Beginning Martial Arts - Training Suggestions

[The Unknown]

I want to start martial arts soon. Not sure which one to chose, some schools around here teach Tae Kwon Do, Shotakan Karate, and others. But I don't want to jump right into martial arts, I don't think I'm that healthy so I know it will be hard. So I decided to train first, and later when I feel I'm ready, I will start.

 

I don't know how I should train or what in general should I eat. Can any one suggest a training schedule or how I should make my own?

 

Also how many meals a day and what calories should I eat, I read some magazines and it says 6 meals, each 300 calories a day is good, although I can't do that since I go to school and not allowed to eat at certain times, so how should I work around this or are there better ways to eat?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[White_Tiger]

In my opinion this is to general of a question. We should probably no your age, your eating habits, how much you excercise, etc. Let us know this info, and I am sure you will get some help from the forum.

[The Unknown]

I'm 14, and my eating habits is what I want to change. I usually exercise 1 or 2 times a week outside of school. Can anyone probably put a link to the page with the info I'm looking for, or I will greatly appreciate it if you can help. I'm hoping to know how much I should eat(calories, meal numbers). Exercise is the biggest problem, I don't know what to do and how long to do it, to get ready for a martial arts like tae kwon do or shotakan karate.

[Kumite988]

You don't really need to train before you start MA. I suggest go in, sign up...and the instructor will take it from there. It is the best way to go, especially since your gonna start really easy....and work up to harder stuff. Maybe sparring..and intense kata.

[Rich67]

At your age, your metabolism is such that you can pretty much eat what you want and not have it literally weigh you down. 6 meals a day is good, but the amount you take in calorie wise depends on your Basal Metabolic Rate. You can figure out your resting BMR by going here:

 

http://caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.html

 

Keep in mind, that's RESTING. You need to add more if you are more active and want to maintain weight, or add a lot more if you want to gain weight.

 

As for working out, you'll get plenty of that at the dojo. No need to supplement it unless you go less that 4 times a week. I'd say weight training is the best, since you hit the cardio at the school. Resistance exercise will help you add power to your techniques, and help develop muscular coordination during your training.

[The Unknown]

Ok, thanks. I think I may sign up soon. I don't want to be the least fit in the class though. The exercise at school isn't so much and if I don't have go to the dojo that often I think I might just jump rope(Can't find a good place to run around here) and do other cardio exercises to be more fit and ready to train.

[equaninimus]

If the school you choose gives you a bad time about being unfit, then you should probably not practice there. Your fitness should improve over time. The CC where I teach history has a TKD class, and the instructor is apparently fond of epithets like "fat boy," and "lard *." I encouraged his students to file complaints with the administration, so that ihis aerobicized butt can be removed to an environment better suited to his liking.