SA Karate

Karate is a lifestyle. Meaning a true karateka is always training. I suggest you train as often in the dojo setting as your time allows. Training at home everyday is where karate advances. Kick in the am, punches, blocks, stances, etc. your body must be accustomed to the movements. As human beings, we differ from the animal kingdom in thought, strategy, reasoning. Use all the tools God has given you and apply the physical and philosophical aspects of karate in everything you do. For me, I train everyday. This does not mean in the dojo 7 days a week. But what you sew you will reap. Train hard and the preciseness of your techniques will blossom, it has to. The guy that trains once per week cannot progress as the one who is driving the training, driving the techniques. Nothing happens by itself, you have to cultivate it. So train man train.

Different dodos o different things for varied reasons. The gloves are for safety purposes and often times allows the attacker to be more deliberate without fear of injury. Some dojos use mouth pieces to help aid in tooth safety. I would not be too concerned. The time to worry or look back is when your jaw is sore or you lost a tooth, then you would go back and wish the opponent had gloves on, which soften the blow. Go with the flow, put the gloves on a just persevere.

The feelings you are having are natural. If I may; you have fear, which if channelled properly can become a positive driving force. Secondly, you are unsure of yourself. My suggestion is to control your mind, know that whomever you spar against they will not hurt you. What you need to do is revert back to all you have learned and stick to what works. Do not allow your opponent no matter who they are to intimidate you. More importantly DO NOT allow yourself to intimidate yourself. Easier said than done. Remember this is your journey and every step is important. The great lesson here is what you are learning about YOU. Conquer this fear and apprehension within yourself and it will be a great stepping stone to forging you as a martial artist. If a stranger climbed through your bedroom window at night, what would you do? Wonder if you could take him? Certainly not, you would do everything to protect you and your family. This is the mindset of a warrior, do, conquer, no defeat, only victory. Now in saying all that train man train. Be explosive yet loose not tight, lower the shoulders since that is where tension builds. A stick travels only so fast, but a loose whip is like lightning. Be loose and your techniques will fly... "Speed is being there"?. Go for it, no matter who the opponent. Remember the only true opponent is ourselves.

Kicking is like anything else. Work hard one day a week or throw a few kicks daily? Daily is best. Stretching is not the only thing to help your mawashi, muscle is needed too. I know several yudansha who can do splits, yet cannot kick face high. Others are less subtle but throw great head high kicks. Here is my suggestion, kick Chadian level first, hold a chair, counter top, tree, etc. to aid you. Make sure you stretch daily, not till it hurts, but till you feel it. Then everyday throw a few kicks, and gradually kick higher. This takes time, but anyone and everyone with practice can do it. When I started karate in South Africa, I could hardly kick thigh high, then perseverance and pure determination has me at 53 throwing head high kicks. I never need to warm up, I throw kicks every single day a few in the am, and at night Everyday. I used to see many dojo mates at the once per month beach training and in dojo having to stretch for 20 minutes before throwing a kick. I wanted to always be prepared and kicking has become part of my daily life, so what you do regularly becomes second nature. It is hard work and discipline, but it pays off. Wake up, kick, at work or school kick a few kicks, keep the body loose. Be careful at first not to injure yourself. Before you know it, you will be kicking like lightning. There are no secrets to karate, only those who make this their lifestyle and others that have karate as part time. Make it your life. Train train train... For you... Kick kick kick.

One instructor I had many years ago was NOT a technician. But he was an excellent teacher, he created one of my instructors who we coin as the technician. Another Japanese instructor in Japan is over weight, but moves like dynamite. You are in the dojo for YOU! If the teacher is over weight but a good teacher so what. Judge not lest ye be judged. Now in saying that, we in the western world do not eat properly. In the USA, weight is a serious issue for most of society. I see over weight instructors, glad they are teaching and it is better to coach them to become healthier than to point fingers. Nutrition is an integral part of karate. The better teachers eat well, exercises and lead. I am impressed when an instructor shows you how to do a technique rather than just talk. My suggestion is train for you, you are the only one you need to be better than. Oss!

You have an advantage. They do not want to fight you, but you should want to fight them. Your size is actually an advantage sine you can move lower. Practice moving long steps in and out. The women around the world are some of the sharpest karate,a there are. Some Japanese women are like lightning, short yet dynamic. Do not think because you are a girl that is a problem, embrace who and where you are an overcome the negative ideas. As we get older, speed or timing? Think about that... Timing of course. Then shortest distance between two points? Straight line right...ok but how about a shorter line. Use the fist in front to launch the attack. Also go low, hard to defend against if executed properly. Another secret is tactics, how can you gain advantage during kumite? Each person must develop their own, one of mine has been to place right foot in front with right fist, since most training is designed for right handed, of which 8 out of 9 people are right handed, learn to switch, this way the opponent is not used to training this way, you get a slight advantage IF this is how you train. One student I had was a girl of 10, frustrated many times, but with the same strategy above and an attitude of perseverance and dismissing doubt, the girl thing, smaller, etc. and her understanding she IS a warrior, soon she was walloping the older boys, she became the warrior she had in her. You have an inner warrior. Bring it out and accomplish the goal. Kata is a very very good way to get your explosiveness to develop. Turn on the axis, quick and tight and you guessed it low. As a taller man, I must try to be smaller in my moves, by lowering center of gravity, guess what, you already have the advantage. Best of luck to you. Train train train. Kata kata kata.

