Fish

But isn't it true that instructors will usually be a bit more lenient with children than with adults, and with beginners than more advanced students? For example, in our school, you might get away with not quite perfect stances when you test for your yellow or orange belt, but by the time you get to brown, you're expected to know them properly and execute them perfectly. It's a learning process for all of us, and takes a long time to execute perfect technique. Of course, a good instructor will try to get the lower grades to execute the technique correctly, and will show them how it should be done, and will encourage them to work hard to get it right, but surely s/he will not have the same expectations of a lower grade than a higher one? I'm still a newbie (just about to test for orange), but I'm just beginning to realise that a lot of things that look easy (e.g. pinan nidan) contain subtleties that need to be worked on correctly. What I'm trying to say is that some sensei's might appear to be overly lenient, but that might be because they're working with young kids or lower grades. It's more worrying if there are many supposedly higher grades executing bad technique!

Beans on toast is the best. My weakness is the one or two glasses of wine every evening...more or less empty calories. Otherwise, my diets pretty good. I hate processed/ junk food, which helps. So, for my main meal, I eat mostly freshly prepared food - generally pasta, rice, potatoes, lean mince or chicken, occasionally fish, and fresh veg. Snacks, I tend to take fruit or a cereal bar. Lunch could be sandwich, or baked potato, or salad. Breakfast, muesli and dried fruit. Sunday is the exception - English roast dinner and high tea in the evening! Enough calories for the rest of the week.

Even if you only fit in 10 or 15 minutes a day, its 10 or 15 minutes more than nothing.

There's different types of fitness anyway. I have very good cardio from running, swimming, cycling - but have me sparring and I'm breathless after a few minutes because I'm not fit in that discipline (I'm a beginner). I'm also not that strong or flexible and have bad balance - I'm not fit in those areas either. But for me, the desire to succeed in Karate is a real motivation to try to become fit in every area, so it's made me put a lot of work in that I wouldn't otherwise be doing to try and bring my weaknesses up. I guess (or hope) the same would be true of most people who start at my age (30s).

When I was your age I ate like a horse, had masses of energy, exercised plenty, was pretty fit, but still as skinny as anything. Even at the age of 21, I was 6'0 and weighed only 147 lb. I'm heavier now, but if you've got a fast metabolism, you just have to go with what life's given you. But if you eat well, take plenty of exercise, have plenty of energy and stay healthy, then you should be ok. Good luck trying out the suggestions.

Hi Britnoob. I was in exactly the same position you're in just 6 months ago. I'm still very much a beginner, of course, and I still have bad days when I can't seem to get anything right. Three things I have found helpful: 1. Watch other, more experienced karateka carefully and make notes when you get a chance. 2. Listen to everything your sensei/ sempai say, and, again take notes if you can. 3. Practise at home as often as you can, especially basics. With patience, diligence and perseverence, it comes in time.

I'm a beginner, so I'm trying to learn everything for my next belt (6th Kyu) as well as I can. Kihon, Pinan Nidan, and a pair technique. Also trying to work on overall conditioning - I want to lose about 5 more pounds, convert all the extra fat to muscle and be able to do plenty of pushups and situps. Also trying to learn footwork in kumite - how to get out of the way before getting hit, how to see an opening and take advantage of it. This is what I find most tricky, but I don't need it for my next test (we don't have to fight for belt until 5th kyu).

Thanks for the help, everyone. Actually, I don't know the shin blocks so I'll ask about that next lesson. I try to move about, but a problem I have with this guy is establishing a comfortable range. Too far back, and he likes to kick. To close in, and he goes for my legs trying to sweep. He's got the weight advantage, so I can't pull him down. Anyway, lots to learn!

Ouch!!!

Endurance is handy if you want to run away!

If you can't run, try walking everywhere to begin with. Walking is great exercise, gentle enough not to injure you, and gives you a base level of fitness that you can then build up from when you're ready. Smaller meals, more often. Lots of fruit, veg and salad. Plenty of water.

