How do I improve my speed?

[drunkenmonkey blackbelt]

Thanks you guys I really appreciate you all. Another thing I wanted to address was fitness. I was also wandering if there were any ways to get more fit for Shotokan Karate (if there are ways to get more fit for Shotokan) Is there possibly a way to more modify my body for Shotokan? I have alot of muscle but I'm still big you know. Well I was wandering if there is a way to lose weight and modify my body to fit Shotokan. I hope you all understand what I'm saying. If someone could help me out with this I would really like that. Thanks.

[bbk2132]

flexability is very important

have you ever heard of Bill "Superfoot" Wallace.

He was National kickboxing champion a while ago. I did a seminar with him last year, he is 60 years old with an artificial hip and knee, yet he still can kick 60mph. It was amazing, you actually missed it if you blinked.

Anyways, he has a book out...not sure what it is called, but half the seminar was about streching and what you can do to increase flexability in a way that will make you faster.

Google him and i am sure you'll find the book.

[Brandon Fisher]

flexability is very important

have you ever heard of Bill "Superfoot" Wallace.

He was National kickboxing champion a while ago. I did a seminar with him last year, he is 60 years old with an artificial hip and knee, yet he still can kick 60mph. It was amazing, you actually missed it if you blinked.

Anyways, he has a book out...not sure what it is called, but half the seminar was about streching and what you can do to increase flexability in a way that will make you faster.

Google him and i am sure you'll find the book.

Actually he was World Middleweight Kickboxing champion. He's from Indiana and graduated from Ball State University (I think). The man is incredible on what he does with just his left leg. I have stood in front of him several times and been his uke or has he said his dummy and tried to block the kick I knew was coming and where and still couldn't. He is the reason my kicks are so fast, he was the inspiration and he showed me how to do it. Unfortunetly I need to get my flexibility back to pick up the speed again and mine are no where near slow.

[jaymac]

Drunken Monkey: you said you have alot of muscle. What is wrong with that body type for shotokan? In order to be faster, try not to muscle through any moves. Relax your blocks, strikes, and kicks, then snap at the end. That is what I have noticed with powerful individuals in our own dojo, they just want to muscle through all the moves. Once they relax, and tense at the end of the technique -----> well they have power and speed that is just amazing.

[Brandon Fisher]

Jaymac,

You hit it on the head. Power comes from technique not muscle.

[jaymac]

Thanks Brandon!

[Brandon Fisher]

Thanks Brandon!

Your welcome

[TigerDude]

Power comes from technique AND muscle. If it were technique only, you wouldn't have weight divisions in boxing, etc.

I'm not clear why being big would hurt your karate.

[Brandon Fisher]

Power comes from technique AND muscle. If it were technique only, you wouldn't have weight divisions in boxing, etc.

I'm not clear why being big would hurt your karate.

It won't hurt you as long as you perform the technique correctly and don't try to muscle it.

[Jiffy]

To answer the question on speed...

Never compare your speed with someone like Bruce Lee. A lot of it has to do with the make-up of the individual. More particular, the twitch speed of the muscles. Some people have what they call fast twitch which allows them to accelerate very fast. Then there is obviously slow twitch people. In addition, Bruce Lee's reflexes were contantly on edge, which while it over-worked his brain, was fantatic for physical speed.

In regards to just increasing your speed, technique is the key. Think about it, the best way to get somewhere is to increase efficiency. The less you have to think about it and the more direct your line, the faster your technique. Then of course there is muscle efficiency. Get a copy of "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" from Bruce Lee. He talks a lot about efficiency being the key. As previously stated, get the technique perfect, then drill it over and over and over. Then when you come to practising at speed, reduce all tension. Practice light and then eventually, you can add the power back in.