DarthPenguin

Thanks, that makes sense and is something to try. I was thinking on it and wondering why it was only my right ankle since i did the same amount with both legs and mu left one was fine, so maybe it is something i should get looked at. I have a dim memory of wearing an ankle support on that leg years ago when training (am talking 10+ years ago), so maybe there is a small issue that i just haven't tweaked again that needs fixed!

Just saw this thread and it looks intriguing, i will need to go catch up on the others. I'd take the interpretation that bushido_man has for this one too, no use thinking about something irrelevant. i'd also say it is relevant to competition etc as you shouldn't be thinking about your upcoming (or already occurred) kata performance before fighting/sparring etc. I'd also think it encompasses not getting too far ahead in your thinking. For example someone thinking : i will parry that strike, then step in with an elbow, then a footsweep, then a punch, then an armbar etc etc. Be clear in your thought and focus on the now. So in this example, protect yourself from the strike, then redirect all focus to the next part based on the current situation etc. So don't waste mental energy on something that might not come to pass

Hi All, Quick question. I have always personally preferred to land a side kick using my heel but i have been told by my karate instructor that the correct form at my class is to use bladed foot (not going to get into the debate with him or here as to which is superior!). I was practicing the position myself at home the other day for with both feet: started with just raising foot and taking bladed position with foot then progressed to chambering a kick and slowly extending it with foot in bladed position. The next day i found i could barely walk on my right ankle, with it taking a couple of days to abate! As it was lessening i could feel it was mainly pain in exactly where i was turning my foot to blade it. Obviously i don't want this to recur so i thought i would ask on here for suggestions. I can see two possibilities: 1) my form was incorrect and i was shaping my foot using the wrong muscles / in the wrong way and this is what led to the pain 2) the muscles in that part of my ankle are just week and need strengthened (could be bit of both) If anyone has any advice/thoughts they could post on those it would be much appreciated. I'm going to ask my instructor about the form part but i think if was doing it the way he said, so tbh not too hopeful that it will lead to an epiphany!

That is usually my response. I trained under someone really good in the past who would show those things but when you got to know him a bit better he would admit it was due to organisational grading requirements etc. and if it was up to him there would be less focus on them. Otherwise he was really good, large focus on sparring etc and on things being 'practical' What always worries me is the people who do this stuff and then believe they genuinely can 'fight'. I've always thought that they were at risk of being hurt as instead of sensibly giving in (or running away) they stand longer than needed in a risky situation because they falsely believe they can fight their way out of it.

Thanks, that's definitely a first for me! Is an interesting topic i think i think and one which comes up moderately often in grappling styles (and i would imagine full contact striking ones too). Using BJJ as an example people regularly talk about being able to perform a technique versus apply it against a resisting opponent (ie to Execute it). Leads into other interesting conversations and hypotheticals such as the worth of a senior grade who can demonstrate a technique with apparent technical perfection against a compliant opponent, spot flaws in others execution and clearly articulate the details when teaching but who cannot apply the technique in sparring for whatever reason (could simply be too slow, not strong or flexible enough etc). From a personal standpoint i am reminded of a former instructor who used to teach intricate self defense combinations that might involve catching a punch in a certain manner, with a precise grip on a specific point, to then transition into a wristlock etc. then keep going. I always was quite sceptical about how applicable that is to reality as you need a phenomenal amount of skill and speed to perform that against a live punch (there will be people who are good enough to do so, but i find no shame in saying i am not one of them!). I contrast that to performing a block/parry/redirection and then another appropriate technique which seems much more reasonable. The former 'precise grab' technique can be 'performed' for demos etc. but i doubt it would be possible to execute it in practice for most people.

Thursday 5th January Lifting session My right knee was feeling a bit funny all day when i went up and down any stairs so i decided to amend the session and replace the lower body work with gorilla rows. Didn't want to chance a knee injury and more rows are always good! Bench press 20kg x 5 40kg x 5 47.5kg x 5 52.5kg x 5 60kg x 5 47.5kg x 5 47.5kg x 5 47.5kg x 5 47.5kg x 5 47.5kg x 5 Gorilla Row 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 Biceps cable curls 20kg x 12 20kg x 12 20kg x 12 triceps straight bar pushdowns 20kg x 12 20kg x 12 20kg x 12 Grippers T x 10 T x 10 T x 10 total poundage lifted : 5327.5 time : 34min density : 156.7 kg/min

