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Owen
Old Hand
22 Posts |
 Posted - 31/10/2006 : 12:27:34
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In everyday life, I've always assumed that extra height is an advantage. You can see over crowds, get noticed at the bar faster and reach the top shelves in ummm, shops. 
However, in training it's often been demonstrated that a taller person can be at a disadvantage. As Uke, not only do we have further to fall (eeek!), but a higher centre of gravity makes it easier to break our balance. As Tori, we've seen techniques where a high centre of gravity can make life harder for us. In short, it seems when it comes to the dojo, being tall sucks.
So what's the solution? Do we work to lower our centre of gravity and minimise any height difference? Or is it wise to find techniques more suited to our height? Maybe there is no "solution" and we just have to live with it?
Thoughts and suggestions, anyone?
Oh, for completeness I suppose I should mention that being tall can have a down side in everyday life too. I'm off to go and hit my head on some door frames now, see you all soon! 
Owen
"It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?" - Ronald Reagan
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Cannon_Fodder
Not so Fiendish Admin
106 Posts |
 Posted - 01/11/2006 : 11:23:28
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Right lets see,
Firstly remember to take into account the source of the height advantage, short people will rarely know the advantages of the tall person and likewise the tall will struggle to know the advantages of the short, except the blinding obvious, but sometimes that is misguided.
Also in the context of falling while tall people may have higher to fall, the smaller people will normally get maneuvered o a point were they have to fall a similar distance.
One solution is to simply start bending those knees and widening the stance. But initially its worth having the smaller person of balance better, like you suggest it can make your life more difficult with their lower centre of gravity, but if thats shifted beyond the point of their body it becomes easier.
This (if i remember right) was pointed out by pino, to throw tall people you have to imagine making them short and fat, stretch them out . But then to throw smaller people you make them tall and thin.
But thats one of the reasons for training with loads of people, you work out what course of action is best for your body and uke's body, and it will invariably be different to somebody of a different build with a different uke.
But don't forget its not really about advantages or disadvantages, remember that as a larger person, you will have a longer gait, larger reach, which makes moving you a little more awkward, a larger freedom of movement, where as a smaller person occupies less space has a shorter stride and usually shorter distance covered in general.
I guess what I'm saying is that don't see your height as a disadvantage or advantage, theres little you can do about it (without a tourniquet and a bone saw  ) you will just have to learn to feel it in the long run.
Hope that at least gives you a bit of an answer (that there is no easy answer)
Matt
In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switerzland they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock
Orson Welles |
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ivesjz
Banging On A Bit
75 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 15:08:27
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Yin and Yang, Ure and Omote...
A tall person also has distinct advantage.
Although he has a higher sense of gravity and is therefore, technically, easier to throw, he'll still weigh more that a short person of similar build. The tall person will have longer limbs and therefore a greater reach. The tall person will find it easier to strike downwards with all his weight, whereas the shorter person may have to strike upswrads and needs an alternative sources of power to mass and gravity. It's easier for tall person to reach the head and face, whereas the short person might have to jump to reach it...
Like Matt said, it's important to find a style that plays to your physical advantages. That is why different schools exist in Ninjutsu. Different Schools have pretty much the same techniques, but the movements and styles differ to suit different phenotypes and attitudes.
It is a fallcy to think that size, shape and strength do not make a difference to your ability to fight. Of course they do. What it is important to remember is that whatever size and shape you are there are always techniques and ways of moving that will enable to you maximise your advantage, and get the most out of your body. Whether or not that is enough to enable to you prevail will depend very much on your opponent and, dare I say it, dumb luck...
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"Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action
arises by itself?"
Lao Tzu (Dao De Ching)
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Owen
Old Hand
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 22:11:28
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Hmmm, okay. Thanks for the replies, definitely some ideas to think about. Of course, actually applying them to techniques is another matter!
Guess I won't be needing that bone saw just yet. Maybe I can find another use for it 
On a more technical note, I've taken "tall and thin" to mean that you're trying to stretch Uke vertically, is that the right idea?
Owen
"It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?" - Ronald Reagan |
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Cannon_Fodder
Not so Fiendish Admin
106 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2006 : 22:48:47
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Yep pretty much
It's a good way to start your thinking, the rest . . . well you'll work that in time.
Perfect practice makes perfect after all
Matt
On an aside "Bone Saw" jutsu, t'would be a bad day in hell to start doing those techniques!
In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switerzland they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock
Orson Welles |
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Beth
Newbie
5 Posts |
Posted - 30/11/2006 : 08:59:32
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I know it's rare that i reply to one of these, but I thought i'd have a go. When I first started training I felt the fact I was short was a disadvantage, but that was because I was doing everything wrong!! Now I feel that It doesn't make too much of a difference, it's just distances to be changed when training with someone big. When I'v spoken to Steve about the size difference we have in training I feel it's harded for the bigger person because it's easy to use force to make someone fall, or their wrist hurt rather than the technique, when obviously if I tried to use forse to make the likes of steve fall on the floor he'd laugh at me!
Thats my own experience anyway!! |
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Bels
Old Hand
15 Posts |
Posted - 30/11/2006 : 13:44:31
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as i am tall (for a girl) i find than bending my legs is something i need to do more of but not sticking my arse out at the same time - thus it kinder hurts (stretches) my thigh muscles more than they want to go - but i guess that flexibility will come with time and muchos yoga!
It ain't no sin if you crack a few laws now and then, just so long as you don't break any |
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Withering Heights
