Starting Karate again

[beaker]

How quickly could I expect to progress when re-starting karate after an 8 year absence? I used to be a 1st kyu. I know I would have to start again at a lower level but would I be able to take gradings more quickly than before? I will be starting at a new club but I have looked at my old syllabus, and the early grades are stuff I can remember easily.

 

 

[Angus]

Generally it should take about 2 - 3 months to recover ur former glory... But if u go hard then it should be easier... I mean, u WERE a 1st kyu, so u'r gonna have a strong hold of the basics...

 

Angus

 

 

[beaker]

Thanks.

 

But what is the legality of that? I am actually in the UK but wouldn't have thought that was a difference ... how many clubs would let you whizz through the grades that quick? Or is it down to the individual instructor?

 

I could probably get in touch with my old Sensei and ask him to vouch for me but I have lost my old paperwork.

[SBN Doug]

It's going to vary widely based on the club and instructor.

 

I've seen school owners allow someone back in at their old level, they just weren't allowed to progress any further until they had all their material back up to snuff.

 

I've also seen them be made to start all the way from day one.

 

Perhapse a sit down with your instructor, and an assessment by him/her would allow you to step back in at least close to your old rank.

[Gloi]

We've recently got a second kyu at our club who's just started training again after 15 years. He's in his forties. He's a bit rusty but seems to be managing to keep up with the other brown belts reasonably well. He'll jsut stay at his grade until he's back up to speed enough to go for his 1st kyu, he was hoping about 6 months or so. He did have his old grading book though from when he used to train.

 

[ This Message was edited by: Gloi on 2002-02-12 07:25 ]

[beaker]

Thanks for the info. Maybe I should try and dig mine out! Mind you, what do the other people at your dojo think about that?

 

[ This Message was edited by: beaker on 2002-02-12 08:46 ]

[Gloi]

People here have been glad to see him as we're pretty short in numbers and he's a nice chap. We've also got a 7th kyu who's just come back after being in Japan teaching English for 2 years. Nobody in our club is resentful of anybody else's grade as far as I've seen, we're a pretty relaxed bunch.

[ronryu]

Well i rememeber i took a bout a 4 or 5 year break well i was inthe army so i didnt stop training . However being out of a true school for a while you will tend to secod guess yourself especially when you dont have contact whith anyone in that same style . When i finally got back I went to my Sensei asked to start agin in the beginers class . When i left i too was a ikkyu (1st kyu) so i jsut came in and puyt on my old white belt untill i felt that it was ok to put the brown belt back on . That is what i would suggest .

 

 

[Joecooke007]

You'll advanced quickly. Ma is like riding a bike. You never really forget.

 

 

[Ryukyu1]

I returned to MA after a considerable layoff and was started off at 8 Kyu as this was the grade I was at when I bowed out of the club. I did have the benefit of my sensei knowing me, my ability and how hard I could be pushed. I was held at this grade for 3 months until I had relearned the syllabus and achied this by training in the dojo 3 days a week and practising at home...Remeber the belts will come it just depends on how hard you drive yourself..GOOD LUCK