I study Wado Ryu. I enjoy it. Don't know if its the best. Does it matter?

In our karate association, which teaches Wado Ryu, we have a syllabus book which lists requirments for each grading from 7th Kyu up to Shodan (the syllabus for this looks pretty demanding, including 30 mins continous sparring against mixed opponents). I'm surprised you don't have the same.

Is it a good idea to try to put on muscle mass, or are you better off concentrating on endurance/ speed?

That's helpful. In terms of cardio, I'm pretty fit as I run, swim, cycle, walk already. Our contests are usually fairly short, so I don't really get the chance to wear him out. But I'll try your suggestions out and watch for improvements. Thanks.

Well, IMHO MA can bring about internal change. if you want it to. Focus, training, self discipline, self respect and respect for others, humility and control all have their part to play. But how do you measure these things? How do you know its MA that changed you and not other factors in your life? If you've doing it for a long time, do you remember what you were like before you started. All imponderables. It's also true that lots of things (sport and otherwise) can change you, depending on how you respond to them. We all grow and change as time goes on.

I know there've been a few posts about sparring here, but I do with some help. I have to regularly spar against somebody much bigger and heavier than me. I'm 6' and 12 stone 4 lb. He's about 6'2" and I'd guess around 15 - 16 stone. He's heavy. We're both beginners, same rank (7th kyu, grading to 6th together later this Summer). Anyway, when we spar I try to go for it to overcome my basic fear, but just about every time I end up getting injured, especially round my knees. He likes to go for the legs. I'm wondering what I should do. I don't want to discourage him, after all he's there to learn as well. But I don't want to spend all my time recovering from one injury after another. I know we're both inexperienced, and will both improve with time, but how can I learn to spar better? What should I actually be practising to make improvement? Or does it just "come" one day, like riding a bicycle? Any tips or wisdom you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

6'0, 173 lb. Want to get down to 168. Big calves, hams, quads, scrawny arms (cross country running and cyling does that to you).

Is there anybody else out there who finds this stuff quite intimidating?

£16 for kyu grades. The belts are extra - I think £3.

As a long time runner, I have to say that personally I think it's probably not a good idea to do too much running barefoot. It's not just your feet you have to think about, there's all the stress running puts on your ankles, knees and hips. Most runners spend a lot of time injured, even wearing decent trainers!

High Britnoob. I was a total beginner myself 6 months ago. I felt completely useless at first! But I decided to try and do at least some practice every day, if only for a few minutes. If you do that you'll very quickly improve. Try and learn at least one new thing every time you train. I also found a good book on Amazon, called Dynamic Strength by Harry Wong. It has lots of calisthenics. The first section contains a good stretching, warm up routine which I try to do daily on getting up. I've noticed the difference in my condition very quickly. Anyway, persevere, I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I do!

Another thing occurs to me. Here in the UK I see a lot of adverts for different Karate clubs. They all tend to lead with something along the lines of "learn self defence", but, when you think about it, it takes a long time before you can really develop enough skill to use it in self defence. Maybe these adverts create false expectations, and then people drop out because they don't seem to make the progress they expected?

Serial number as well? 7th Kyu Wado Ryu, hoping to take 6th Kyu this Summer.

Well, recently I came to Karate quite late (so I understand) at the ripe old age of 35, after years of athletics. It takes a lot of patience, practice, perseverance, and coping with frustration as we attempt to refine and perfect difficult techniques. The rewards are great - after a few months I'm starting to get into better overall physical condition than I was from running, I can touch my toes for the first time in years, I feel more energetic etc. etc. But these rewards take time. I guess people drop out for many different reasons. Maybe they had false expectations, or they just decide it's not for them (just like football, basketball or cricket are not for some people), or they don't have time. Like most other time consuming endeavours, you have to love it to stick at it.