Training for outside of class

[Oni Kudaki]

As it stands, I go to class 4 times a week and I can't go any more often than that. When I'm not at school I've got plenty of free time and I'd like to devote some of that time to more training. Also, I can't get to the gym because I'd need to join and I just can't afford that.

[joesteph]

I think it's great that you're able to train in the dojo four times a week. I'm a family man, so I can only go twice a week, taking a double class each day with my teacher's permission.

Liiving in Southern California, with its beautiful weather, even if you don't join a gym, there must be outdoor activities like walking or hiking that would build up the power of your legs and keep your cardio at a high level. And it's said that swimming exercises the whole body.

Could you take a double class? Would you be interested in outdoor activties?

[likeke34]

you'll get a lot of different opinions on training/overtraining, so the best thing to do is what works for you... i know there are those who think they have better ways of doing it, but this worked for me and is how i did it, so it's just a sample and i'm not here to argue the benefits or negative effects of it lol...

what happened was i had a match against a 2X WKF world champ and it motivated me to train this way (and he was kind enough to offer me tips/pointers)...

so back when i was really getting competitive (i was also lucky that i was able to devote my time to training rather than working or doing other things), i'd train at the dojo mondays and weds, for 2hrs each, and on tues/thurs for 2-3hrs each... i'd also run 5 days a week for about 3miles...

on fridays, i'd train on my own doing competition specific training... i'd usually have my sensei point out what i need to work on and i'd spend about 2hrs on fridays working on it, whether it be footwork, speed, or timing etc... this was the only day that i'd turn on music and workout hard to it as i worked on my drills on my own

saturdays i spent doing kihon/kata (i'm a big advocate of kihon and kata, plus it's a great workout)... Also i always competed in both kata and kumite...

sundays i just watched a lot of tape/footage (both of me, and top level competitors) and i'd stretch (i stretched everyday after my workouts)...

i may have overtrained at times as well... there were days when i'd just get back from the dojo and i'd still have my gi on, then i'd just continue my training at home on my own... i was obsessed to be honest... i even watched tapes during most of my free time, studying techniques that worked in the world championships and techniques that often failed...

well, that's a sample of how i used to train, here's what it looked like:

Mon - ran 3miles in morning, 2hrs at the dojo

tues - ran 3miles in morning, 2-3 hrs at the dojo

wed - ran 3miles in morning, 2hrs at the dojo

thurs - ran 3miles in morning, 2-3hrs at the dojo

fri - ran 3miles in morning, 2hrs on my own working on things that were lacking at the dojo to music

sat- 2hrs on my own doing kihon/kata

sun- watched tape/footage, and stretched

let me add that i did throw in some weight training here and there, but not as consistent as most top competitors... i did a lot of calisthenics however

[Montana]

When I started training while in college I used to go to the gym, a local park, or at home and work on kata...over and over again. God knows how many times I did my kata, and I did them with enthusiasm and worked for accuracy, speed, power and good technique.

Trust me, it works!