For me, personally, the difference is in terms of effectiveness and purpose. I can 'perform' a kick, and to my mind it just means carrying out the kick, eg i might perform a jumping side kick. The important parts here being that i carry out the correct technique and that it 'looks good', whilst when i execute something i think of it being effective and having a purpose: so i wouldn't be just doing a flying side kick, i would be executing a flying side kick to break suspended board A etc. For the same reason i always think of anything grappling related in terms of execution and never think of it as performed. I don't think i would ever say i performed an osoto gari or i performed a triangle choke etc. But i could see myself saying i executed an osoto gari or a triangle choke. To my mind the difference is similar to that between speed and velocity, where speed is solely a magnitude with velocity adding a directional component. so to use my analogy of an osoto gari: i could see carrying out some uchikomi in the air as performing an osoto gari but then once you carry it out on an opponent and throw them then you have executed it. Have a feeling it is one of those things that will mean something different to everyone and there is likely no 'right' answer, but an interesting question

Completely agree here! I would also go further and ask how you would know your arteries were clogged anyway without having consulted a doctor? If it is purely from a preventative point of view then there is plenty of best practice advice out there as Zaine mentioned, but if it is a genuine issue then asking the same doctor who diagnosed it would likely be best

Wednesday 4th January Karate Session Good turn out tonight for the first class of 2023 Warm ups Usual warm ups and stretches carried out Kihon Performed slightly less different techniques that usual for kihon but more reps of each. More reps of the basic kicks from freestyle kamae too. I do need to work more on my side kick! The chambering is fine, both out and on return but my foot position isn't great. Have a tendency to sometimes have my foot totally flat rather than bladed. On positive side i do it better for ushiro geri for some unknown reason! Kata ran through Heian Godan multiple times. Have it all memorised fine now and working on details / rhythm. I prefer the stance transitions in this one to last couple of katas, for some reason they feel more natural to me (could just be getting more used to stance transitions in kata). Then paired off with one other person with the second instructor to the side to run through all the Heian katas in sequence. This was useful as i know that when i manage to get to brown belt i have to perform them again at gradings so it is worth giving them more focus again (we often don't focus as much on prior grade katas in class - they are left for home). Managed to get in multiple more runs of Heian Godan too Class time ran out after the kata but it was a good session

@Zaine, Is the kata total a monthly one then? Are you just picking a single kata for the month and then planning to rotate them monthly or are you breaking down the '10000 reps to mastery' approach?

Ghost of Tsushima is amazing, the expansion is good too. Still to try the online bit but the rest is fantastic. Not heard of Hogwarts Legacy - what type of game is it?

Tuesday 3rd January Lifting Session Slightly more lifting sessions that usual this week as due to all the strikes here it is hard for me to get to my bjj class this week so using the time as gym sessions instead! Squat 20kg x 5 40kg x 5 57.5kg x 5 67.5kg x 5 77.5kg x 5 57.5kg x 5 57.5kg x 5 57.5kg x 5 57.5kg x 5 57.5kg x 5 Pushups 10 12 7 7 15 One arm KB row 20kg x 20 (L+R reps) 20kg x 20 20kg x 20 20kg x 20 20kg x 20 Biceps cable curl 20kg x 11 20kg x 11 20kg x 11 Grippers T x 9 T x 9 T x 9 These are beginning to get harder now so may need to increase rest periods or change the sets/reps to keep progressing total poundage lifted : 5461 time taken : 43min workout density : 127 kg/min the poundage above is solely based on any weights used with pushups counting as a weight of 1 x reps (so i don't need to fiddle about with my spreadsheet overmuch). this also means i don't need to recalculate as bodyweight fluctuates / changes

Thanks! All i can control is the effort and dedication i put in and then the results will be based on that - so hopefully it will be

Happy new year everyone. Hopefully everyone and their families have an excellent 2023 and everyone attains all their training goals too!

Sunday 1st January Weights session First session of 2023!! Seated overhead shoulder press 20kg x 5 25kg x 5 27.5kg x 5 32.5kg x 5 35kg x 5 27.5kg x 5 27.5kg x 5 27.5kg x 5 27.5kg x 5 27.5kg x 5 Kg swing 16KG X 11 16KG X 11 16KG X 11 16KG x 11 16KG x 11 kB clean 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 kB side bend 20kg x 16 20kg x 16 20kg x 16 Grippers T x 8 T x 8 T x 8

That’s true. If I was to ever use it practically it would be at waist or knee level anyway. I’ve just always liked the idea of having a range of motion much more than needed so you are never pushing it to its max in a stressful situation You’re really right though!

