|
Post by Dod Watt on Oct 10, 2010 11:19:20 GMT
How do we achieve our balance?, what makes us stable?.
Whether we are stationary or we are on the move, what are the vital points of achieving stability and balance, giving the fact that there are a wide variation of distances and areas on which we have the possibility to root or make some sort of stance, for example, lots to very small limited space (i.e. a big hall to a crowded pub), then we have the contour of the ground we are standing on, is it flat, does it slope or is it uneven.
One of my theories is that you've got to get your centre of gravity right in conjunction with as much of the supporting area covered, for example with a large area where you can root both feet in a stance you have a much greater amount of options of where to place your centre of gravity, where as if you are on the move or in a very tight space you might only have the chance to root one foot so you have to get the centre of gravity positioned over the supporting leg and making sure that that foot is placed flat on the ground to give you the maximum stability as possible.
Does anyone else have any theories or concepts on this subject.
|
|
|
Post by Paul Bedard on Oct 11, 2010 0:37:05 GMT
Good post George; let me take a stab at this. I totally agree on the focus of your center of balance. In mobile equipment we use the concept of a stability pyramid. I`ll try & simplify this on how I see it relating to the human body. If we are in a deep wider stance, say zenkutsu dachi, we can draw a base line from foot to foot. Now if we use the top of our head as the point or top of a triangle, join the two outsides of the base line to the top to make a triangle. Now lets think about the center of gravity. with the back straight, the hips leading, front knee over big toe, all things perfect, your center of gravity is at the tanden, about two inches below the navel & center of your body between the navel & the spine. If you were to mark this spot on the triangle that we formed, we should have about equal distance front & back to the outside edge of the triangle. Now if we were to lean forward the center of gravity would get closer to the outside edge of the triangle, if we were to twist & lean even closer. Draw a triangle put a dot about one third the way up from the bottom & center it. This is good balance. Now move the dot 1/3 toward the front. This is not good balance. Now take that dot that you moved one third the way forward & move it straight up, when it leaves the triangle this is when we fall over. Relate this to being bent & twisted & standing up. So what I`m getting at is that we need to keep our center of gravity to our body center, so that it is in the center of the triangle. The higher our center of gravity the the easier we are to be knocked down, thrown or tripped. Our center of gravity is to close to the outside of the stability pyramid & we have done half of our opponents work for him. I hope this makes sense. Osu Paul B
|
|
|
Post by tomobrien on Oct 12, 2010 1:55:41 GMT
George, great topic. Paul good stuff.
Two old drills to help balance:
For balance when kicking, just do it slowly & hold it out. Seems that nobody has the patience to do this anymore. (I know, I know - if I had patients I'd be a doctor)
This one is fun - just stand in front of each other, close to each other & push or pull each other. Whoever moves their foot first loses.
Thanks, Tom
|
|
|
Post by Dod Watt on Oct 12, 2010 12:59:16 GMT
Paul, I totally agree with you, if we go beyond the boundaries of the pyramid, the fulcrum ( the point on which our weight can pivot ) would be unable to sustain stability, we have to make sure that the weight is distributed in a way that we can still move without upsetting our balance, we also have to utilise the ground space we have available in conjunction with the supporting foot or feet.
So if you take the point ( apex ) of the pyramid, or lets say triangle, and use that as our pivot point and shift it either up and down and side to side making sure you don't go outwith the maximum points of the base line, that allows us the stability and balance depending on the weight ratio given on the supporting leg or legs.
Therefore the maximum stability can be obtained by getting the correct combination for the given space ( i.e. height and weight distribution over the supporting limb or limbs ).
|
|
|
Post by genkaimade on Oct 12, 2010 15:04:23 GMT
Another great topic George! I was disappointed not to find a Mr Miyagi quote in it though
|
|
|
Post by Dod Watt on Oct 12, 2010 15:29:50 GMT
It would be more like a Danielsan quote from me Alex
|
|
|
Post by Paul Bedard on Oct 12, 2010 16:56:24 GMT
Absolutely George. Also it should be noted that the narrower the stance, say sanchin, then the more important it is to have the center of gravity centered between the supporting limbs. As the triangle ( stability pyramid ) is now a lot narrower ( tighter ) & there is less room for the center of gravity to shift before we are unbalanced. I we were to look at how a very common defense to a take down works, by getting our stance long & our weight low, this makes it much harder to effect the take down, as compared to standing in a narrow stance. Osu Paul B
|
|
|
Post by genkaimade on Oct 12, 2010 17:03:44 GMT
'Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?'
|
|
|
Post by Dod Watt on Oct 12, 2010 17:08:28 GMT
|
|
|
Post by genkaimade on Oct 12, 2010 17:36:32 GMT
XD Hasn't reversed having already seen the film about 100 times though
|
|
|
Post by Paul Bedard on Oct 13, 2010 16:19:05 GMT
Ah, Mr Myagi very wise!! Paul B
|
|