Something really bothers me... Please help!

[SBMForLife]

Hey guys. I'm new here, just joined and will try to be an active member. I like Karate and train for it too but I just have one problem that strikes my mentality directly. I'm 18 years old and I'm 57 kilos. The problem is I get to spar with tougher and bigger guys than me. Sometimes I let my hands and feet go but most of the times I'm getting seriously beat up. I've not competed on a Pro(serious) level yet. Haven't been on competitions and stuff but I've been training hard for a long time. I will start doing so in September. But this thing really does bother me guys. I train hard but 70 kilo dudes just beat the heck out of me and I do like the sport, I want to be successful here and I want to push myself to the limit but I'm getting seriously squashed. I've sparred with low-skilled guys of my weight and I always beat 'em up. Though I've sparred with only a few of them, I do have confidence and I believe I can do it in competition so I need some help, directed to the mentality. I get FRUSTRATED really quickly and I just think I want to give it up all, whilst I don't. Please help me out. It would be appreciated and any encouraging words will be welcome too. Thank you guys.

[DWx]

Welcome to KF SBMForLife

That's the problem with sparring with people of different builds and abilities - you get really mismatched. But in training you have to remember that the goal isn't necessarily to win every single bout, it's to get better.

If you're walking all over the people with less ability than you, you're no better than the bigger people who do bet the hell out of you. If you clearly outclass someone, you should be using your sparring time to push yourself and improve technically (or to teach them). Work on things you wouldn't do normally but that you want to get better at. For instance, I used to suck at kicking with my left leg but made myself spar kids and beginners using only my left leg and saw a dramatic improvement. Now when I spar people of the same skill level or better, I'm more comfortable at using my left side. Pick a technique or couple of techniques and force yourself to do them. If you want to make it challenging, set yourself goals during each bout such as you have to score using a particular combo or counter.

When you spar better guys you should use a similar approach. Whilst working on footwork and evasion to not get hit, also set yourself goals. You're probably not going to win the match but you should still be using that time to improve. Maybe say to yourself that you have to score once using X technique. On your next bout you should aim to score twice with X. On your third, score 3 times with X and so on.

[brickshooter]

Hey guys. I'm new here, just joined and will try to be an active member. I like Karate and train for it too but I just have one problem that strikes my mentality directly. I'm 18 years old and I'm 57 kilos. The problem is I get to spar with tougher and bigger guys than me. Sometimes I let my hands and feet go but most of the times I'm getting seriously beat up. I've not competed on a Pro(serious) level yet. Haven't been on competitions and stuff but I've been training hard for a long time. I will start doing so in September. But this thing really does bother me guys. I train hard but 70 kilo dudes just beat the heck out of me and I do like the sport, I want to be successful here and I want to push myself to the limit but I'm getting seriously squashed. I've sparred with low-skilled guys of my weight and I always beat 'em up. Though I've sparred with only a few of them, I do have confidence and I believe I can do it in competition so I need some help, directed to the mentality. I get FRUSTRATED really quickly and I just think I want to give it up all, whilst I don't. Please help me out. It would be appreciated and any encouraging words will be welcome too. Thank you guys.

You're underweight.

Solution: Lift weights.

[JohnnyB]

and eat some!

[evergrey]

Lift weights and eat a lot of protein, and some carbs too, to compensate for the extra energy required, or you won't gain anything. You will want protein every 4 hours to ensure that you build muscle.

And learn to be quick and maneuverable and work your angles.

[Trevelyan]

I was 61 kilos when I was 18 and a black belt. I find that the opponents size is not really a determinant of their skill. What I did find as a determinant was their speed. I recommend training for fast twitch muscles. Power comes from form, I would recommend perfecting the timing, balance, weight shift, foot work ect. for the jab and cross from your sparing stance. Confidence in your techniques will give you a mental boost. While getting beaten can be frustrating, I welcome sparing superior fighters as you learn the quickest against them. Coal becomes diamond only under extreme heat and pressure.

[GeterDone]

Every dojo will have students of different physical builds. For example, today one of the people who I sparred is less experienced, lower ranked, younger, and roughly 5'8 (guestimation) and about 54 kg without much muscle mass. I'm 6'1 and 98 kg with more muscle mass. I could toss him around by his gi or wail on him until he's lying in a heap but there's no mutual benefit. Instead, I'll correct him if I notice his technique, such as footwork, balance and so forth aren't proper because that will benefit him a) directly through his kumite and b) indirectly through confidence and self-esteem. Similarly, when someone corrects my technique, the same will happen.

Kumite is based largely on precision, speed, balance, timing, ability to shift your weight while having the opponent lose theirs, attention to foot placement of yours and your opponent, and so forth. If you wish, then gain muscle mass and weight but try to make sure it doesn't hinder in any of the above. Additionally, watch how the advanced students and sensei spar. You may not be able to replicate their techniques with the same speed and effectiveness right away, however, practice them and you'll be able to but don't rely only on copying.

[SBMForLife]

Read all of your replies and I'm very thankful to you for giving me tips. Looks like it's really a weight problem not much of a technqiue one. But I'll keep training as hard as I can, will try to eat what is required and hopefully succeed with my weight class competitors. Thanks very much guys.

[DWx]

With respect guys, I don't think telling SBMForLife to just put on weight and gain muscle mass to be a better sparrer is a good suggestion. We don't know anything about his build, his height etc. 57 kg might be alright for how tall he is and how he is built.

Additional muscle mass alone isn't going to make him a better fighter either. If anything he'll just be a bigger, slower target to hit unless he trains technique and speed! I'd go with Trevelyan's and Get'erDone's advice; train first and you'll see a much more noticeable improvement than just piling on the pounds.

[GeterDone]

Read all of your replies and I'm very thankful to you for giving me tips. Looks like it's really a weight problem not much of a technqiue one. But I'll keep training as hard as I can, will try to eat what is required and hopefully succeed with my weight class competitors. Thanks very much guys.

You have it backwards because suppose you pile on the pounds and muscle mass until you're 75 kg. You're not going to, "win" or be better at kumite than the other students because from the sounds of it, they have better technique. Additionally, you run the risk of using an unproductive mindset that you need to gain weight in order to improve. Supposing you become 75 kg, spar someone my weight (round up to 100 kg) or someone in your weight class and "lose" or don't do as well as you hoped. Your answer shouldn't be to pack on the pounds and muscle mass, rather it should be focus on what you and your opponent did, and improve your technique. Even though some of the students are larger or heavier, chances are they're not beating you by simply throwing around their weight.

Getting bigger and heavier means you have to definitely improve your speed and technique, otherwise you become a large target. You have to train at a weight you're comfortable at, can maintain and compliments your build. Some students at the dojo I attend are around 50 kg but they don't have a very big build, so it suits them. If they were to become 80 kg, they'd probably become too slow unless they trained and struggled really hard.