Kuma

This right here will be incredibly valuable to you. You're fortunate to have this option.

For power in your strikes and kicks, a good weight training regimen will work wonders. Since you're already training in Kyokushin three times a week which is grueling as it is, twice a week tops for your strength training. Focus on squats, cleans, pull-ups, dumbbell rows, dumbbell bench, and dumbbell press. Finish with some abdominal and grip work. Cardio-wise, sprints are the name of the game. Do them after your strength training. 400m sprints with 2-3 minutes of rest in between, do as many as you can until your time goes over 120% of what your first time was, then quit. Shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes. For flexibility, stretch every day. Again - every day. This is the toughest part for most guys, but it's one of the most important. Find a good routine that focuses on the splits (front and side) as well as incorporating dynamic stretches in your routine. Conditioning your forearms and shins will take a long time so don't rush. Use the heavy bag and keep sparring. It'll take time but do it intelligently and you'll see good benefits.

I'm not sure I understand. Are you personally awarding yourself stripes for goals met?

Sanchin kata will always be my favorite kata to perform. I usually practice it a few times a day, and feel it has many benefits beyond the physical. I'm often called out in class to demonstrate it, so I guess that means I perform it well. For being so simple visually, it's so complicated internally and I'm always learning something new.

"Superkick" Vick is probably the greatest Aussie kickboxer of all time. He definitely needs more recognition. I only learned about him myself maybe a year ago if that.

I also agree. I've stated the same myself many times. Great minds...

I recently just put on the white belt again and became a student of Judo. There was both an excellent Judo and BJJ place nearby and I eventually chose Judo for several reasons: (1) As someone mentioned before, the throws tend to blend in well with knockdown fighting and there is some similarity to the throws we have already learned. (2) I like the bigger emphasis on throws and sweeps for both competitive and self protection purposes. (3) Being a police officer, I want to know some groundfighting but not specialize in it (fortunately the school I am attending has three dedicated groundfighting sessions a week, two after regular classes). (4) Judo just seems more fun to me and is something I've always wanted to do. It definitely is a bit rougher on an older guy when first learning, though. Fortunately Motrin and I are already on a first name basis.

I was actually taught for jodan tsuki that the ideal positioning of my fist was 45 degrees, halfway between horizontal and vertical.

I think the difference between the wolf and the sheepdog is, on the side of the sheepdog, compassion and a code of conduct. You've got to have a bit of the wolf in you but you also need to genuinely care about your sheep. And as a protector of the sheep you need a high standard to follow to rely on when your wolfish side starts barking.

I don't think it'll ever happen sadly. Tae Kwon Do beat us to it.

Great advice yamesu. Couldn't have said it better.

A bull did. But just once. Sosai then fought 64 of his cousins to show the bull he got lucky.

Though I've been guilty of it myself, you really want to avoid it. Push yourself, but that means you've pushed yourself too hard and now lose some of the benefit of your training.

Sosai Mas Oyama trained Shihan Shigeru Oyama, who trained my instructor John Farrell. John Farrell later went to Japan and studied under Sosai. Kancho Farrell then created his own Kyokushin organization and that is our head instructor who I get to train with. So technically it's Masutatsu Oyama - John Farrell - me. Can't get much better than that in my opinion.

i didnt know that,have you ever did this training personally? its something that i wasnt aware of,it seems kinda of "unique" since you wouldnt find such training in that many styles more one of the reasons kyokushin is so great It isn't unique to Kyokushin but many organizations conduct it. I have done it both as part of a group and individually. Individual kangeiko is a great test of spirit. Just use common sense - if it is blistering cold it is not a good idea. Even just training in a cold garage can be kangeiko.

If they only practice for tournaments I can understand your hesitation. Many knockdown dojo do train with gloves and allow head shots in dojo sparring nowadays.

Traditionally it's called kangeiko. It's pretty common in many Kyokushin organizations during their winter gasshuku.

I think this is the kind of thing people need to keep in mind. Appearance means little compared to fighting ability.

It's mostly for scoring purposes. By knocking an opponent down via a technique and then demonstrating you would finish them off on the ground you get a half point.

But even a student can someday surpass his instructor. And what if your coach was an Olympic champion and did do amazing things? The two aren't mutually exclusive.

I don't understand the difference between the two to be honest.

Even if it's only medical issues disallowing him? Due to hip issues my instructor can't kick above the waist with either leg. He still has enough experience and training though to know how exactly the techniques are executed. This approach would also exclude instructors whose age caught up to them. It should be a case by case basis, not a general blanket.

Nobody is saying if you're healthy enough for exercise and have no medical issues you can't lose weight. However just because you lose a lot of weight doesn't necessarily mean you'll be all lean muscle. I know many people who eat healthy and work out hard yet still look heavy. A bear can't look like an otter no matter how hard he works. Consequently a natural heavyweight will find it virtually impossible to become a lightweight. Besides your example is a poor one. Eating only 600 calories will make you lose weight as your body will be feeding on its muscle to survive. That is neither healthy nor what a martial artist should strive for.

My Goju Ryu sensei was a bit on the heavy side but he was an excellent teacher and in good fighting shape. My current instructors are both on the heavy side (with some years on them so that doesn't help) and I would hate to fight either one of them. Looks can be deceiving. You can have someone lean and in shape who can't fight their way out of a paper bag on the flip side. Some people are just naturally on the heavier side and no matter what they do it's always how they'll be. The quality of the instruction is far more important than what your sensei's scale at home says.

Listen to your therapist and take your Time recovering. Hope everything goes well for you.