Sunday, May 31, 2009

movement

I've been expecially aware of the most basic aspects of movement in my iai lately. I noticed recently that when I'm doing kata from seiza a lot, it changes how I move from any seated position. Everything is much more stable, connected and solid. It's interesting.

Then this morning, I went to the gym to practice, and I ended up in a different court than I usually practice in. This one has a very tacky, almost sticky floor. A lot of the movements that I usually practice almost as gliding movements across the floor I can't do that way in the court. My feet and knees stick and won't move if there is any contact with the floor at all. I have to disconnect myself from the floor to do anything. It's not really difficult, but it is different enough that I have to put a little awareness into it, without letting the other parts of the kata go because I'm changing this one aspect. Good practice.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Interesting - I sometimes do weapons practice in our concrete floored courtyard and other times out in the backyard, on uneven grassy/weedy terrain that feels very different with the changing seasons (not to mention what footwear I have thrown on) - and find that an continual awareness of/feedback loop with the foot/earth seems to heighten awareness overall.