RoyalPython

I'm seriously losing all interest in karate. I hate feeling this way because I've quit once before and swore I wouldn't do it again but I'm finding it such an effort to keep it going these days For one thing, the class is full of teenagers and kids. There are only 3 adults there and I am the only woman. The other adults are all higher grades than me and tend to stick together so I'm usually partnered with a child under the age of 10 which I just think is pointless really. We've been doing a lot of throw work recently and as I'm self concious about my weight, this makes me really nervous and embarrassed. Especially when I'm partnered with someone smaller as I know I'm heavy. Also, its making a big dint in my finances at a time when I really could do to save the money I spend on karate every week. I don't know what to do. I don't want to quite because I know I'll regret it again but everytime it's a training day I end up feeling quite anxious about it because I just don't want to go. Feeling really down about it all to be honest.

I was told that if you practices stretching every day you would eventually be able to get all the way down into the splits. I doubt this as even the people in the class that have been training for years are not all the way down. I'm 27, is it too late for me to acheive this?

The flexibity, control and strengh on my left side is nowhere near as good as my right. I can't perform side/round or back kicks with my left leg without either falling over or it hitting shin rather than stomach. Does anyone have any tips of increasing ability in my left side? Is it litrally just practice/practice and practice?