JoanneDisFan

Have you tried the Century brand. I'm also overweight about a size 20/22 depending on the week. I ended up with a middle weight traditional drawsting size 7 gi and it worked great. I actually bought a size 6 heavy weight as my goal and can just squeeze into it, but a bit tight to throw good kicks. The traditional drawstring waist gives a bit more space in the waist and hips than the elastic waist gi's. Hope this helps.

I totally get this, but am currently between instructors. I still go to some workshops as time permits. I'm working on several angles to find a new instructor, including going back to the association in Canada, but the problem there is distance and very little chance of actual floor time in a dojo. It would mostly be skype calls and once a year workshops. I thought I had found a good alternative in a Shorin ryu organization located just 4 hours away, but that failed when he stopped teaching, about the time we joined the association, other than the occasional workshop. That and we were the only club in his association, which we found out after we joined him. I want to find a good instructor that shares the same philosophy and am picky about who I associate under.

I have a curriculum and lesson plans. Plans are great so it gives a guideline, but we can change as needed. I've been teaching since 1997, (with a few breaks is there to have kids) so I'm comfortable with this aspect. My struggle is making sure I take the time to get in some solo practice and what to focus on working on when I get the time. I am a stay at home mom, so I do have some time during the day if my little one is occupied with the tv or computer, but I'm frequently interrupted. Our club meets in a church gym so I don't always have access to the nice large space, but my living room is decent size that I can do most katas.

My question is how do you make sure your training, and not just teaching? Now here is some back story to my situation. I've previously trained in Wado Kai Karate up in Canada and moved down to Arkansas over 15 years ago. I have a Brown belt in the Wado Kai (3 years training). Since then I have trained in a mixed club that used jeet kun do, and tae kwon do (2 yrs independent club) and earned my shodan, and also trained in shorin ryu karate (18 months part of a very small association) and was awarded my shodan in that style. I have since left the association I was with and returned to teaching the Wado Kai (independent) which I have the most training in. I'm running a club that meets twice a week for 2 hours. First hour is mixed all ages, all ranks. 2nd hour is mostly adults and teen and those wanting to learn more. I'm getting lots of hours teaching in, but not much time in training. Add in the fact I'm not sure where to focus my energy in training. I'm out of shape, but not having a goal such as a belt testing has me floundering along. Any advice?