My legs now finally feel okay and I'm starting to feel that I can pick up the pace again. I have still not returned to the push up challenge which I stopped about 4 weeks ago because I was struggling with it and generally wondered if I was over training a little. I have not yet reached my target of 50 push ups, the maximum I got to was 35. I'm still considering whether to pick up this challenge again and try to reach my target. The problem is there are so many other things I need to concentrate on that are more directly relevant to the karate training so I may leave it for a while and pick it up again after I have got my black belt.
I'm not too worried that I'm not doing any fitness training at home because sensei has us doing a fair bit in the classes. Most classes we have 2 or 3 rounds of push ups, sit ups, burpees, star jumps, straight leg raising etc, as well as some stretching exercises so I'm still doing that kind of stuff.
I have finally settled on my 9 ippon kumite techniques. Some of the finishing moves may need a bit of tweaking but essentially I just need to keep drilling them (both physically and mentally). I now need to settle on my 9 goshin waza (self defence) techniques. We get to choose what type of attacks we want to receive and then have to demonstrate 3 different defences against each of them. I think I'm going to choose attacks from behind (bilateral rear wrist grab, rear bear hug and rear head lock); 3 different types of wrist grab from the front and 3 escapes from lapel grabs.
I also need to work on my kata. I attended a kata course a couple of weeks back and received a lot of feedback about my kata performance so I now need to practice them incorporating the information given.
The amount of stuff I need to be working on seems enormous and overwhelming at times but then again I can only do one thing at a time- and there's still 10 weeks to go!
Your posts beg the question, is what you are doing now a sort of cram course in preparation for the "shinsa?"
ReplyDeleteIs this the process you intent to continue once you achieve yudansha?
I know what you mean by being overwhelmed by having so much to work on. I've been reviewing my video from my red belt test and writing down the things that need improvement. I have all these things that I want to work on and it's hard to not get overwhelmed by having them all vying for my attention at once. I'm trying to improve on just a couple things in my practice at home and nothing more at the moment, and I think less is more at this point.
ReplyDeleteIf I may, Ariel, you only have one moment and are able to do only "one" thing in that moment. Everything else remains in the queue until that moment is complete.
ReplyDeleteWhen the mind adds a story to the stress of this, separate them. Feel the stress with out the story attached and it will go away; breathe deeply.
The story just exacerbates the emotions so kill the story.
One moment, be present, focus on the "one thing" and let the rest reside in the queue till you are ready to deal with it.
Careful not to over-train! I know the feeling of wanting to be ready for the shodan grading, but I also know the overwhelming feeling you speak of. It's good to want to step up your game and be prepared, but trust and believe you are/will be, or your instructor would not have you grading in the first place.
ReplyDeleteListen to your body. If it's telling you to rest, then do it! I have two friends who got hurt right before their shodan gradings because they over-trained in one case and trained through minor injuries that turned out not to be so minor in the other. It is hard to sit and heal (as I sit here with an Ace bandage on a knee that is swollen still from last week's kata and stance work. lol), but better to rest a bit now than to be forced onto the sidelines a whole lot closer to your promotion date.
"Life is short. Art is long." You will have a lifetime to train.
ReplyDeleteYou're getting some good advice here. You are no entering the home stretch. If you overtrain, your performance may deteriorate and as mentioned, you may become prone to injury.
ReplyDeleteYou are still doing lots of related activity. You're not going to lose what you've gained if you reduce your training a bit. Since you've been dedicated to your training goals, listening to your body is important. You're not being lazy, you're being smart. Soreness is good, chronic soreness is a warning sign.
Good work, stay smart and healthy.
Hi Charles, I hear what you say about 'cramming' but I don't think I'm doing this. I've trained steadily and consistently ever since I started 4 years ago. I just want to keep everything fresh and sharp for the grading, and there's always tweaking to be done!
ReplyDeleteAriel, you're probably right about less being more at this point. I need to avoid peaking to early. Steady, consistent training is probably the best approach.
Felicia, I have slowed down a bit the last 2 weeks (at least at home)and feel a lot better for it. Getting the balance right between training enough to maintain and improve skills and not overtraining and thus risking injury or burnout is quite tricky. Listen to your body is probably the best advice.
Tracy, "a lifetime to train"...I'm counting on it!
Journeyman, as ever....good, solid reliable advice. Thank you
I really do like your attitude Sue!
ReplyDeleteCharles, hi, sorry for late response - just got back from holiday. Feeling rested now - time to pick up the training again!
ReplyDelete