rhilllakefield

Hi guys, after years of being away from kyokushin (active in other karate and Jkd). I now live close to a school. I'm healthy And injury free at 35 and am considering kyokushin again. Are there Any kyokushin guys into your 40s or 50s without major or lasting injury? My next move will probably take me to the end of my martial arts career. Any reason not to take kyokushin over the long run? I just ran into an old instructor, and man....I miss it.

Hi guys, How many of you who have trained for over 10 years or so are a bit banged up? \I recently took some time off for a shoulder injury at the age of 35 and couldn't believe how sore I got with the time off. I still did light weight training and went for walked, but my entire body stiffened up! Any of you in the same boat from the years of training? | have wondered many times if this is the best for our long term health.

Thanks again. I'll do that! I enjoy the system, Its just these roadblocks that are making things difficult. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks a ton Tallgeese. I really appreciate the time and insight. I'm going to keep this as a reference, and I completely agree in the building block style of teaching. I also agree that there should eventually be movement added to the basic drills, ideally ending up in as close to a realistic situation as possible with a fair amount of pressure. Thanks again for the thoughts. I apologize its been a while since I've checked in. There's a lot going on right now, and I've been a little distracted! I've been getting frustrated with the club lately. My head instructor seems to be resisting when I try to teach boxing drills, and utilize even some transitional footwork from my Karate days. I'm not sure, but it seems like anything that resembles a traditional art he pushes back on. I try to teach only functional techniques that are easy to use in a heated moment. In trying to stick so closely to traditional wing chun based movements he seems to be neglecting one of Bruces main philosophies. Take what is useful, discard what is useless (and make it your own.) I have a solid striking base, (not perfect, but very functional) and I still feel like I'm not able to offer much. I think the point has been missed that Bruce was a huge advocate of Western boxing. Don't take me wrong, my instructor is a great guy, but my frustration is reaching a point where its almost time to move on. Sorry for the vent session! I appreciate the insight, once again.

Thanks Tallgeese. Well, the story is this, My instructor is essentially a third generation student and would like to keep Bruce Lees fundamentals and content alive and well. Were trying not to deviate into the newer age JKD, and stay closer to Bruce, and Dan Inosantos roots. I know there are a lot of varying opinions on this, I'm just looking for functional Pak/Lop Sao drills, straight blast work, trapping, hu bud etc.. I am seriously considering stepping back for another year to train, before I continue instructing. I've been boxing and studying Karate since I was a kid, but JKD is still relatively foreign! Thanks for any suggestions. Ryan

Bruce lee was a huge advocate of heavy weight training. He was actually an avid bodybuilder. I would find the ideal weight for your body, and maintain that weight at the lowest bodyfat percentage possible. I find that my body is happy at 165-170 lbs. Any lower, and I feel like my strength is off, and any heavier and my speed and endurance suffer. Your body will be different. I would say, don't push it beyond the range where you can train at your best at.

I found that preparing for my big events, weight circuit training was a big help. I would do usually 5 or 6 main lifts, without a rest, and 30 - 60 seconds rest between circuits. Id even go as far as a breathing restrictor. Obviously the weight that I would use would be less than my standard weight training days. Martial arts isn't purely cardiovascular, and there is a lot of muscular endurance as well. I found circuits worked great, usually before my regular training session.

I folks, I've recently been promoted to apprentice instructor in a traditional, JKD school with a great lineage. Are there any JKD instructors that have insight to traditional class content? I'm struggling a bit having to find new content for 2 hours a week. My head instructor covers the other two classes. I come from a Karate and boxing background, so I always fall back to my roots. I'm looking for more close quarters drills and traditional work. Thanks for any help.

Thanks guys. I may actually stay up for a few minutes after class and take my mind off of the training. I think its the focus that's keeping me up. TV is so horrible these days, an hour of that and I should be out like a light. Thanks for the replies.

Hi gang, any of you train until 9 or 10 o'clock at night, and have trouble sleeping. Even if I fall asleep by 11 my sleep always sucks that night. Unfortunately it's every Tuesday. I've set karate aside for a few years to study jeet kune do. I'm completely in love with it, and have a great instructor. It may be permanent. The issue is I'm so focused, it's hard to dial it down to sleep. Any tips? I may try and meditate or some tea afterwards.

I was wondering that, and it makes sense. That may be a commitment that's harder to make. I have a number of friends in LE, and have the utmost respect for their efforts. Well see what the future brings.

I was wondering if any of you have any idea on the credentials required to instruct at a law enforcement level? I've been training most of my life in Karate, Judo, and now Jeet kune do. I hold a black belt I traditional Karate, and have begun looking at tailoring my training towards this goal. Does anyone know, other than proper marketing, what programs would catch the eye of a potential employer? Would it be time in the service, that would be first and foremost? Thanks for any suggestions.

