Kendo Flat Feet
by Matt
(Iowa City, Iowa)
Hi sensei,
I currently have flat feet. It can be hard sometimes for me to strike from the balls of my feet.
I was wondering if that would affect my suriashi, especially my fumikomi or hiraki ashi. Also I was wondering if you have any tips on how to footwork with flat feet, or if I have to lower my heel a bit.
Thank you
Kendo-Guide.Com: Thank you for your post. I myself do not have good arches of the feet either. I used to walk on my tiptoe because I heard that it would fix or make the flat feet better but I am not sure it worked or not. :)
You might try one of those
wrap to support your flat feet. I do not know how effective it is but I personally want to try it. I know my ankles are pushed inward due to my flat feet and I am sure that is not good for my knees too.
Now
kendō with flat feet. I do not think you should worry about it too much. You must focus on “
smoothness” in footwork.
Smoothness is created not with speed. You must know how far your feet should be from the floor and how to coordinate footwork with the entire body.
I am not sure what you mean by “strike from the balls of my feet”.
I always tell my students, when moving,
their heels should be up and only toes are on the floor. Of course, we need to fine-tune that but that is the basic idea.
Hope this helps!