Conditioning.....For Me?

[NFleischman]

Well, I haven't even started MA yet but I am going to very, very soon.(Most likely Karate). Anyway my question is I really haven't been working out at all lately. Should I start to condition my body even before I start my training? I am 15 years of age 5'8" and 130 pounds. I have mild asthma which can be a problem sometimes. If I should start working out any ideas what I should do? Like starting slowly...or what? Thanks in advance.

[theswarm]

start doing cardio now

 

let your style worry about the other conditioning stuff

[monkeygirl]

If you want to be super-prepared, then yes you could work out at home and do some conditioning.

 

However, remember that every style has a beginning level for their students. Generally speaking, they will take you from whatever physical fitness level you have, and mold you into what will suit the style best. They're not going to say: "*GASP*! This boy can't run a marathon without breaking a sweat? Turn him away immediately." They'll build you up.

 

My dojo has a few asthmatic students. (of the ones that I know of, one is a 17-year-old black belt, and the other is a 14-year-old junior black belt, about to test for 1st dan) At first, training was difficult, especially when it came to sparring. After several years of training, however, it's very rare that the 17-year-old has to run for his inhaler, even during/after sparring. When he does, it's usually because of some other factor: heavy pollen, bad air, fresh-cut grass outside, etc.

[hobbitbob]

See your physician prior to beginning, and discuss your asthma treatment regimen with him. Also, let your isntructor know about your asthma. Have you a medic-alert bracelet or something similar (not that we ever actually check for them if we find someone down, but bystanders often do... )? If not, get one. One of our yudansha is a particularly "brittle" asthmatic,and has a ma bracelet that warns he is a difficult intubation!

 

If you use an mdi, make sure you keep one near you in class (with a spacer, if you commonly use one).

 

National Jewish here in Denver has been doing some research on adolescents with asthma and karate, I will try to find a link to some of their research and post it here.