!

Ruth
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Old 05-14-2004, 07:22 AM   #9
paw
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Re: Soreness?

Quote:
Ruth wrote:
Is the length of time the soreness lasts any indication of how used to the exercise the muscles are?
What you are experiencing and what everyone is describing is delayed-onset muscle soreness or DOMS.

Here's a basic primer

I'd encourage you and the others that have posted on this thread to read it and do additional research on DOMS.

Regards,

Paul

*editted for formatting*
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Old 05-14-2004, 08:02 AM   #10
SeiserL
 
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Re: Soreness?

As a seasoned cyclist, I am sure you know that muscle soreness can be very activity specific. To be in condition for cycling does not mean your muscles are in condition for Aikido. Slight differences in movement cause the muscles to work differently, tire differently, and thus be sore differently.

Just make sure your soreness if from training, not from injury.

Other than that, get back on the mat. The soreness will leave when you body gets used to it, and then you will be sore from the next level of training.

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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Old 05-17-2004, 04:48 PM   #11
Lyle Laizure
 
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Re: Soreness?

I have had newcomers to Aikido describe their first class like being hit by a tractor. Although you may be in good shape/health keep in mind you are probably going to be using different muscles than you have before or at least using the same muscles in a different way. Nothing to worry about there.

Lyle Laizure
www.hinodedojo.com
Deru kugi wa uta reru
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Old 05-19-2004, 08:32 AM   #12
Sue Trinidad
Dojo: Island Aikido
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Re: Soreness?

Just further confirmation. . . first week I felt like I'd been hit by a truck--despite the fact that I scull and do yoga. Generally not sore now, unless I land wrong as uke (and as a newbie, I am still doing this quite a bit!). Hot showers and arnica have helped, though.
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Old 05-20-2004, 01:10 PM   #13
Jeff Lynne
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Re: Soreness?

I finally found out what it is that is making me so sore! It's the steady jumping up after taking a fall. Essentially, I am doing 20-30 squats per night of my body weight, which is why my rear is so sore. How did I discover this? Embarassingly, trying to get up after using the bathroom, I realized the action I had taken to cause the soreness in the first place.
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Old 05-20-2004, 04:16 PM   #14
Janet Rosen
 
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Re: Soreness?

LOL! So, glutes and hamstrings need a good stretch after each class, between bowing out and getting off the mat!

Janet Rosen
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"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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Old 05-20-2004, 08:23 PM   #15
giriasis
Dojo: Sand Drift Aikikai, Cocoa Florida
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Re: Soreness?

Quote:
finally found out what it is that is making me so sore! It's the steady jumping up after taking a fall. Essentially, I am doing 20-30 squats per night of my body weight, which is why my rear is so sore. How did I discover this? Embarassingly, trying to get up after using the bathroom, I realized the action I had taken to cause the soreness in the first place.
Jeffery, I discovered the same thing. When I stand up from my rolls, I'm essetially doing a leg lunge or dip. When I started working out, I started doing lots of squats and step-ups. Doing all these exercises, I've found really helped with my muscular endurance in class.

Anne Marie Giri
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Old 05-20-2004, 09:54 PM   #16
Lan Powers
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Re: Soreness?

Damn! sore in the shoulders......instead of sore in my hips. sigh
Lan

Play nice, practice hard, but remember, this is a MARTIAL art!
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Old 05-20-2004, 11:05 PM   #17
Joezer M.
 
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Re: Soreness?

I was told by a medical rehab doctor that since aikido is a high-impact activity, those not familiar with it will suffer soreness for the first couple of months but usually on the points of impact, particularly the shoulders... and if I'm not mistaken cycling isn't a high-impact sport...
What do you guys think?


Regards,
Joezer
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Old 05-21-2004, 12:52 AM   #18
Bronson
 
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Re: Soreness?

