QUOTE
February 14th, 2008
In This Issue
> GKR Feature Article In BLITZ Magazine
> Has Your Physical Progress Slowed Down?
> Where Are Your Actions Taking You?
GKR Article In BLITZ Magazine
Attention all students:
As some of you may already have seen, Australia and New Zealand’s leading Martial Arts publication, ‘BLITZ Magazine’ is featuring a GKR Cover Story in this month’s issue.
Our own Shihan Stacey Karetsian is featured on the cover and inside is a 4 page article covering some of Shihan’s history and philosophy. Shihan also demonstrates some black belt kata bunkai.
Op top of this, it also has a great article on last years NAS National Championships, where GKR dominated the majority of the Black Belt Divisions!
We are also going to feature on next month’s (March) cover with both the Men's and Women's NAS Champion of Champions winners!!!
For those students in Australia and New Zealand, be sure to get down to your local Newsagent and pick up a copy.
As a student of karate I enjoy the fantastic benefit of staying fit. I train and teach 6 days a week, so finding time to enhance this with other options is sometimes a challenge. Karate is an all body fitness solution on it’s own, but as with any activity your body will start to adapt to the challenges and thus, physical progress can start to plateau out as it merely maintains itself.
Perhaps you have found this also. Your physical progress slows down as your body becomes accustomed to the challenges it goes through?
I wanted to do some extra fitness drills to enhance my karate and also have a routine I could do with my wife Sharon. This way we could both progress together and if needed, motivate each other to be consistent.
I receive a number of piles of junk mail each week and usually it is just that, but I did get a sample of a fitness magazine. There was a small article containing a routine that was both easy and time effective. The main focus was toning and core strength for the average person. There were no weights needed, no machines needed and anybody could make it through without to much fuss. I have been doing this for the past 4 weeks and due to it’s simplicity I find it a great supplement to training. I am even using it to warm up before classes as well as doing it at home on the same day. It is as follows.
SQUATS – place your hands behind the head and stand with your feet a shoulder width apart. Keeping your back straight squat down and up. This will work your quads and hamstrings. 20 Reps.
PUSH-UPS – Yes good old standard pushups! They are simple and effective. Place your hands one shoulder width apart, legs and back straight. Lower yourself down chest to the floor with your head looking forward. This will work your chest, arms, back and by keeping your stomach muscles tight it will work your core. 20 Reps
JUMPS – This one made me feel just a little bit silly until I actually felt the effects. Stand with your feet one shoulder width apart and squat down. Spring up and touch the ceiling with your hands. By doing this you not only have some good old fun you will get your heart rate up and build explosive kicks and solid stances. 20 Reps.
DIPS – This will work your triceps, which are the major muscles used in a punch. Sit on a chair or lounge, place your hands on the front edge, feet on the floor. Slide off the chair so your arms support your weight. Lower yourself down with your arms until you are just of the floor. Push back up to the top. 20 Reps
LUNGES – This exercise will enhance your legs and prepare you for great stances. Start with your hands on your hips and feet one shoulder width apart. Step forward with one foot approx 2 shoulder widths long and bend the back leg until your knee is just off the floor. Alternate feet and do 20 Reps. (10 on each leg).
The above routine takes around 15 minutes and is a great way to start the day. It may seem easy to the more experienced out there but this is a good place to start. I have added crunches, sit-ups and close grip push-ups to this basic routine. You can also add more reps or repeat it to further challenge your endurance. As always warm up and stretch before any exercise and stay within your limits.
What is your ultimate karate goal?
What is at the top of your list of things you want to achieve with your training?
What do you consider to be the standard that says, ‘I’ve made it’?
For most, the answer to this question is to achieve black belt. To receive and wear the last belt you will ever wear. It’s a great feeling, and one that you should desire if you are on that journey right now.
However, you should ask yourself this question:-
‘What am I doing outside the dojo that can help me achieve this huge goal?’
It was no secret to my fellow class mates that I changed my lifestyle to help me achieve my black belt and subsequent Shodan grade. I joined a gym, I went swimming regularly and I changed my diet. It wasn’t easy to stick to either. I like steak and chips as much as anybody else. But I wanted my goal so much that I made the sacrifices I needed to make to get there. And I did, on the date I originally set. I remember feeling very strong that day. I remember feeling like I could achieve anything. This, I believe, was due to the preparation and extra training I put in.
