osuperu

Great post...thats the one thing that will kill me...self doubt..and im trying everyday to over come it loved the quote: "To hell with genetics, I will determine my physical prowess and strength" yes...to hell with genetics

as in a should have read this when the topic first came up

great..thanks... also what are V-ups? what do you recommend as far as stretches and exerices for REALLY tight and not so felxible hip flexors and abductors?

a little late, but.......great post anonymous...

anonymous... i got some questions for you..im sure youve got the answers. so how often do you recomend this regime? also is this apart from lifting wieghts? whats your streching routine for this workout? i have karate practise MWF and i personally practise my karate TTh ive been so involved with my new MA i havent had time for wieghts. and i have a tendency to overtrain and overworkout and get strains, pulls...etc.. this regime looks good..can this replace lifting weights?...ive started karate recently..and i clearly saw that i can bench and squat more than any of my fellow students...BUT i really have no explosive power and speed compared to them.. thanks..

i just think it looks like slower ballistic stretching..maybe ive been showed wrong... so what exaclty is the difference between dynamic and the other streches...what makes it soo much better?

hey guys...i have never meditated outside of the dojo 30 sec or so before and after...(where i can never seen to think about nothing and relax in that time) i was wondering if anyone uses music when they meditate at home..or where ever? i hope its not a stupid question. Its just that i dont know how i can even close my eyes and focus on one thing, or, a harder area: totally free mind of everything for a few minutes! i do listen to music a lot and it does relax, and calm me down(classical guitar) So does anyone use music? Or if this is a no no...does anyone have some personal tips on meditating? i dont google on how to meditate because the majority of those are trying to sell you the right way..and you guys are just honest feedback thanks!

oh and also.. the main reason...the MMA isnt really a structured class nor with a highly expierenced coach...just students wanting to practise and learn a few things.. if i ever live somewhere with a structure MMA training center ill definatly look into it

MTB- well i also got interested in the mental aspect of TMA aswell... dont get me wrong though.. everyday i think about being the that 'kick-* fighter'..but i really want to keep my original goals. which wasnt to just be a jack of all trades/master of none fighter. we'll see with time..cus i really am interested in judo/BJJ...but in due time.. i think a good reason why im just sticking to shotokan is becuase a long while back i got into archery...i started out with the recurve traditional idea (that primal, mental feeling)...but then got pulled into the easy quick experience gains of the single cam compound....now ive had a compound and wish i would have taken the longer harder less traveled road and stuck with recurve.. my 2 cents...

hey thanks for all the advice..last week felt a little harder to keep focused in the dojo..and i think im just going to stick to shotokan, and lifting wieghts/running for now... but darn...having shins like plywood would be nice.. if anybody has strained mucsles, what do you put on them before training?...any crazy herbal remedy that works?

...interesting...

off subject....did anyone watch the extreme martial arts on the discovery channel jsut now?..it showed the biomechanics of a variety of strikes...one kick delived more lbs/ft^2 than a speeding car..

yeah... im also trying to figure out and find a nice quiet large place that i can practise what i learn in the dojo.... my apt is way too small with 70's shag carpet...ill probably have to drive out into the forrest..hahaha

cathal- i have no 'belt' buzz...its just 4 more hours of added practise for me with many people from all around oregon... and i cant wait to just watch and observe the katas and kumite performed... (i watched my shotokan class for 2 weeks before stepping foot on the dojo).."you can observe a lot just by watching" - yogi berra mrpockets- i do think MMA is a great thing to become a good well rounded figther..however i didnt get passion for MA just to be a great fighter. i have various goals..and the mental side means a lot to me, i belive the mind is always 'stronger' than the body.. and with that i will definatly stick to shotokan as well.

Your views are all highly appreciated!....Yeah im back and forth with this issue...some of the similar strikes are confusing for me..I kinda want to put most of my precious time (biochem major) into just shotokan..but the Muay thai workout is incredible..and its really lax as far as technique and its mostly just a workout and learning how to fight...I think im going to go just once a week to have an 'agression expelling' workout. and to be still afiliated for when the BJJ part starts in the fall term... on a side note, saturday im going to a Kyu testing/training session eventhough its only my 3rd pracitse!...i dont even have a Gi yet...sooo ambitious huh?...maybe too ambitious...

so i just came back from our first quasi class/meeting. -The emphasis is Muay Thai and later on (next term) will be BJJ... so basically each T and Th will be stand up punhcing/kicking. Its not really 'taught' as much and we just 'do it' and get a feel for it...the lead instructor is just a guy with much expierence in BJJ and Muay Thai..but he's jsut a fellow student.... Its a great great workout, but we'll see how i do tomoorw in shotokan not confusing myself, with what i learned today in muay thai... also..anyone done Muay Thai and a stlye of Karate together??...i know that they both are closer, than say Karate and BJJ for crosstraining...but, in just curious.. thanks

well im just worried that i wont catch on as quickto the shotokan basics if i do the cross training now.. when you all train with the heavy bag (if you do)..do you hit it standing in your said style forms...or jsut hit it in the generic boxing stance, circling around..

Hello.. i have just started shotokan, and have been intived to this feldgling MMA club at my university...they are starting this term with only bag and focus mit work, no ground work now (school legalities).. My question is that im worried if i go to these practices of MMA i'll untrain and/or be slow in learning the shotokan basics/fundamentals that im as we speak trying to learn...any karate guys out there ( rather..anyone with experience) that could let me know if going to these MMA isnt the best thing for me right now..(patience is not my virtue)...i mean im really interested in shotokan...but i like the idea of the bag and mit experience... thanks!

my in condordance with what anonymous and dtst said... the muscle is just fatigued, and will become stronger and less sore with streches and each day more of training...unless it persists for a long period...then it could be tendonitis, bursitis, a pull...etc..then see a doc

Jimmy...and whats your MA training schedule like?

good post..very inciteful about plyo's, but we have to assume that the person lifts weights the right and correct way (ie. no gaining momentum, FULL extension..etc..)..otherwise some of those myths still apply haha one question Anonymous:

hey thanks....i have been focusing a lot on streching lately..and im tonning my work outs done some...mostly because i have that tendency to 'overdoit' when starting a new sport/physical activity ..oh bummer for WV against louisville huh!

hello...i have started shotokan and i was wondering what all you karatekas do for non martial arts training, as in weight lifting, running, swimming...etc.. i personally have always been more anaerobic than aerobic..i lift weights for mass and strength gains (high weight less reps), but i feel that that wouldnt work for the shotokan style, maybe any karate style?..... So what do you guys do for non MA training?...if any ... Also...any of you guys (outside of dojo) do a form of heavy bag work (even boxing) to get some experience with hard contact as opposed to air? (dont get me wrong, i like air).. if you do, do you apply your karate style, or just box the crap of it?.. thanks!

what are plyometrics?....like exercises with the medicine ball?...

ok..maybe this has been asked many times, and maybe its a sin if i dont know it, but, hey i am new to the martial arts scene...but what is Qi/Ki? ..are there many descriptions and definitions? is it jsut the mental aspect of these arts?..ive just started shotokan but ive also been interested in the mental side of martial arts, to build confidence, and hell, a little inner peace...hehe.., but should one first understand the style one is in before trying to understand and delevope the mental side and/or the QI/Ki?