Quote:
Lan Powers wrote:
Damn! sore in the shoulders......instead of sore in my hips. sigh
Lan
That's 'cause you're a knuckle-draggin' heavy fighter Stop using your arms like kickstands and the shoulder soreness will go away

Bronson

"A pacifist is not really a pacifist if he is unable to make a choice between violence and non-violence. A true pacifist is able to kill or maim in the blink of an eye, but at the moment of impending destruction of the enemy he chooses non-violence."
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Old 05-21-2004, 02:04 AM   #19
Janet Rosen
 
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Re: Soreness?

Quote:
Joezer Mandagi wrote:
I was told by a medical rehab doctor that since aikido is a high-impact activity, those not familiar with it will suffer soreness for the first couple of months but usually on the points of impact, particularly the shoulders
I think that if you are impacting your shoulder that regularly, rather than endure pain for months (which seems highly unusual and I can't imagine wanting to continue training....) you should ask your sempai/sensei to watch and suggest how to correct your movements.

Janet Rosen
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"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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Old 05-25-2004, 10:16 AM   #20
Green Machine
 
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Re: Soreness?

HI I also do a lot of cycling a mix of road if it's dry or mountain bike I found that when I started doing aikido sitting in sieza for any length of time was murder. Getting up from that position put smiles across the faces of my fellow practitioners .My sensei said that my cycling had made my ankles strong but not very flexable, gladly I have stuck with both cycling and aikido and my legs can now handle long sesions on the mat.

So just stick with it the pain will eventually go away yours more flexably Andrew.
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Old 06-07-2004, 09:20 AM   #21
Terry Donaghe
Dojo: Aikido of Scottsdale
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Re: Soreness?

I was going to post a thread asking about this same issue. I just had my second class yesterday and the top fronts of my legs are screaming at me this morning. I want to go to class tommorow night. Should I just tough it out? Is there something I can do, take, use to help with the soreness between now and then?
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Old 06-07-2004, 10:05 AM   #22
Sue Trinidad
Dojo: Island Aikido
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Re: Soreness?

It will get better (or at least migrate elsewhere in your body!). I have only been training for a month, and I'm much less sore now than I was the first week. But quad stretches, hot showers, and a liniment (I'm using an arnica/calendula thing, but I imainge that Tiger Balm or Ben Gay would work too) help. The occasional massage doesn't hurt, either.

Good luck!

Sue
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Old 06-07-2004, 03:40 PM   #23
Terry Donaghe
Dojo: Aikido of Scottsdale
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Re: Soreness?

I've read in that link above about delayed-onset muscle soreness that activity which might make the soreness worse should be avoided until the soreness goes away. Is this the right thing to do with Aikido? I really want to go to practice on Tuesday, though if I'm as sore as I am today, then things won't go so well.

What is the general approach to handling soreness in Aikido? Suck it up? Wait till it subsides a bit? Wait till it's gone (surely not!)?
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Old 06-07-2004, 04:17 PM   #24
Janet Rosen
 
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Re: Soreness?

Quote:
Susan Trinidad wrote:
a liniment (I'm using an arnica/calendula thing, but I imainge that Tiger Balm or Ben Gay would work too) help.
It's good to sort out what you are using and why. Tiger Balm, Ben Gay and all similar "heat producing" substances are irritating surface sensory nerves, creating pain relief but not affecting the muscles.
Arnica is a homeopathic remedy. Some folks find it helpful for muscle soreness. I have found it mostly useful as an application to resolve bruising/hematomas.

Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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Old 06-07-2004, 05:59 PM   #25
Sue Trinidad
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Re: Soreness?

I can't really say whether it's the arnica or the massaging motion I've used to apply it, but empirically, seems to be working for me!

Somebody more knowledgeable can probably speak to the delayed onset thing. . . as a sculler, I decided I'd just keep plugging (it's what rowers are conditioned to do). It's always been my experience that I'm more sore the day after the day after heavy work (the second day after, that would be. . .) if I don't do anything the day after the work; but I've also talked with people who are more sore the first day after.

So it turns out I'm really no help at all here, sorry. Hmm. . . maybe I will go do some gardening!
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