Training using seiza

Seiza in Aikido....

The art of seiza

The history and tradition of seiza lies in the pure foundations of aikido.

seiza in aikido is used in training to perform many of the movements on your knees. we perform movements, as they are basically a traditional and historical form of training, to suppose that if you can do your techniques on your knees using just your hips. You attain a better posture and movement while standing. In all the traditional foundations in aikido, you'll find seiza techniques.

For every standing technique there is a kneeling technique.
When you first start training in aikido and you come across a seiza posture, You will suffer with your knees at first, becoming accustomed to moving around the Matt on your knees and using your toes.
Some clubs use it more widely than others, And find it beneficial for training, where other clubs have less emphasis on it.One of the main bearings of seiza is to utilize the hips in your techniques, seiza helps you perform this as you cannot use your legs.

I like to ask myself is it worth the training and ruining of the knees just to perform our techniques within a fine degree?
seiza has been around for a long time as far back as the Japanese history can go, so for them it is second nature, for us it is to recondition are hips and knees to actually never be used in this way unless you go to live in japan.

seiza is also performed in the ritual bowing at the beginning of the lesson and the end of lesson, in yoshinkan aikido seiza is performed with the front right standing posture. Slowly leading down into seiza, other clubs do it less formerly. Seiza is executed as a sign of respect for the dojo and respect for other students, including the sensei.

Train Hard Train Focused Train Safe.

Tony Day.