curriculum

[crash]

Do you or your dojo, class etc... incorporate or use heavy bags,(not B.O.B  or standing type but hanging heavy bags for timed drills), speed bags, dumb bells, or other non-martial arts type equipment in training. does your class veer away from just the M.A type subject and do a class of pure cardio or or perhaps "station" type training?  if so, what type and how often, once a week? once a month? just occasionally?...... just wondering others thoughts.

[Wastelander]

Yes. My late Sensei made use of heavy bags, sometimes double-end bags, and plenty of strength and conditioning equipment. I don't currently have the ability to put up a hanging bag of any kind, but I do still make use of a lot of strength and conditioning equipment. I incorporate some degree of strength and conditioning at the beginning of my classes, just as my late Sensei did, but class time is mainly for actual martial arts training, so real dedicated S&C workouts are probably only once or twice a month. Students are expected to work on that on their own.

[crash]

1 hour ago, Wastelander said:

Yes. My late Sensei made use of heavy bags, sometimes double-end bags, and plenty of strength and conditioning equipment. I don't currently have the ability to put up a hanging bag of any kind, but I do still make use of a lot of strength and conditioning equipment. I incorporate some degree of strength and conditioning at the beginning of my classes, just as my late Sensei did, but class time is mainly for actual martial arts training, so real dedicated S&C workouts are probably only once or twice a month. Students are expected to work on that on their own.

i agree that class time, or the majority of time spent at the dojo is martial arts training, that is what its all about, after all. but i have found that adults do like the cardio and strength portions also. gives them some "gym time", so to speak. ive been in dojos that for the entire month before testing they will only focus on forms for the entire month. well, two steps, forms, testing agenda, etc.... so for those not testing its rather boring or not "fullfilling" to a degree. (though i dont think most are like that or to that degree, but if testing every three months like some do, that eats a lot of time away from class in the long haul).. this is OK for beginners classes but for advanced classes i would rather have them work on forms/kata in their own time, (of course there is help if needed) and have a HIIT type routine of some type twice a month. along with a sparring class once per week.. , Thanks for the reply.

[Montana]

I always had an 80# heavy bag or two, and a makiwara. I was there to teach karate, not cardio, strength training, aerobics or weight loss. Get a gym membership if that's your goal.