kibadachi and pain

[todome]

Would it be fair to say that its very difficult for you to stand with your feet together (heels AND toes) without letting your butt stick out?

[DWx]

Bit of an unlikely one but you could possibly have what I have. My feet point outwards and I look duck-footed/out-toed but my actual legs are not rotated. Can't remember what its called but its a condition where the shins almost corkscrew slightly outward. They're supposed to be about +3° (left foot) and +4° (right) outwards than they should be in a normal person. So my legs, knees, everything points forward but because of the rotation on the shin, my feet point outwards. Only fixable via surgery where they break the legs and reset the shins rotated inwards so the feet now point the correct way.

Anyway it makes it very difficult to do a proper horse stance without the knees or shins giving way so its kinda farfetched but maybe you have something similar? But perhaps try everyone else's advice with the stretching and strengthening training first.

[sensei8]

I've no magical cure and/or advise to ease/lessen the pain one feels while enduring kiba-dachi except for one...

Deal with it...work through it...suck-it-up. "This kind of advice would have you ignore the signals that your body is sending to you, and this can be damaging." Yes, this might be true, but, I'm not saying to ignore what your body is tellling you. What I'm saying is...deal with the pain for just a litte and even a little more the next time. Work through it, otherwise, you'll never reach a crescendo. Suck-it-up and find that 'it' within you so that you can reach the next rung on the ladder. Are you standing properly? Is your posture correct? Have you stretched? Have you done your strengthening exercises? Are your 't' crossed and your 'i' dotted?

Kiba-dachi isn't an easy and enjoyable stance at first, but before you know it, the first will pass, and so will the discomfort. Work the stance and don't let the stance work you.

[todome]

You might want to check with your doctor to make sure compensating for for flat feet on a daily basis isn't causing you to develop hip problems that can haunt you later. Some physiotherapy might be in order.

[GOM]

Do Shiko Dachi instead - much better on the knees, hips, and ankles.

When kiba and kokutsu were introduced into the shotokan kata there was little thought, or knowledge, on body mechanics. The idea behind these two stances, plus long zenketsu, was for the physical "benefits" for school children in the Physical Education karate program taught at schools.

[ptr]

As ninjanurse suggested, working on ankle flexibility should help. Also, in my opinion, having the feet perfectly pointing forward is not so important in this stance. If your body can't - then don't. Just make sure that the knees are properly positioned, though - they should never be allowed to bend inwards, as this is dangerous for the joint (and a very weak stance too).

[kansascityshuffle]

Do Shiko Dachi instead - much better on the knees, hips, and ankles.

When kiba and kokutsu were introduced into the shotokan kata there was little thought, or knowledge, on body mechanics. The idea behind these two stances, plus long zenketsu, was for the physical "benefits" for school children in the Physical Education karate program taught at schools.

I broke my pelvis in a parachute accident when I was in the military, well, separated the pubis symphysis 4 cm (open book fracture).

As a result kiba dachi wrecks havoc on my back which is effected from my pelvis injury.

I go with sheiko dachi as well and find sheiko dachi a bit more mobile even though I don't think I ever used it in kumite.

When I was younger we used to do training like stay in kiba dachi for minutes with bo across your thighs and to keep it there without rolling off. Now that I'm a bit older and banged up I'll stick to sheiko dachi whenever possible.

[BDPulver]

I was about to add something till I saw DWX post. we had a student who had the same condition where there feet didnt turn right even though everything else was perfect. He mentioned the condition to me ages ago. but worked with it. made shodan then nidan then eventually sandan before retireing cause it started taking its toll i think. cant remember exactly friend told me he stopped going to classes.