I Forgot About The Core!!!

[jarrettmeyer]

Before I started karate, I was doing pilates. It took about a month for me to make it through a class. I switched from pilates to karate, because I needed more sweat and something more hardcore.

The week of May 30, our school was closed for Memorial Day and Sensai took a vacation with his wife. Since I wasn't at the dojo, I thought I'd run on over to the gym and go to a pilates class.

Wow! My core had gotten weaker! All stabilization I used to have was gone. I thought I would walk in and be bang-on, but I was seriously behind. I could do the situps and straight-on work, but my angles were terrible. Why? I don't practice angles and slow, stable movements as part of my karate instruction. (I've added more angles to my training since then.)

I am writing this to stress the importance of cross-training and multi-training. Even though I work out daily with cardio and light weights, I am finding things that I am unable to do. My failure was my ignorance. I thought that by training to improve in MA that I would improve in other disciplines. This is, obviously, not always the case.

[white lily]

I agree totally.....we all must work from the ground up

[KarateKid7]

your martial arts routine of training should include exercises from your pilates classes. This would make you a well rounded martial artist and pilatist. The core is important in martial arts and shouldnt be underestimated. I think you are fortunate to have access to ways in which to improve your core which will definiteli improve your martial arts. Good Luck

[white lily]

If you want other ways to strengthen you core, google Paul Chek...he has some interesting ideas around core stability.

also https://www.ballbearings.com this is a swiss ball site

https://www.martial-athlete.com has some stuff to

do you use stability balls, medicine balls, wobble boards, foam rollers?

I have no experince with pilates but have heard its great for core devlopment.