UselessDave

Well it's just that the right answer doesn't exist. All of these answers that have been given are right, but not complete. And they're contradictory too..

Who has the MOTIVATION to do so? Sure in theory.. but seriously? It's a problem even when you have a good teacher and training partners. One probably ends up like Daniel-san in the first karate kid -movie's beginning.

With that, going to the best instructors and so to learn "the best", is difficult also because some people don't even realize those differences. So many don't know they are in a bad club. Many good dojos are struggling with that same issue. Because of the way that life goes now, no one can really ever be sure weather there'll be anyone training "here" at "some time later". Anyone can quit any time, no matter how far they are. And beginners come and go...

Now that is just very well said. So true.

That's fine. Once a week won't make a difference to speed. That would be when talking about big muscle mass. To the certain level it is only a good thing.

Oh, right, there's that side too. I was thinking about the mental attitude. But that's very true, and to remember to breath right etc.

When you're really really tired while sparring, how do you manage to keep going? There has to be something that keeps your hands up and legs moving when your whole body tells you to give up?

Karate had its time. Why not anymore, exactly? One thing that someone's gonna say would be that people don't have the patience anymore. But some people do. Wonder where dose come such a difference. To me, like for most of you, it's clear that I continue training, and has always been. For some it's just a stupid style, and they can't understand why would anybody think it's any good. Any outlooks?

Of course It Is! That's a great age to start really.

That's very smart, the idea. Does the heart control the mind or does the mind control the heart?? Oh, for a long time I've wanted something very much in life... Have I?

In some kung fu styles they have very little kicks. Although instructor will always affect to these things. I don't see why shouldn't you start it? Give it a try since you're interested. Got nothing to lose??

I wouldn't even want those head punches there. It would make the whole set all different. Then you can't just go. And it becomes more like Muay Thai or kickboxing.

Oh no no no.. That is not the best thing to do. How in the world would a person help that girl to train by giving no opposition at all.

That's really great! I might actually go train judo too if I'd change a style or take up a second one.

Make the training harder as it was before. Not that it would be easy or smt. now, but it's not the same for sure.

I ..think it's waste of time.

Depends much from the style and the dojo. But yes, several years - usually.

It's difficult to verify but there are some sources claiming he learned Southern Chinese Kempo off of one of his father's employees at a young age. It was for less than six years and spanned from when was 9 to 15 before he left for Japan. Goju Ryu is perhaps the most influential part of Kyokushin, you can see a heavy influence in all aspects of it, not surprising since Oyama was awarded his hachidan in Goju Ryu by Gogen Yamaguchi. Choi was actually trying to recruit Oyama and his whole organization into the ITF, but he underestimated how much Oyama loved Japan and how he had basically given up his Korean roots to become Japanese. Oyama obviously wasn't going to give up his established organization to a brand new one, much less play second fiddle to someone else, so he declined. Oyama may have originate with Goju, but modern Kyukoshin looks more to me like a cross between MThai and TKD. When visiting their dojos, one could even notice that Kyokushin and TKD uses the same sparing rules except for the added leg kicks. But there's other than just Kumite. I don't see it being too similar with Muay Thai. The kicks are different and the rules anyways. Those shin blocks and low kicks sure.

Congratulations! keep it up and good luck.

And this is a virtue how???? Who said it's a virtue. I think there's clearly something that catches people's attention. Some find it somehow respectable.

It gives you credit and makes you "hard", because it's dangerous and you could (read: could have died) die.

You shouldn't make yourself train at home if you really don't feel like it. You can try to look for a motivation that would make you want to train though. How long have you been training? In the start it is normal that training by yourself is difficult on many ways. And anyway, one can learn to that too. When practicing yourself it becomes clear while doing, how it's best for you in the situation. Like what you can train effectively without getting any bad habits.. It's unnecessary to worry about the mislearning too. If it's big somebody will notice it sometime propably, and you can search from the internet stuff to help you. For some people training place matters.. If training at home doesn't work, it doesn't work! Gotta find another place. (Maybe some other people in your training know a place to train?)

Yes, UselessDave, forms - kata - are complicated and seem abstract at first. Then they change. If you commit yourself to the 'long path' of karate-do, you will see each form and the practice of forms themself morph a thousand times into a thousand different things. For me, a teacher and student and 1st Degree BB, forms are my focus right now. I am continually learning so much more about what each form can teach me, about why each move is each move, and how my BB forms build off my White Belt forms. I hope you keep at it. In a time where instant gratification is the norm, Karate-do gives us something we can be assured to never fully understand, and whose lessons are revealed slowly and with purpose. Thank you. And I will keep training, of course. You always get hurt, but can't stop. (maybe there's something wrong with us... )

Strength, power, balance.. I could blame my minor training time for that I don't get much out of the applications. I know them, and practice them a little . But they just seem so complicated.. But it has to be time.

I've guessed it's a lot. But I'm usually more interested in how they train martial arts. Though I understand that some people don't care: training is training. Wherever you get the motivation.