"knee walking" and friction

I have now been taking Aikido for 3 weeks and I have a question concerning "knee walking." I am sorry I can't remember the proper term, but I am learnning. There is a "club" in my dojo for people who have knee walked around the dojo mat 1000 times (about 24 miles). I made 2 trips around the mat after class today and my knees were burning from the friction. Is this normal or am I dragging my knees too much? My knees were also very red which is to be expected I guess. This also seems like a good way to wear out gi pants pretty quick.

You´re dragging your knees and the problem with shikko (that´s the proper term) is you´re not supposed to walk with your knees, but with your legs.

Dragging knees is often a sign of fatigue. Try using using your one-point to move your body around the mat during shikko -- it help you remain centered, yet very mobile and agile... this will become critical during hanmi handachi or suwari-waza training.

Good luck,

*Phil

Spring is here! Spend some time in the garden doing some planting and weeding. That will toughen up the knees!

Better yet, leave club membership to the other mouseketeers and laugh at them in their wheelchairs when you are running past in your seventies...

don't force yourself too much.

I would agree, don't expect too much from yourself after only three weeks. Shikko is like ukemi, don't try to do too much too fast. I would wait untill you learn to move well on your feet before trying to learn to move on your knees. It will come much more easily and naturally then.

Why would anyone want to do 24 miles of Shikko? That's just asking for knackered knees.

Shikko is, in my opinion, harder to grasp then a good Ukemi. It took me ages to realise that you have to bring your knees together, move the hips, then move the kness apart and start again.

Practice for 5 minutes before each class and get a senior student to have a look at your techniques, but DON'T spend hours trying to master it if you're technique is incorrect.

Sounds like you are dragging your knees and maybe need some help in doing your shikko properly. Either that or you have a very rough mat surface.

Shikko is good for developing hip power, however, most non Japanese have a lot of trouble with doing it. We sit in chairs and have shortened hamstrings and we hardly ever sit on our knees. Trying to condition them after years of not sitting on them is difficult. I agree with Kevin-your club members may pay a price later.

Brad Walker (Topper1296) wrote: I made 2 trips around the mat after class today and my knees were burning from the friction. Is this normal or am I dragging my knees too much? (1) My knees were also very red which is to be expected I guess. (2) This also seems like a good way to wear out gi pants pretty quick. (3)

1) I find mine get red from the friction of twisting as I move forward; don't know about dragging.

2) Read Twigger (Angry White Pajamas) for perspective on knee walking.

3) Gi pants--Huh! Just wait til you've invested in a HAKAMA!

Gi pants--Huh! Just wait til you've invested in a HAKAMA

Yeah the Hakama can be tricky, but actualy i think that it helps reduce the friction on my knees because i have gi pants underneath.