Thanks for the replies. I think that's my worry. In slow controlled Kata, everything is perfect. In the heat of it, its easy to be off by and inch or two or three in any direction. Also, I've found the transition between stances and the twisting while in something like a Nekoashidachi has irritated me before. I wish there was more in my area, although I think this Shotokan club is a great group. I might ask the Sensei, if I can abbreviate the stances and shorten them slightly. He knows about my concerns.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. I think I'm just scared of a permanent issue, after feeling the pain of even walking for a while. It was sobering to say the least. After a good hard class, every part of my body hurts.....except for my knees! So I may keep up with these guys and see. I have a long way to go to adapt to the Shotokan Katas! Thanks again. Ryan

Hi folks, After a long term knee issue (both knees) I'm looking at taking a new direction with my MA training. I've trained in Karate for years, and developed what I later realized was patella femoral syndrome, and a fairly severe muscle imbalance. For a while I was quite scared, because I wasn't too sure on what was causing my pain. Now through physio and weight training my knees feel close to 95%, and still improving. I've been looking at starting either JKD or Krav Maga to sway away from low stances and static kicking, but have recently fallen in love with Shotokan and have found a great club. Long story short, have any of you long timers had knee injuries recovered and continued to train long term? I'm 35 this year, been training since 9 yrs or so. I just wanted to open up a discussion. I also find it hard to train with any abbreviation. I like to train at full capacity and completely without taking any shortcuts. (although my jodan mawashi/ yoko geris have become chudans) Any thoughts?

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah its a hard call. I'm having a tough time making it. 4 years of schooling, and I'm not sure if the body is up for it. I'd honeslty have the flexibility to train, and wih I'd been easier on myself when retirement comes.....although I enjoy the work! Yamesu, I see you're from a kyokushin background. OSU!

Hi gang, I've been a desk jockey for the first 9 years of my career, and I've started a plumbing apprenticeship. Do any of you have tough physical jobs and train on the side? My knees are a bit stiff from Karate and weight training over the years....and my elbows....and shoulders and wrists.... Does the physical work keep you lose so to speak? It almost feels like my knees are stronger, like its helping with a muscle imbalance I've had for a while. Any thoguhts? Thanks, Ryan

Thanks, yes I totally hear what you're saying. I started in Kyokushin years ago until my instructor moved away, and I still miss it! I'm still debating on driving 1.5 hours to train at the nearest club. I'll see how it goes, but non-traditional Karate isnt as appealing as Id hoped, for me anyway. Just as a personal prefference.

For the guys involved in Freestyle Karate, what is it like? There arent many options in town for Karate, and I tried a Freestyle club last night. It wasnt bad at all, the Sensei was a nice guy and seemed knowledgeable. It just seemed a bit too light and friendly compared to what I'm used to. For years I've trained in traditional Karate, Kyokushin, and now Ishinryu, and its hard to take things seriously with such a light heartedness in the club. Does the intensity vary from club to club? Thanks.

Thanks guys, I'll try a warm down, we did stop fairly abruptly. I thin I'll get used to it. Happy New Year BTW! 1 hour 15 minutes to go. I'm off to bed. lol

Hi guys, Just wondering if any of you have strange sleeping patterns after a hard workout? I had a later Muay thai class last night, and although I trained harder than I've been training lately, I had a hard time falling a sleep and a hard time staying a sleep. I feel like my whole body is buzzing. Like I can still feel my pulse throughout my body. I've felt this after sparring as well, I think it my just be adrenaline that refuses to slow. I'm in good shape, and have been training for years. Just wondered if any of you have found anything similar. Thanks, Ryan

Thanks again. Either way, I'm going to be honest with my instructor, thats a given. I've said from the beginning I'm going to go down with the ship, so it might be worth sticking with her just because of that. If I do stay, I'll probably end up picking up some martial art shoes, and asking for some training beyod what we're doing regularly. She's always willing to come 1/2 an hour early to work with me, but lately its been full of complaining about the class sizes....from both of us.

Thanks for both replies! I appreciate the feedback on my thought to change, and also the idea of making the club work for me. Both I've thought about, and am still struggling. The downside is, regardless of if I stay or not, the club most likely wont last into this time next year due to the lack in students. I feel badly, because my instructor has trained her entire life in this style, and has no interest in starting over again. I'm to the point now where it feels a bit strange training with literally one or two other students beside me, usually 10-12 years old and a junior belt. Its really not ideal, I just have this feeling of guilt for moving on.

Hi guys/ girls, Just a quick question to bounce off any instructors or long time practisioners. I've been with my current club for close to 3 years. I've enjoyed my time with the club, and my instructor is excellent. I earned my shodan as of October this year, so I feel a connection with my instructor and club (to a lesser extent) I've trained for most of my life, starting in Kyokushin, then moving to english Ishinryu, which is a close cousin with a few changes. Long story short, the numbers are dropping, my instructors moral is changing, and the class isnt really challenging any more, because we're traing at a lower level, both intensity and material. the other aspect is my knees have started to ache on a regular basis, because we train on concrete and there isnt much give with running, jumping jacks etc.. There are also things I miss about Kyokushin, or even my time with kickboxing. We don't really even spar in this club, because the number of experienced adults is down to one or two at the very most. Should I feel badly about changing clubs, or even disciplines? I feel a tie to my instructor, even though the club isnt really ideal, she pushed me harder than Ive ever been pushed for my blackbelt, and helped me acheive a huge goal in life. Any thoughts. Sorry its long winded, slow day today. Ryan

Thanks for the replies. I'll take a good long read of that link. I think you're right, just a bit of modification is needed here and there. I'm to the point where, Karate really works for me on a lot of levels, and starting over in another martial art doesnt really interest me as much as training basically lifelong. I've found since I wrote this post, a move from traditional training outside of the club, to more bag work, conditioning etc... has helped my knee especially, recover from all the twists and pressure of Kata and Kihon. Like you, I also added squats to my weight routine, and it seems to be helping my supporting muscles. Thanks again guys. Happy Holidays. Ryan