any four-fingered aikidokas out there?

I've just been to see a doctor and he told me that there is a chance they will have to amputate my index finger on the left hand.

My concern is wether it will significantly alter the quality of my Aikido. So, I was wondering if there is, or if anyone heard of Aikido practitioners with the same problem. I know I'll have to think of something else for yonkio, for one.

cheers

I can't say I know of anyone with an entire finger missing, although there are a couple of folks I personally know who have at least part of their finger (eg from the first or second knuckle on) missing. Although there'd probably be a time of transition as in everything else in your life where you'll be using your hands/fingers, I doubt it'll affect your aikido that much in the long run.

I've also met one gentleman in aikido who has no arms. I believe he was born without any arms past his shoulders. He, of course, has had to modify many of his techniques, but he seems to be able to embody the principles of aikido quite well.

-- Jun

My Sensei (Yoshinkan style) always stresses that the strongest part of the grip is in the little finger(pinky) and gets weaker towards the index finger. With this in mind losing the index should not greatly adversely effect your control.

Hi Anon

Sorry to hear that.

Your Yonkajo/Yonkyo should be fine, as it is not the finger that applies it, but the inside of the knuckle at the base of the finger. We have a NiDan who has no fingers on one hand and has a good Yonkajo!

As for other techniques, ou should be fine, as you don't need to grip. I learnt this lesson properly a few years back when I dislocated both thumbs in training. Without the ability to grip I learnt lots!

I hope all is well, but don't worry about your Aiki, it will be just fine.

Take care and best wishes.

I know a fellow in Cleveland who is missing both his index and middle finger on his right hand. He just tested for sandan and apparently has a wicked yonkyo, though I have never personally experienced it.

FWIW Hand surgeons when asked general replied that the index finger is the one that they would prefer to lose.

Simon

I find that most of my "grip" comes from my thumb and middle two fingers. My index and "pinky" fingers are rarely that active in my technique.

FWIW Hand surgeons when asked general replied that the index finger is the one that they would prefer to lose.

- Why is that?

I have a new student with both index fingers missing. He copes just fine. So good luck with your future training

() wrote: I've just been to see a doctor and he told me that there is a chance they will have to amputate my index finger on the left hand.My concern is wether it will significantly alter the quality of my Aikido. So, I was wondering if there is, or if anyone heard of Aikido practitioners with the same problem.

Sorry to hear about the news Anon. I had the chance to train with a student who was missing one forearm and hand [still had elbow], and though he had to make modifications, he was still very effective in his technique. Even his bokken strikes were hard and solid.

As for the pinky grip; I'm pretty sure that the reason such a thing is necessary is because we all have a coulple muscles which attach to four fingers. The flexor digitorum profundus and FD superficialis have tendons which run to all four fingers, so the problem is that if you let one off, then you weaken more than one finger. I think, though not sure, that the FD profundus -can- individuate the index finger. Here's a couple illustrations to show what I mean.

http://www.bartleby.com/107/illus415.html

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/wnor/l...donsofhand.htm

Uh, the good news is that if you detach one finger, that muscle should still function.

FWIW

Stop .... you can do Aikido with no fingers, so quit worrying about one missing finger.

() wrote: My Sensei (Yoshinkan style) always stresses that the strongest part of the grip is in the little finger(pinky) and gets weaker towards the index finger. With this in mind losing the index should not greatly adversely effect your control.

My Sensei (Nihon Goshin style) also stresses that the strongest part of the grip is from the middle finger to the pinky. In fact, in many techniques we do, the index fingers are extended. To prove this point (and you can try this, too), Sensei had me grip my own wrist. First he had me extend my index finger (in class, we call it the "ki finger") and notice the change in the strength of the grip. Then he told me to return the ki figer to the grip and extend the pinky finger. Again, notice the strength of the grip.

Try that and it may ease your fears!

Good luck!

thanks for all your posts and support. I have had my operation and the doctors managed to keep my finger. I think I've been very lucky.

Thanks again.