Injured aikidoka wants training tips!

I have recently begun classes in Iwama ryu aikido, and I've gone and broken my ankle (bimalleolar - got screws and plates keeping my ankle together sheesh!!! ). Obviously, I won't be able to train at the dojo for quite a few weeks, but I was wondering if there are any aspects of aikido I could be working on while my ankle healed? Upper body conditioning won't be a problem (I have a bokken, jo and free weights), and I have plenty of time to do wrist conditioning exercises and stretches. Anyone got any suggestions????

Hi, Robert. If you can get to the dojo, I recommend once or twice a week just observing class. It can be very interesting, esp if you select one aspect to watch for a while: just how people do the opening movements, or just the rolling, or whatever.

Learn or practice (if you can put weight on the ankle) your weapons katas.

Hi Robert,

I, too, would recommend going to watch class when you can. It's educational.

Hope your ankle heals up quickly and completely!

-- Jun

Janet Rosen wrote: Hi, Robert. If you can get to the dojo, I recommend once or twice a week just observing class. It can be very interesting, esp if you select one aspect to watch for a while: just how people do the opening movements, or just the rolling, or whatever.

I also agree with just watching.. also practice bokken and jo cuts and strikes,

Also as soon as your Mobile get back on the mat , but still take it easy, I speak from experience i had broken both ankles in a fall in 1991 and was taken to dojo while still in a wheel chair then as soon as i was on crutches was back on the mat.. even did a Dan grade with a walking stick.

best of luck
Thom

I am having to take about a year long break due to an injury. I have been finding that going to the dojo to watch class has been helpful. Also, focusing on my spiritual path, mediation, ki energy and reading about aikido, has given me a new perspective that i plan on taking with me when i return to the physical part of training. I have also been trying to watch video clips online. Talk with your sensei as well and definitely take it easy when you return. Good Luck and healing!

Michelle

Thanks for the advice, guys . Heck, this might be a chance for me to invent walking stick or crutch suburi! How about kumicrutch?Of course, there is always plaster cast atemi (I might wait for my ankle to heal before I kick anyone with it!)

Robert Fox wrote: Heck, this might be a chance for me to invent walking stick or crutch suburi!

Funny you should say that, in years past i have seen some very interesting techniques, performed by Master Han of Hapkido, with a walking stick

Thom Hansen wrote: Funny you should say that, in years past i have seen some very interesting techniques, performed by Master Han of Hapkido, with a walking stick

Oooh... I get to wear my HKD hat on the Aikido boards


Yes. Cane is a core technique of Hapkido. Typically it is not learnt until 3-4th Dan. This is because a lot of the fun work is doing head throws and flips using the handle end of the cane around the neck. Obviously pretty easy to maim someone permanently if a lot of care and skill is not already available. Middle stick (about 3ft long) is taught before that, but you are not expected to be proficient in it until 2nd Dan. If you'd like to have a look at the cane techniques, there's a good book on it by GM Kwang-sik Myung called Hapkido Weapons, Vol 2., Cane Techniques. My teacher also has a couple of videos too, but I don't remember the details offhand. I can look them up if needed. Since GM Myung's seminar last year, where he taught it, and another coming up shortly, we've been doing an awful lot of short-stick work, so we're all getting quite proficient at it.

FWIW, you can do cane techniques with basic Aikido knowledge. Think about the Jo techniques and reduce the length of the stick a bit. Because of the shorter length, it allows a lot more "interesting" techniques - mostly of the 1-handed variety involving joint locks and throws. My school has both HKD and Aikido classes, and one of the Aikido black belts did cane work for his specialty for the shodan test.

Do Pilates.

Robert-did you break it doing Aikido? Just like learning to modify you technique to treat your patients, you'll have to modify what you are doing for a while. Weapons can be good when you can put some weight on it. I'd also recommend the Videos, CDs, reading route as well-it will keep your interest up and when you watch classes help you mentally train as well.

he slipped on ice.

Iwama doesn't do them; but I'd also highly, highly recommend hitori-waza. Very soft, non-stressful and extremely educational. Also; many of them can be done, with slight modification, while sitting down; also easy on the ankles.

