I plan on going to some upcoming tournaments and events involving Karate, however I do not know how to prepare for them...Any ideas? I am already eating healthy..no man made food etc and exercising everyday (running & streching & going to karate)...What should I do more?

 

Should a 15 year old be weight lifting, no right because it like stops growth and messes up your joints and stuff..

First of all...good luck in the tournaments. I would suggest you talk to your instructor first. He/She should be your source of such information.

 

Not sure what you plan on doing in the way of competing, but most competitors enter kata and kumite. When I train or any of our students train for competition, we focus on the katas we will be competing with. I practice those katas 3-4 times more then my others, in order to be able to complete them without error. When you get out on the mat, you'll be nervous.

 

As for fighting (kumite), it's kind of specific to your style, the tournament, etc. I run a routine that goes something like this:

 

(1st Round)

 

2 min sparring

 

1st tournament kata

 

breathing kata

 

...30sec. - 1min break....

 

(2nd Round)

 

3 min sparring

 

2nd tournament kata

 

breathing kata

 

...30sec. - 1min break....

 

(3rd Round)

 

4 min sparring

 

1st tournament kata

 

breathing kata

 

....1min break (water)...

 

Strengthing drills

 

Kick drills

 

Punch Drills

 

Movement Drills

 

Stretching (15min - 30 min)

 

As your indurance increases, so does the time for each round. Ultimate goal is 3 rounds of 5min intense sparring. May need multiple partners to achieve this. They may not be in the shape you will be

run, run some more, and then run even more. also kick a bag non stop for like 1:30 really, really hard!

Running doesn't prepare you for tournaments! For a start running increases your indurance to run and not for your stamina for fighting! I should know coz i've been training for 11 years so far and running just doesn't help!

Most of me agrees with pcam16. Actually, over 95% does, because I use to run alot and even attempted Trak/Field (didn't complete the season though). Although I've never really stopped jogging, Most of my training time is spent on the heavy bag or performing drills and kata. Nothing seems to prepare me better than long hours of sparring. Running only helps endurance, while kicking and punching the heavy bag stuff gives endurance + concentration, limberness, a pinch of power, speed, and last but not least: better technique. Just my 2 cents.