The Unshakable Core

The Unshakable Core

Do you ever find that your low back is achy after playing taiko? Are you frustrated that your hits just aren’t sounding powerful? Do you lose your balance when striking the drum? A strong mid-section, particularly the abdominals, can be the key to a solution for these problems.

Take a moment to stand at a drum (even if it’s imaginary). Tighten your abdomen muscles. You should notice that your pelvis tilts just slightly, into a neutral position. This is a simple step you can take toward protecting yourself from taiko injuries. It may take some strengthening to hold this position while playing. Just like other athletes, it is important for taiko players to do a little cross-training.

Simple crunches can be helpful, but only target one section of the complicated muscle structure, and are often boring. Here are some fun ways you can strengthen your core, and increase coordination simultaneously:

Pilates

Yoga

Running

Dancing

Skating

Kickboxing

Racquet Sports (Tennis, Badminton, Racquetball)

Have more suggestions? Post ’em! Do you appreciate measurable progress and prefer crunches? Email me and I will send you a range of resources for ways to strengthen your entire center with crunches rather than just those “six pack muscles”.

Be sure to warm up, cool down, and stretch with any strenuous exercise.