Good luck with the ankle, Robert - I know too well what you're feeling!
(BTW: If at any time the pain in your ankle gets too bad; I've a friend that can help you. His name's Jack.
Jack Daniels, that is. Does wonders; I tell ya. )

Cheers!

Thanks for the help, guys. The ankle is pretty sore, but it's getting better - staples out in one week! woohoo! Only wished i'd fallen on my buut - would have bounced hehehe. Will look up hitori waza right now.....

Hi, Robert. Ditto about watching. I've also found it helpful to visualize doing techniques in my head, and with pen and paper. If you're more verbally inclined, you could try writing down exactly how to do a technique; if you're more visual, you could draw how to do a technique (nothing fancy, even stick figures are fine, provided they have hips!). As if you're composing a manual for someone, or as if your next test were in essay form rather than actually doing stuff.

With your ankle in such bad shape, can you swim? That would be a great way to keep up some cardio activity.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Kevin Kelly wrote: he slipped on ice.

Ahh! Ice waza! Work on your center Robert.

I am working on my center, John - added 4 pounds since last Tuesday! sheesh! Why does comfort food have to be so sugary and fatty? Oh, I think I just answered my own question......

Had the staples out of my ankle yesterday (felt like getting 20 beestings in a row - but it feels SO much better afterwards!). I've got a `walking' boot now (ironic that I'm not allowed to walk with it!) The doctor told me that I will still need crutches for 6 weeks at least, and that I'm not allowed to bear any weight on my ankle for 4 more weeks. The plate, if needs be, will be removed in 6 to 8 months (another sugery, and another month using crutches - b&^^*%#!!!). I'm starting to practice bokken cuts while seated (not ideal, but any conditioning is a bonus right now) and using light weights. I'm reading anything aikido related I can lay my hands on, and I'm going back to watching classes tomorrow.
Thanks, guys, for your support and guidance.

The very thing I do not understand in today's medicine....
Imagine being in some stupid-years-long-war, for example just couple of hundreds years ago, or even better - working on a field and supporting your family. Don't people broke their ankles? I can't imagine it took them 6 month to recover.

So, I'm sure you'll get better faster than what doctors say!
With bokken - you can do one hand cuts. So, it's not necessary to be seated. Another thing you can probably do, if you allowed to - roll on your back from hip to opposite shoulder it's not ushiro ukemi, but at least it is something. And you might also stretch whatever you can.

Get well!

All you need to do is look at deforming injuries of bodies long buried.
Poorly set bones, fused ankles, arthritis.

Doctors tend to be conservative - at least a good sports doctor as an understanding of the need to train.

Why don't you consult one of them.

We will occasionally practice techniques while sitting in a chair; maybe you could find some people who'd practice with you that way.

Bronson

aaaagrrrrr....Iwama aikido, Danger, Danger!!!!
why don't you start FMA, Arnis or Escrima? They have TONS of drills with sticks and knife. You may do it while sitting on chair, I suppose.

Maybe a visit to a medical-rehabilitation doctor could help...
They're the ones specializing in post-injury and post-surgery treatment... and usually, medical-rehab doctors can help you find suitable exercises...

Regards,
Joezer

Robert Fox wrote: b&^^*%#!!!). I'm starting to practice bokken cuts while seated (not ideal, but any conditioning is a bonus right now) and using light weights. I'm reading anything aikido related I can lay my hands on, and I'm going back to watching classes tomorrow. Thanks, guys, for your support and guidance.

Robert, if at any time in the process you feel like venting/getting support from somebody who has "been there" (18 months off the mats when my knee blew out), feel free to email or private message me.

Hi Robert,
I don't know how bad you broke your ankle, and each doctor has his own rules about weight bearing etc.
I don't know if you are intitled to physiotherapy, but if you are, I would do that when you can start putting weight on your foot. they can teach you how to strenghten the muscles around the ankle and work on proprioception, that will help keep your ankle safe in the future. Proprioception is good for everyone and can benefit you greatly in Aikido.
hope you feel better,
take care,
Anat