Training at home - is there a best way?

[chris0828]

Hi all

This is probably going to sound really dumb. But I've just started learning and after my lesson the Sensei gave me some tips about what kihon I should be working on in order to progress

I was just wondering what is the best way to practice at home, or what you have found useful. I don't have a training partner and limited space. So does anyone have any tips?

[Dobbersky]

Welcome to the Board and Welcome to a lifestime of Karate

have a look at the Thread Kitchen Kata!

http://www.karateforums.com/kitchen-kata-vt40136.html

Its currently on Page 2 of the Karate Topic.

Best suggestion is make sure you have enough space WITHOUT havinig to make steps back or to the side as you WILL do this in Class with your Sensei. I know because I can spot any of my students that practice in confined spaces lol.

[todome]

One technique done right is worth 100 done wrong. Don't overdo it. If it feels awkward, stop. Move on to something else. If the penny drops and you think you know what made it awkward, go back to it and try it again and see what feels different. Contrarily, if it feels better, stop and try to figure out what it is you did right and try it again to see if you were right. You won't be 100% right but it will be step in the right direction.

Your sensei probably gave you a handful of techniques (a few stances, a few blocks, basic punch, hip rotation, hip vibration) to repeat and a pocketful of fundamentals to focus on (shoulders down, shoulders square, hips tucked in, pressure down, power from the hips, breath). Those fundamentals don't change from technique to technique. Look for how they apply to each.

Make sure you practice going backwards as much as you do going forward. That will put applying the fundamentals front and center. You're going to spend a lot of time concentrating on body parts and not the body moving as a whole. That never stops but always remember its not about body parts its about getting all those body parts to move in unison. Just like in music, harmony is the amplification of complimentary units.

[Spodo Komodo]

One thing that I have found useful (especially when I lived in a tiny flat in Sheffield) is to go for a run to the local park early of a morning, do a good old kata/kihon session there and then run home before the usual parklife gets out of bed. 6-630am you can very often have the entire park to yourself with no chance of heckling by idiots.

If you have to practice indoors it is often best to break things down into manageable chunks to fit the floorspace. Be creative, I used to practice my kicking against a cushion strapped to the sofa with an old karate belt.

[chris0828]

Thanks for the advice guys. Basically yeah I've been given a few really basic techniques to practice to form the basis for the rest of my training.

Thanks again

[todome]

Oh yeah. Almost forgot.

Wax ON

Wax OFF

And try get a copy of Nakayama's Best Karate Fundamentals. Its one of those books that make more sense as effort pays off and time passes.