From: stark@dwovax.enet.dec.com (Todd I. Stark)
Subject: Re: karate
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 11 NOV 92 10:31:50    


srmcinto@eos.ncsu.edu (SEAN R MCINTOSH) writes...
> 
>	Hi!  I am going to start taking some Karate classes in the near future 
>and I would like some advice.  What do I need to do in order to prepare for
>these classes.  I am mainly interested in the physical training area.

For the most part, just the usual general fitness things.
the more specialized exercises are best left to the instructor to
help you do properly when the time comes.

Karate is actually a generic term for a large number of different
related schools of martial arts.  Therefore, the requirements will be
different from school to school.  What would be minimal preparation for
one could turn out to be unneccessary overkill, and might even
be considered dangerous in another.

Even so, I'll try to generalize what you will probably need.
The general physical qualities required that a healthy, active person without
a weight problem or serious physical challenge who is in their
teens or 20s might need preparation for are primarily additional flexibility
and anaerobic endurance.   To build up these qualities, start 
carefully investigating and experimenting with different stretching methods
and begin doing some sort of interval training, like wind sprints.

In many styles, there will be a requirement for making solid contact with
makiwara (punching boards) or heavy bags, or other similar targets, and
this does require wrist and ankle strength, and possibly even hand
conditioning, that might be aided by knuckle push-ups and other kinds of 
calisthenics.    I'd focus on the interval training and the stretching
for the most part, though, unless you particularly like to do knuckle
push-ups, because if you don't yet know how to listen to your body
signals and you overdo it, you'll set yourself back for months
with joint problems.

I'd also add skipping rope, building up to three minute rounds, if you are going
to be involved in any karate style that has freestyle sparring (not all
of them do).  This builds your calves, wind, and helps your coordination.

>I would also like some information on how to get my fists into
>shape?  

In some traditional karate training, the hard clenching of the fists
during training, plus the striking board work are all that is considered
neccessary.  In others, there are speciallized grip exercises.  I suggest
you experiment and judge for yourself.

>I would also like an opinion on full-contact karate.  I am interested
>in this, but I really do not know what to expect.  Any information will be
>greatly appreciated.

Find a good boxing gym and see what they do.  The best full contact 
karate people train basically the same way, except that they work their
feet, and in some of the southeast asian styles, their elbows and knees
as well.  But you'll get a feel for the type of workout they do
as compared to a traditional karate workout even from a hands-only
gym.  There's usually a very different environment.  A few people do both,
but most pick one type of training or the other.   
Obviously , in a full contact sparring session you'll get hit a lot
more than in other types of karate training.  I'd say that the vast
majority of people don't really want to get hit that much, so most
will find themselves better off in a non-contact or semi-contact style.

> 
>Thanks in advance,
> 
>Sean

Hope this helps,

If you haven't already, you might try posting a similar
request in REC.MARTIAL-ARTS.  

						todd
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| Todd I. Stark				  stark@dwovax.enet.dec.com |
| Digital Equipment Corporation		             (215) 354-1273 |
| Philadelphia, Pa. USA                                             |
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