Aiki Mechanics

Japanese / NPB mechanics are better than MLB's. Not to make a value judgment, of course

American baseball mechanics focus (more) on checkpoints at one moment in time:  Pitchers get tall, point the toe down on the leg kick, keep the hand outside the elbow, etc.

Aiki mechanics focus (more) on the transfer of weight through time, and the organization of the body around the CG.  How smoothly are you accelerating your weight?  Is your shoulder drawing energy from your hip?  Where are the "rays" of intention pointing from your belt buckle?

Aikido has four Golden Principles.  These apply equally to any sports, or indeed any use of the human (or animal) body:

1.  Relax - in baseball this is seen in tempo, for example.

2.  Keep one point - be aware of your CG and how power always flows from it.

3.  Keep weight underside - e.g. the way Brad Miller and Mike Napoli sink their weight to hit.

4.  Extend Ki - imagine "rays" coming from your fingers, your eyes, your belt buckle, and the same for your opponent.  This captures all forms of anticipation, including the high fastball setting up the yakker.  It includes throwing the ball through the target rather than at it.  It includes the way batters subliminally pick up a pitch before it's released.  etc.

Aiki mechanics are not the "magic bullet" to hitting .300.  But like Wakamatsu told his clubhouse:  instead of making fun of Ichiro, you might want to learn from him.

Cheers,

Dr D

Posts in this blog:

Dr. D is anything but bored with strike-throwing K-Pax
Posted on: 06/02/16
4 Comments
Dr. D takes baseball just a little too seriously
Posted on: 05/25/16
5 Comments
and by "King Leonydas" we mean the virtual player of Dr. D's perceptions
Posted on: 05/23/16
4 Comments
K-Pax and Diaz - panic moves or no-brainers... or both?
Posted on: 05/17/16
3 Comments
Posted on: 05/06/16
way of harmony, Dept.
Posted on: 04/11/16
2 Comments
Posted on: 03/22/16
6 Comments
Zych takes a left turn into clubhouse dominance
Posted on: 02/27/16
2 Comments
glad to have THIS settled
Posted on: 02/24/16
Posted on: 02/22/16
1 Comments
hey, anybody can bulk up
Posted on: 02/18/16
3 Comments
What do you MEAN, you don't have this month's BB's
Posted on: 01/22/16
6 Comments
anybody else wanna negotiate?
Posted on: 01/21/16
8 Comments
neuro-linguistic programming dept: YERRRR OUT
Posted on: 01/21/16
6 Comments
a short finish, dude. don't leave home without it.
Posted on: 01/11/16
1 Comments
who wrote that forward, again?
Posted on: 12/30/15
5 Comments
you are saying 1-2 is worse than 2-1, you fuule?
Posted on: 12/29/15
36 Comments
Cross-sports training Dept.
Posted on: 12/29/15
7 Comments
Dr. D will take the attitude, if nuttin' else
Posted on: 12/29/15
Well, burden of proof's on you, to get more player for less $
Posted on: 11/17/15
1 Comments
Let's see whether this one's got the distance...
Posted on: 10/31/15
7 Comments
Next Up: the Edgar.Space Needle. Is. Good.
Posted on: 09/18/15
Although Lloyd probably wouldn't go for a bat flip just yet
Posted on: 08/08/15
16 Comments
M's offense #4 in baseball A.E. (anno Edgar)
Posted on: 08/03/15
11 Comments
Teddy Ballgame, dept.
Posted on: 07/04/15
2 Comments
Dr. D out to lunch as usual
Posted on: 01/12/15
19 Comments
No, Dr. D ain't joking with this HBDI shtick
Posted on: 12/16/14
2 Comments
Dr. D can't lose even when he tries
Posted on: 11/25/14
2 Comments
Without it, he's about 4.5 WAR rather than 6.5 WAR
Posted on: 06/26/14
12 Comments
and avoid fried foods, which angry up the blood
Posted on: 06/05/14
1 Comments

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