Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > Techniques

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 12-21-2008, 03:36 PM   #1
seank
Location: Victoria
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 132
Australia
Offline
Technical hanmi question

I've been scratching my head a little over the last few weeks in regard to hanmi and overall Aikido technique. I'm preparing for my shodan grading and have at the eleventh hour found myself questioning the precepts.

I remember sitting in one of Sugano Shihan's classes and him explaining that hanmi is simply placing your feet shoulder width apart, and then turning one foot, left or right, ninety degrees. Excellent advice and allows you to properly form basic hanmi.

My question goes somewhat beyond that. In preparing for the grading we did a little bit of video work going through the gamut of techniques I need to demonstrate for my grading. One thing that really stood out is that I believe that my hanmi in key parts of the technique are too close together.

In watching many many hours of classes, various video clips and the likes, I have clearly seen the footwork and hanmi sometimes twice the nages shoulder width with the feet momentarily pointing in varying directions. I feel at times that my feet are too close together because I constantly try to maintain hanmi (both in terms of foot direction and width of my stance).

I feel that I really should be at this point exaggerating the hanmi (at least exaggerating it in my mind, so far as I feel the technique and hanmi) - the result giving me a more stable center. We have had a fair amount of disruption in the last six weeks with one instructor leaving and our head instructor getting back into training after injury, so I've been left to my own devices to an extent. This means of course that I'm left trying to work out some of the details by myself.

I know its a really stupid time to ask a question like this, but I'm at wits end trying to work out if I'm thinking in the right direction. I studied Kyokushin karate for a very long time and never had the same issues with stance, but I know that hanmi underpins proper technique in Aikido and am keen to smooth over as many rough bits as I can prior to the grading.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2008, 03:54 PM   #2
Lyle Laizure
 
Lyle Laizure's Avatar
Dojo: Hinode Dojo LLC
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 566
United_States
Offline
Re: Technical hanmi question

Hello Sean,

In my sensei's dojo we never stressed hanmi so much. That is to say that it wasn't stressed which hanmi (hidar, migi) to begin or end a technique. Well I guess I should say that I don't recall my sensei ever saying you have to start or stop in any particular manner. Generally we began from a neutral stance, as if waiting for the bus. Now that I am teaching I continue this practice because this is likely the position you will be in if you were to be attacked. That isn't to say we don't learn stances. I apologize for being so long winded to get to this final point.....are you balanced before during and after while performing a technique. IMHO if you are balanced then your stance should be good.

I hope this helps.

Lyle Laizure
www.hinodedojo.com
Deru kugi wa uta reru
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2008, 03:54 PM   #3
ChrisHein
 
ChrisHein's Avatar
Dojo: Aikido of Fresno
Location: Fresno , CA
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,646
United_States
Offline
Re: Technical hanmi question

Right now, at this moment, you should probably let the question go. You're getting ready for your test, it's not time to got changing things dramatically.

That said, I'm constantly trying to bring my feet closer together. Close feet are quick feet. Aikido is about movment, the ability to move quickly is essintial.

Most Aikidoka keep their feet too far apart. This gives stability, but takes away from foot speed, and your ability to change direction. Aikido is not goju ryu. It's not a system where we want to "stand and take it". It's a system where we want to move around the force and merge with it.

Close feet are good feet in my opinion.

oh, and good luck on your test!

Last edited by ChrisHein : 12-21-2008 at 03:57 PM.

  Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2008, 07:47 PM   #4
Aikibu
Dojo: West Wind Dojo Santa Monica California
Location: Malibu, California
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,295
United_States
Offline
Re: Technical hanmi question

Quote:
Chris Hein wrote: View Post
Right now, at this moment, you should probably let the question go. You're getting ready for your test, it's not time to got changing things dramatically.

That said, I'm constantly trying to bring my feet closer together. Close feet are quick feet. Aikido is about movment, the ability to move quickly is essintial.

Most Aikidoka keep their feet too far apart. This gives stability, but takes away from foot speed, and your ability to change direction. Aikido is not goju ryu. It's not a system where we want to "stand and take it". It's a system where we want to move around the force and merge with it.

Close feet are good feet in my opinion.

oh, and good luck on your test!
Excellent advice. Practice hard on what you know right now to pass.

Our Hanmi is almost exactly as Chris described and in fact we keep the toes of both feet always pointed towards Uke. The "Half Step" is one of the secrets to Nishio Shihan's Aikido, and as Chris suggested "close feet are quick feet". Not only that but it gives you a better connection with Ukes center and keeps your center under you where it belongs.

William Hazen
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-22-2008, 04:27 AM   #5
Flintstone
Dojo: Wherever I happen to be
Location: Zaragoza
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 587
Spain
Offline
Re: Technical hanmi question

Yes, what they said.

Natural stance (shizentai) is the one you will most likely be using when attacked, so it should be the stance from which to practice the technique / kata. Plus, while performing the technique, I find it better to use hanmi and/or hitoemi. Front foot pointing slightly outside, not directly to uke. Rather you point uke's center with your own.

My two cents.
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Testing requirements kyu levels arjandevries Testing 10 08-07-2006 08:26 PM
Brawling with a friend Luc X Saroufim General 227 07-17-2006 07:33 PM
My answer to a very good question: Charlie General 1 08-02-2005 07:10 AM
Hanmi for attack kokyu Techniques 15 04-07-2005 08:32 AM
Article: Thoughts on Bugei Studies by Karl Friday AikiWeb System Training 28 04-27-2002 05:21 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:23 PM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate