conrad665

Hi everyone, I will join a tournament about one month later. We started to study heavily. I just started to realise that I have many problems with my techniques, and more importantly, I'm scared of approaching the opponent too much. I have some questions about how to prepare for it in one month: 1) Should I study outside of the dojo? We have 3 days a week every other day, 1,5-2 hours each. I want to do some running, but would it be worse since it would tire me out? I'm also thinking of skipping rope. Should I do it till I get tired or keep a regular number? 2) How can I learn to do fake movements? My opponents do not seem to buy my fakes. 3) How do you eat one month- or one week before a tournament? I'm a lacto vegetarian, and do you have any suggestions for me? 4) Is one month enough to fix such issues like learning to fake, jump better and approaching the opponent? And lastly, could you tell me some combinations that work well? Any recommendation will be greatly appreciated about any issue I can't think of now. Thanks for your time .

I have flat feet, too and I am a second degree brown belt in Shotokan. I use strong bandages to support my arches. My feet really hurt after a tiring workout. I agree with isshinryu5toforever, your wobbling may be due to lack of strength. I haven't had such problems so far. You can do some stretching concentrated on your calf muscles. It really works both on strength and easing the pain of flat feet. I prefer warming up a little bit before stretching. It is more comfortable. Stretching with a friend is the easiest and quickest(and most painful ) way of being flexible. You can do something like having him push the insides of your thighs with his feet while pulling your arms, or push you from your back while your legs are wide open. Putting one foot on a wall and trying to raise it higher is my favourite. Good luck

Thank you, sensei8 and Wolfman08. I am working on it these days, and I hope it'll work for me, too

I read your enlightening article, thank you, Jason. I understood why it is important and how it is done. This means I should do shadowboxing to improve my kumite as much as I train on kata. I also watched an anime about boxing (Hajime no Ippo, 4th episode) and it was nice to inform a beginner Thanks for all the answers, I can see this constitutes a crucial part of martial arts training. I have another question: Is this a good example of shadowboxing? I think he is good, but doesn't he lack power? Thanks for your invaluable opinions.

Hi, my question may seem easy , but I couldn't figure out shadowboxing fully. I watched some videos on youtube and it seems people are just punching the air aimlessly. What actually is shadowboxing? Do you fight an imaginary opponent or strike any attack you want? And does it work for shotokan karate? What are its benefits? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you all! I'm looking forward to my first black belt, because it is the real start of my karate journey. I hope I will be able to become 6th or 7th dan one day, and tell it here to fellow karatekas Thanks, sensei8, I'm mostly working on it these days, but it is... hard! Thanks again everyone!

Well, I do Shotokan and when sb attacks me with any kind of punches, I usually react with a side thrust kick, which works quite good. Kizami-zuki are easy to run away towards right or left. I prefer this rather than blocking, because I may be hit by gyaku-zuki if I just block. For roundhouse kicks, I use my both hands to block it and usually do an uraken afterwards. For maegeri, I try to do tai-sabaki but usually perform otoshi uke unintentionally, then a gyaku-zuki. I'm simply caught by all rear kicks and cannot breathe for some minutes esp. when my instructors do it. I also do side kick when sb tries ashi-barai on me. Not every time, though.

Good article, thanks for sharing- I'm going to print it out. It seems I do all of these mistakes. I will ask my sensei if it is allowed to capture videos. When I study alone, I do it and they really show how wrong I am.

Thanks Patrick

I agree with you, it would be really boring to stay in the same colour for so long. In my dojo, there are three levels of brown belt (I'm at the second) and even this makes me impatient. Maybe after a while, when I get wiser and more mature(in terms of karate) it may not matter like today.

Yesterday we had our kyu exam, and I did my best to get one level higher. I have problems with ushiro geri, but it is not something that cannot be fixed. I'm soo happy! Only six months left for shodan level!

My story is quite similar. When I was little, we could not afford for a martial art school, but I always did exercises by myself to keep fit. After I got into college, I wanted to do some activity that will both keep me fit and be useful, so I chose a martial art. The reason why I chose karate is maybe it was the most familiar one among other martial arts. I also think it is great fun, and I don't know what I would be like if I had not started karate. It is a part of me that I will never be separated.

Thank you for your answers, now my question seems a bit silly to me you're right, I should ask it my sensei directly. Even if you answered my question, there are variations of this movement as far as I see, and it may be wrong in my dojo. Thanks for your time.

Hi, I have my 2 kyu exam the other week, and I'm studying a lot. Really My question is about the first move of Tekki Shodan. I look right, take a step and at that point, should I kick a reverse mikazuki geri or just pull my knee? I asked my sensei and he said to me to kick, but I've never seen it in another place. I think he might have misunderstood my question but I'm not sure. I hope I could explain what I meant Thanks for any help.

You're right, words are always better weapons. And I feel relieved that once you felt like I feel now:) Fortunately, I have no bully problem. Thanks for the comment, IronArahat. You're right, I do not feel very confident now. Maybe one more year, then I'll be able to answer this question myself.

Thanks for the advice, bushido_man. You said fencing is not as practical as Judo. Is it because fencing requires equipment? Or because I cannot use it in real life? I'll be happy if you inform me more about it. I have never thought of it. Actually, its equipment is too expensive for me, I'm just a student:). Do you think it might help karate?

Thanks for the advices! I thought fencing could help me step forth and back easier and it is somewhat faster than karate, which can improve my reflexes. And judo is similar to karate in some ways, it is more different than it is similar. We also study some grappling techniques, but not in detail. Fitness is not a big concern to me, since I run besides karate workout, so I gave up on dancing:). Actually, my main aim by choosing another activity is to be better in karate. I can't decide which one to choose, fencing or judo, to achieve my purpose. Thanks again!

Firstly, thank you very much for the answers. Sorry if I sounded like a person whose only aim is to beat up people. Maybe that could be the reason why I started, but that's not my aim. As far as I know, there are more sd oriented martial arts, but I prefer karate. And I love kata better than kumite. But I thought I can say I really started to learn something if I can use what I've been practising so far in a difficult situation. Once sensei told us his friends used to go the dangerous areas of their neighbourhood to test their skills by starting fights. I would not do that, so maybe I'll never know. Thanks,sensei8, I hope it'll be so Thanks for the advices, joesteph, I'm already thinking about starting another martial art. Maybe this could help me understand the philosophy of martial arts better. I'm happy nothing bad happened to you. My instructors once said they never had to use karate in normal life. But I would be happy if I had a chance, as long as it is not too dangerous:)

Hi, I do Shotokan karate. I wonder when I will be able to defend myself or whether I could do it now. How can I know it without involving in a fight? Starting one asap? Or to which degree should I reach to be fully confident? Thanks in advance.

One of my friends in my dojo has been suffering from a cracked rib for about 6 months, because he's always being hit at the same area. Last week he got a yoko geri... too bad. Is core strengthening the only choice? I think he is doing sports for 4-5 years and must be strong.

Hi, I'm 3 kyu in Shotokan karate and these days, I'm thinking about starting another activity that will also help karate. Which one do you think is more relevant to karate? Judo or fencing? Or should I start dancing(to be gentler , because I can sometimes hurt people accidentally). I mostly think about judo or fencing. Or shouldn't I start and instead try to be better in karate? I'll be happy if you could share your opinions. Thanks in advance.

Thank you!

Thanks, I never knew there was such a requirement, but it's a good thing. Now I'll start studying with my left and right side. Thanks again!

Congrats!

Same goes for me I only know heian godan and find it difficult to perform the jump.