Friday 30 December Weights Session Trap Bar deadlift 70kg x 5 75kg x 5 80kg x 5 92.5kg x 5 105kg x 5 80kg x 5 80kg x 5 80kg x 5 80kg x 5 80kg x 5 E-Z bar curls 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 Triceps straight bar pushdown 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 Single arm kb standing press 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 16kg x 14 reps are total reps L + R KB gorilla row 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 24kg x 10 Grippers T x 7 T x 7 T x 7

Yes, for sure it is harder this way. It's part of the reason we do it that way in basics. In order to get the side kick done correctly, with the body and leg in proper alignment, you have to focus on a), making sure to keep the body side-on (the cross-over will cause newer students to over-step and bring their back hip too far forward), and b), emphasizes getting the chamber into the proper position by getting the body back into that side-on position. When I first started doing it that way, it was weird, but the more I did it, the more I understood why, and the more it's helped with my side kick technique. But as an instructor, I've got to really harp on students when doing the kick to make sure they are really breaking it down and not skipping steps. That makes sense - have a feeling it is likely my current lack of flexibility and embarrassment at not kicking too high that is causing the issue in my head! Usually get told my side kick is decent but it is really at waist height at the moment - i remember it being an easy head height so get annoyed. Probably another example of ego having a negative effect on martial arts training!

You also run the risk of some karate schools doing a little groundwork and thinking it is enough. As an example i remember years ago joining a new karate school that also did some newaza in every lesson. I'd been at BJJ for a few years at that point (though still not any good!) and they asked me to roll with one of the karate bb's who was about to start fighting mma soon and let me know what i thought about his ground game - they wanted a semi independent viewpoint but you could tell they thought that he was good. It was actually embarrassing as after multiple rolls i ended up telling them that under no circumstances should he ever allow a fight to the ground as his ground game was a 2wk of training white belt at best. Turned out they had been doing newaza a lot but mainly focusing on drilling a technique, never really sparring against resistance. So totally agree - a karateka who wants to compete in mma should cross train in another grappling style or take up mma full time. Can't just try it at their karate class

i've just started on the 2018 god of war. Is available as a free download for PS5 and it's superb so far (i'm late to the party i know!). If you haven't played it then it's well worth a go

Tuesday 27 December As i have been ill a decent amount this month i decided that it made sense to just start with the week 1 day 1 numbers again for my most recent lifting plan and use them again. Lifting session Bench Press 20kg x 5 30kg x 5 42.5kg x 5 50kg x 5 57.5kg x 5 42.5kg x 5 42.5kg x 5 42.5kg x 5 42.5kg x 5 42.5kg x 5 Split squats (not Bulgarian variation). Reps given are per leg 8kg x 8 8kg x 8 8kg x 8 8kg x 8 8kg x 8 These felt a lot smoother than the last time i did them. Am working them up gradually until i get used to the motion. I think these will really help my stances KB Swings 16kg x 10 16kg x 10 16kg x 10 16kg x 10 16kg x 10 These felt light but good for getting back into it Triceps straight bar pushdowns 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 biceps cable curl 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 20kg x 10 Grippers (reps are per hand. equal done for both) T x 6 T x 6 T x 6 decided i would go up in strength for this since i was banging out lots of reps easily before. A lot tougher than the S but managed fine. Will try the same progression as before total poundage : 4702.5kg time : 36min density : 130.6 kg/min

yeah, i have just always found it easier to get into that chamber position with stepping behind or front a freestyle stance. Not sure why but my hip feels restricted when i step in front

Thanks both! I was thinking the other day that i have never been a fan of those belt display boards but i might just do one when i (eventually) grade back up to black belt - a board of the belts up to black, then starting at white again might look quite smart (and unusual!). Am finding i enjoy the katas more as they progress which is a good thing. The best part of the grading is that i get to practice my side kicks from a freestyle stance now rather than kiba-dachi! They make us cross step with the stepping foot in front and i find that restricts my kick a lot more than stepping behind, so i am pleased i don't need to do it often anymore!

that sounds like the best result for a scan possible!

Wednesday 21 December Karate Session First session since grading with shiny new purple belt Small class, just myself, 3rd Dan, 1st Dan and my 6yr old! Warm ups done as per usual Technique work This was done a bit differently. Sensei worked on teaching us a quite involved black belt combination which was fun. Worked on it for about 30min, had 25 moves to it. Worked up to the full sequence and then did it starting from the other side. Was fun Kata Worked through Heian Godan multiple times. Sensei said i have learnt the techniques fine already (was pleased at this) and started working on the rhythm and details (i had my hands horizontal for the crossed wrist block rather than upright etc) Quite like the kata already tbh so will be good to work on it.