Wannabgood

Again with speed it is repetition. As far as foot work ( I am assuming you mean moving while sparring) If where yoy train there is someone with excellent foot work, take the time to watch them. Also don;t be afraid to ask, like you are here. Where I train several of the black belt competetors are world class and there foot work is awsome. I will do drills with them because you need to be shown what you are doing wrong. Another thing I do at home, in front of the back in a fighting stance I will bounce slightly, like a boxer, while doing front kicks to the bag, I will also try and change direction quickly after striking (imagining someone is hitting back) I am left handed so I normally stand right foot lead, but I will switch that up to try and be as good w/ the right. If you don't have a bag, you should get one. I use the waverunner, which is (if your not familiar w/it) a tall bag on top of a jug, which you can fill with water for weight. I will move around the bag 360 deg practicing kicks (round, side , snap etc.) and also japping with counters. Also you can do blocks, pretend somebody is coming at you, then immediatly striking the bag. Works well!

Repetetiveness is what will give you speed. The more you do it the faster you will become. Sometimes when I am watching tv I will just perform maybe one or two moves in combination. Like say a rising block, double punch. Or just punching. I find speed comes fairly rapidly. Also the more you do it the less you think about it.

I do it for a couple of reasons. First and formost is because I like the fact that if I had to I could wreck somebody. As far as going to a gym, I need motivation, and going to the gym by myself just doesnt last very long. Plus I bore easy and lifting weights is boring in my opinion. I beleive you also stated other things you can do for cardio. Sure, but I like to do things like that outside, (mountain biking, hiking) I cant do that when the weather is crappy. And where I live that is 6mos out of the year. The dojo where I go is a mile from my house which leaves me with little excuse not to go. Also I am fortunate because the place where I train is awsome. It has many of the positive characteristics which have been mentioned on various forums, (even by Mr negative himself Redmond) My sensei is in his sixtys, Hall of Fame Karate coach, seventh dan. Several of the students have several golds and silvers in competition. International and national. Do not get the wrong opinion that this dojo is just a school for competing. For I am not interested in it myself. I kind of got off on a tangent about the dojo, but anyway learnig a craft that is challenging is interesting to me. Being able to do moves, combinations and the like, I think are kool. I am not crazy about Kata, but it is a part of the art. I am trying to set small goals so that I may achieve them. I am also an aggresive person, so after full contact sparring (normally on a Fri night) I feel invigorated and even high. All though often I am sore the next couple of days As far a grappling, we also do that. I myself am not that experienced with it for I am a novice, but someday I will be. Anyway I am tired of writing, I could go on and on and on and on