Shodan/black belt means serious beginner. Even though there is no school near you, it is a good idea to visit a school that is closest even if once per month. As a shodan, you have the tools and eventually you become your own teacher. I on the other hand combine my training doing kata at every training session. I kick every day of my life, morning and night. Kihons daily, with running and going to the gym twice per week. Often times we think our training must be intense and long. Throw 5-10 kicks each side twice per day for at least 6 days a week. Your body will do what it is used to, like writing, driving a car, you want to train daily. A few punches per day with blocks and kicks goes a long way. My training schedule for the week: In addition to daily kicks, punches and blocks mentioned above is 3 days per week, mon, we'd and Friday or tues, Thursday and Saturday am prior to work go to the park a few kilometers from my house. Warm up upper and lower body. Then basics. Punching both sides, blocks, kicks,...Mae Geri, mawashi, yoko Geri keno I and league. Then 6 katas. Heian one totekki shodan. Then run about a mile, push ups and home. This usually takes me 45 minutes. Next time repeat. Once training like this for a month or so change one kata at a time, still 6 katas. Shotokan has 26 katas and advanced ones that we all have done less, should be a focal point of one per week, then two with some heians. You are the instructor of you for now. Then visit a dojo regularly, even if once per month or every 6 weeks. You will progress nicely. Remember karate is yours, it is in you and you are in karate. Train train train. That is the secret.

In my opinion, team kata is a great tool. Timing, dynamic fluid, zone specific training are all essential for the individual. I would place a brown belt in the center. Then I suggest you try heian sandan, yo dan or godan. You should have a coach train you, where they lead the training cadence. This does not necessarily mean the sensei, but an advanced student. Do the kata with purpose, meaning one step/move at a time. In other words, move one, easy, then a pause, second and a half, then next move, pause again... As you get more proficient the pauses get shorter. Another tool is to each person do the kata while the others watch, do this with each person. The kata becomes one when each person is connected to the other, you have to feel you dojo mates around you. Often times compensating for their timing. The secret is... Train train train. You never want to go in unprepared. Luck favors the prepared. Pick one kata and practice it daily by yourself and together weekly. March is enough time away to prepare. Mirror training is also a great idea. Now, the point person in the center should lead the silent cadence when performing, the other two follow the lead. Good luck to you and enjoy the journey more than winning anything. Training is where the prize truly lies. I am proud of you. Persevere! SP Sarasota, Florida USA.

Kata is the foundation of karate. With so many moves that vary it is the building blocks of karate. New students are usually wanting to do kumite and reluctant to do kata, however the seasoned student eventually learns that kata is the life blood of karate. Kata can be done anywhere without a dojo mate, your kata is an expression of who you are, thus the word Art in martial arts. You express who you are, what you are and practice kata your whole life. Kumite comes and goes and when you finally get to a self discovery period in your life, one may understand that their kata is the source of most techniques. Kata helps in kumite, kata devils your character, kata evolves over time, meaning you get intimate with kata. Out of kata you may develop unique techniques that were birthed from your kata, this is where you may vary the individual techniques to certain applications, such as one on one sparring, drawing new or varied techniques from kata techniques. The reason we want the kata techniques within the kata to remain the same is proficiency. Practicing the same technique for years makes you proficient in the repetitive nature of karate. If you vary it in the kata, you rarely become proficient in it. Each instructor applies his own character and traits in their teaching along with those they have been taught. Thus again the art. My instructor in South Africa was tall, so I developed much from his teachings. My other instructors had their own characteristics, such as the "technician" Rick Hotton. His characteristics were on precise, to the point that he was very articulate, therefore we developed sharp techniques and attention to detail. Keep training, know that progress is there, even when you do not recognize it. Keep training. Do your katas, slow medium and explosive like. Watch, imitate, follow, train train train, then teach. "If you really want to learn something, begin to teach it". Be patient with yourself and those you teach, each person is at their own level and pace. SP, Sarasota, Florida. USA.

Returning to training is something to be proud of. Forget guilt, forget regret. Simply get back into training slowly at first. Much of your training as you gain higher rank should be on your own. Meaning that there are 7 days in a week and you need to plan ahead, go slowly at first, do only what you have planned. For instance, if you have not throw kicks for months or more, it is best to be gradual to avoid several things. One is injury, if you over train injury is imminent, so slowly at first. Understanding that karate is a lifestyle more than microwave type results. I have taught 80 year olds and there is little difference between them and a beginner or someone in their 40's. everyone, even returning black belts MUST get back to training slowly at first. Second reason is your mind. Pain is not something your body wants or your mind, we are all wired to avoid pain. So if you over do it, naturally you will want to avoid training. It is natural. Third is understanding the road you are on. For instance a friend of mine can teach anyone to run a 26 mile marathon. Yes anyone! He has done it. His secret if you will is start off slow, run 100 meters first. Then do the same for the week, then increase the distances. Eventually the marathon. So, NO guilt! NO regret! It is to be applauded that someone desires to return to training. That is where you start. Then slowly, gently, no hard kicks, understanding that the body is doing something new and needs to adjust and get used to this new activity. Move the knees slowly, deliberately at home, no pressure. Hold on to a chair or counter top and gently move. Then diet, meaning nutrition, eat good earthly foods, stay away from fried and fast foods. Eat greens, etc. of the 5000 people that start karate only about 5 reach yudansha/black belt. Those that start rarely return after quiting. Thus the one in a thousand rule. Be the one, do it for life, for health, for mental fitness as well. Understanding that goals are to be preset and not be outrageous. You are already a success. I hope this helps you and many others. Spiro. Sarasota, Florida.