How to sit properly ?

Question

On my karate classes senpai had given us a task to sit in a japanese way , down on our knees with our feet crossed. We had to sit like that for 30 minutes , meditating, paying no attention to any pain , which I did. I'm confused how to sit in a proper way; do I have to cross my feet or do I have to cross my legs at the lower leg knuckles. And can you tell me any way to cut down the pain?

It comes with practise I guess.

Answer 1

Knee sitting can be difficult. I feel the same pain no matter how I sit. After a hard BJJ workout my knees throb once I stand up after a discussion with our instructor, iut's tough for sure. Crossing the feet is best (allowing my legs to lay side by side not on top of each other) as it limits the strain on your legs, crossing the calf area could be quite difficult and I feel should be avoided.

Karate is rigid and demanding. Over time sitting in this fashion may become more comfortable but you will always have challenges if it hurts now.

Overcoming this mentaly has it's own rewards. Try sitting in a deep horse for 30 minutes or more and you will find even more unique areas of pain will develop. All physical challenges have their own pain to endure.

For whatever reason all fighting systems have physical challenges that require one to seek out a mental balance to overcome pain. Try doing a full BJJ warm up on your abs, now that's pain!

You need to focus on breathing and allow your muscles to relax fully. Your feet may fall asleep causing a new dimension of pain to be realized. Pain is a state of mind so work to overcome what you perceive and it may help. Find one thing to focus on and practice thinking of that one thing and not thinking of the pain.

In my Kung Fu San Soo kids class we challenge the children with what we call wall sitting. Place your feet shoulder width apart and lean into a wall with your back straight and legs bent at 90 degree angles until you appear to be sitting in a chair, let your arms rest comfortably with hands placed on your thighs with no pressure on them, do not let your butt fall below your knee level. Hold this position for 60 seconds and then add time as you can stand it. We have the kids tell jokes to one another to distract their minds. They are all up to almost three minutes at this point and still adding time little by little.

Mental challenges are a good thing to imporve self. Give it time and you will find these little things will become easier as you grow in your art and in endurance.

KK

Answer 2

your teacher is wasting your time, you should ask for your money back.

sitting in that fasion does NOTHING for your martial arts abilities.

the only potential purpose or art that should have it is iaido as it is a part of a purpose- an obsolete purpose, but a purpose nonetheless.

Even then you don't "sit" for 30 minuites, you get up and cut from that position.

(try cutting tamashigiri from that position- very fun the first time you do it. You feel weak till you actually cut an object from it with a live blade).

you do NOT cross your feet. your back should be straight but natural, not leaning too far forward or back, you should be sitting with your legs in a "v" with your feet folded under you and pointed back- the instep should be pointing towards the floor- your toes pointing out not bracing on the floor.

there is no point for a "karate" class to be doing this other than to spend time because your teacher didn't want to teach that night or was in his office boozing and getting chicks.

Answer 3

your teacher is an idot. firstly to make you sit like that for 30 mins, is stupid. because it cut off the blood supply to your legs. Therefore when you go to stand or move, you legs are asleep. But not changing position you are unable to be effecient, and ready.

Example: (Based on fact)

If you were in fedual Japan, when the samurai were well around, and you had to protect your Lord. (you would be the only one between someone else and your Lord) If you had been siting like that the whole time with out changing your position, if some was to come along and to kill you lord, and you went to get up, you wouldn't be able to move quick enough, you would be struck down in an instance, and so would your Lord.

There are a few ways you can sit. With regard to the cross leg:

You don't actually cross your legs. You sit on one foot, and other foot comes to your opposite knee. So you actually make a triangle.

If you wanted be able to that for long periods of time, than start of with a small amount of time and work your way up.

Lastly, unless you were born in Japan or somewhere they are have always sat that than you will see that, that way of sitting is unatural for us. That is why we find it uncomfortable

Answer 4

Keep alternating one big toe over the other when sitting seiza, that will making it more comfortable. Keep your knees one fist apart and your back straight, with your hands on your knees pointing inwards and your elbows out. When you bow; bow from the waist towards your hands on the tatami. Your hands should form a "A" on the tatami and you should touch your forehead to your hands during a bow.

Always rise right leg first and descend left leg first so you can maintain your ability to draw your sword at all times (even when unarmed, there's always right way and wrong when it comes to Japanese etiquette)-your first aikido lesson? It's shouldn't be painful if you do it properly, for tea ceremony you would sit seiza for about an hour and it's supposed to be fun.

Answer 5

Ah yes, the how do I sit in this outfit without being improper question that every female goes through now and then. Since you're wearing a skirt, you DO NOT want to cross your legs, because you might accidentally flash someone. Instead, you sit down and you keep your legs close together and tuck one foot behind the other heel, and sit up straight. Slouching is bad manners. When the food arrives, place the napkin in your lap, just incase you drop something, so that you do not stain what you are wearing. Always say please and thank you when offered something. Try whatever dish you offered, even if you know you don't like it, because to just turn it down is seen as rude. You'll do fine!

Answer 6

Don't cross your feet. That will only cause you pain and discomfort. Seiza is a very common sitting position in the japanese martial arts. All you are really doing is kneeling and sitting back on your feet. A small hint would be to keep your back straight.

Answer 7

Just try sitting in Seiza at home on your carpet. When you first start, the pain is mostly from pressure points against the hard floor. By sitting on a carpet, you are able to find where the points are and a good way to shift your weight, making it easy to transfer to a hard floor later. It is all about where you hold your weight.


Survivor: your example is silly because if you were with your lord in Feudal Japan you would probably be sitting in Seiza with him unless you were in the process of walking somewhere.

Answer 8

This totally comes with practice. the japanese have been sitting this way almost since they could walk, to them it is second nature. I advise my students to sit in seiza for 5 minutes each evening while watching TV and gradually leangthen the time. this will get your leg muscles used to teh position.

In my style we do not cross the feet because if you had to get up to attack in a rush it is harder if your feet or ankles are crossed.

If you can try sitting in Tate-hiza position (this is a killer) to beginners it is awkward and unbalanced, but with practice it becomes easier

David