Aikido Help?

Question

I've been doing aikodo for a few months now and I love it, but i'm wondering if theres any outside the dojo training i can do to build my stamina(cause my isnt very good)

PS Please dont say that "aikido dosnt work" or whatever cause i've been thrown so many times i lost count.

Answer 1

Actually, I found you could practice rolls, cutting (as with boken), footwork and walking on your knees very nicely on your own and these will not only give you good exercise, but also practice your techniques. There also some exercises you can do on your own, such as Hirikino Yosei, your tenkans, etc...
What you can do is ask your sensei for help on a few pointers to make sure you can correct yourself when you do these things on your own (angles, where your feet should end up, etc...) Practicing on your own should never replace class (because you don't want to develop bad habits), but once you have a good idea what you're trying to do, you can always try to improve on what you're doing. My sensei always says, once we manage to do something right for the first time: Good - now do it 10 000 more times. This is hardly an exaggeration.

Now it's winter and I can't practice outside anymore, but I used to go out to a big nice field, where I could just roll away, and do all the footwork as much as I could. I managed to build it up to a 2 hour routine, just doing exercises I could do on my own. If you have a place where you can practice or the weather is still good where you live, I say ask your sensei what he feels comfortable with you doing on your own and practice to your heart's content.

Actually, the winter is good for one thing. Try practicing your footwork and tenkans on live ice. If you can keep one point there, you can keep one point anywhere.

Answer 2

Any type of aerobic activity increases you stamina. It could be running, vigorous bicycling or aerobics classes. The "Y" in my area offers the Les Mills series of aerobics classes. I love to take the Body Combat class because it incorporates martial arts techniques. Of all the aerobics classes I've seen that purport to be based on martial arts moves, this one actually is. Les Mills was an Olympic athlete and the Body Combat class was designed by a martial artist, I believe a Wing Chun practitioner.
Here is a link:
http://www.lesmills.com/southeast/en/members/bodycombat/about-bodycombat.aspx

I started doing intense aerobic training this summer and it really made a difference in my Hapkido test in August. I also can tell I have way more stamina for sparring.

Incidentally I started out taking 8 classes of Aikido. It was through an adult not-for-credit program. I really liked it but it was rather expensive, not to mention 15 miles from my house. I found a Hapkido school much closer to me.

Answer 3

Opinionated Kitten pretty much gave you most of the answers I can think of. All I can add is for you to try swimming. The controlled breathing, rhythmic movements and stamina building involved in swimming are perfect supplements for your Aikido training. I used to do Tai Sabaki drills while in chest to neck deep water and the water offers some resistance which gives your body a good workout. You can also practice Ukemi or breakfalls on water to cushion your falls a bit.

Answer 4

In AIKIJUTSU class we used to say "we dont do sit ups we do get ups"LOL

Knee walking until you can cover the length of the dojo faster than someone walking normally beside you.Tenkan excellent drill for getting out of the "line of fire"of an attackers technique.But for endurance and wind running is still the king swimming is a good 2nd.

Answer 5

fast fist is right jogging is the best, also incorporate ground fighting like bjj cuz aikido on its own is not enuf if your defense is broken. also learn yoga so you can blow yer own horn....roflmao

Answer 6

jogging