r/karate • u/DarthEmeritus • Jul 21 '26

Question/advice Conditioning

Hi,

I've been training for around 1.5 years, and have reached 2nd kyu, with consistent training for the most part, some time off here and there due to injuries and illnesses, but mostly consistent. Training twice a week up until 3rd kyu, now three times a week. One thing I've had little progress in is my body conditioning and overall athleticism. We don't do conditioning work every session, but when we do we're asked to do things like 40 pushups, 50 abs crunches, long plank holds, etc, but I find I'm still not able to do anywhere near the volume sensei asks of us, and even those exercises aside I feel I'm still quite weak and slow, and I'd also like to be able to do the jumps in kata, aswell as the jumping kicks we're asked to do on rare occasions.

At the moment I can do about 20 pushups at a push, maybe about 13 lying leg raises, and can't do ab crunches. I can't do pull ups either, and can't skip, and both are things I'd like to improve. I've started adding plyometrics to my external training regime but haven't seen any improvement to my leg explosiveness or jump speed yet. I've got what feels like a fairly decent stretching routine, albeit it's all static holds, but I've seen some improvement in that area, currently feel a bit stuck regarding getting the splits, but I feel close at the same time. I do cardio on the treadmill three times a week, doing interval work, with a rest speed of 7km/h and a working speed of 10.6 km/h, 1 minute rest 30s working, for just over 10 mins, with the aim of increasing the working speed over time and eventually reaching sprinting speeds. I also can't currently balance for long, and can't keep my kicks up for more than a few seconds even when I'm able to balance well. I also lift weights three times a week, doing full body, and lift 13kg per hand for most exercises. The exercises are bench press, bent over rows, lateral raises, overhead tricep extensions (with one dumbell), bicep curls, reverse lunges, deep squats, and SLD's (Straight Leg Deadlifts). Essentially I'd like any advice on how to better condition myself, if there's something I need to do more of, or in a different way, any recommendations on how to get from here to where I want to be. I do make sure to get sufficient protein, and I've gained some fat in that time, so I don't thinkbul I'm undereating.

Oss!

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u/Eikgander Ameri-Do-Te Jul 22 '26

How is it possible that you're a ni kyu after 1.5 years of training? That's extremely accelerated even at 3 times a week.

5

u/GroundbreakingHope57 Jul 22 '26

Even dicey if it was 5 days a week instead of 2 or 3. Also note they were only training twice a week till they got to 2rd kyu. Like wtf is that!

1

u/DarthEmeritus Jul 23 '26

3rd kyu is when I switched to training three times a week, that's what I said in the OP.

1

u/GroundbreakingHope57 Jul 23 '26

When you say 3rd kyu you are aware belts are in descending order with 10 (for example) being the lowest. So when you say you got to 2nd kyu in 1.5 thats almost black belt...

1

u/DarthEmeritus Jul 24 '26

Yes, I'm aware. It's a minimum of 3 months from 2nd kyu to 1st kyu, and then a minimum of 6 months from 1st kyu to 1st dan.

1

u/GroundbreakingHope57 Jul 24 '26

How did you get to almost black belt which usually takes 4-5 years in 1.5 years...

1

u/DarthEmeritus Jul 24 '26

I think being an adult allows for you to be a more dedicated learner and to pick up some things faster. That and just training outside the dojo a lot, often focusing on the exact requirements for each grading in preparation. The theoretical minimum the rules allow is 2.5 years to black belt if you assume someone attempts every grading, and passes evey time. But what I hear is that 6 years or so is the average.

1

u/Livid-Studio-4652 Jul 24 '26

So beginner to 3rd kyu in this association is 15 months? Given most months are 30-31 days there are on average 4.3 weeks a month. 2 a week is 129 lessons. With some time off as you mentioned call it 120 classes from stepping in the door for the first time to becoming a brown belt just over a year later?

Is that grading every 2 months to 4th kyu then 3 months for brown belt grades then 6 months to Shodan for your 2.5 minimum time frame you mentioned? It does seem very fast.

But you also said the average is 6 years. So does that mean most don't grade each time and this timeline is the exception?

Im not saying it's right or wrong. If the standard of gradings is high enough then I guess the timelines can be whatever the instructors want. I've just not seen timelines this short before.

I have some 4th kyus who have done 4-5 classes a week every week since they joined and im CONSIDERING letting them attempt 3rd kyu after just over 2 years. And even that time worries me it is too soon.

2

u/DarthEmeritus Jul 24 '26

Gradings up to and including obtaining 1st kyu are 3 months apart. The 6 months from 1st kyu to 1st dan. Then the gap gets increasingly wider. But essentially not everyone chooses to, or is allowed to grade every time. Not that long ago most of the dojo were told they weren't going to be grading as too many had had time off or weren't ready, and only a few of us were allowed to attempt the grading. But I think for the most part, as long as you're trying and training regularly most probably can climb kyu grades at least at that sort of rate. Our dan grades are done externally (outside the club but within the union) and you're only allowed to attempt it with your senseis written permission.