So ask yourself that question again. ‘What am I doing outside the dojo that can help me achieve this huge goal?’ or ‘What am I doing outside the dojo that is pulling me away from this huge goal?’
Do you smoke? Do you eat bad food? Do you stay up late?
A black belt is not an award given to you for showing up to class. It is an award to recognise the person you have become. To acknowledge the personal changes you have made during your journey.
Sacrifice is never easy, but it is essential for success. Good luck on your journey.
In This Issue
> GKR Feature Article In BLITZ Magazine
> Has Your Physical Progress Slowed Down?
> Where Are Your Actions Taking You?
GKR Article In BLITZ Magazine
Attention all students:
As some of you may already have seen, Australia and New Zealand’s leading Martial Arts publication, ‘BLITZ Magazine’ is featuring a GKR Cover Story in this month’s issue.
Our own Shihan Stacey Karetsian is featured on the cover and inside is a 4 page article covering some of Shihan’s history and philosophy. Shihan also demonstrates some black belt kata bunkai.
Op top of this, it also has a great article on last years NAS National Championships, where GKR dominated the majority of the Black Belt Divisions!
We are also going to feature on next month’s (March) cover with both the Men's and Women's NAS Champion of Champions winners!!!
For those students in Australia and New Zealand, be sure to get down to your local Newsagent and pick up a copy.
As a student of karate I enjoy the fantastic benefit of staying fit. I train and teach 6 days a week, so finding time to enhance this with other options is sometimes a challenge. Karate is an all body fitness solution on it’s own, but as with any activity your body will start to adapt to the challenges and thus, physical progress can start to plateau out as it merely maintains itself.
Perhaps you have found this also. Your physical progress slows down as your body becomes accustomed to the challenges it goes through?
I wanted to do some extra fitness drills to enhance my karate and also have a routine I could do with my wife Sharon. This way we could both progress together and if needed, motivate each other to be consistent.
I receive a number of piles of junk mail each week and usually it is just that, but I did get a sample of a fitness magazine. There was a small article containing a routine that was both easy and time effective. The main focus was toning and core strength for the average person. There were no weights needed, no machines needed and anybody could make it through without to much fuss. I have been doing this for the past 4 weeks and due to it’s simplicity I find it a great supplement to training. I am even using it to warm up before classes as well as doing it at home on the same day. It is as follows.
SQUATS – place your hands behind the head and stand with your feet a shoulder width apart. Keeping your back straight squat down and up. This will work your quads and hamstrings. 20 Reps.
PUSH-UPS – Yes good old standard pushups! They are simple and effective. Place your hands one shoulder width apart, legs and back straight. Lower yourself down chest to the floor with your head looking forward. This will work your chest, arms, back and by keeping your stomach muscles tight it will work your core. 20 Reps
JUMPS – This one made me feel just a little bit silly until I actually felt the effects. Stand with your feet one shoulder width apart and squat down. Spring up and touch the ceiling with your hands. By doing this you not only have some good old fun you will get your heart rate up and build explosive kicks and solid stances. 20 Reps.
DIPS – This will work your triceps, which are the major muscles used in a punch. Sit on a chair or lounge, place your hands on the front edge, feet on the floor. Slide off the chair so your arms support your weight. Lower yourself down with your arms until you are just of the floor. Push back up to the top. 20 Reps
LUNGES – This exercise will enhance your legs and prepare you for great stances. Start with your hands on your hips and feet one shoulder width apart. Step forward with one foot approx 2 shoulder widths long and bend the back leg until your knee is just off the floor. Alternate feet and do 20 Reps. (10 on each leg).
The above routine takes around 15 minutes and is a great way to start the day. It may seem easy to the more experienced out there but this is a good place to start. I have added crunches, sit-ups and close grip push-ups to this basic routine. You can also add more reps or repeat it to further challenge your endurance. As always warm up and stretch before any exercise and stay within your limits.
What is your ultimate karate goal?
What is at the top of your list of things you want to achieve with your training?
What do you consider to be the standard that says, ‘I’ve made it’?
For most, the answer to this question is to achieve black belt. To receive and wear the last belt you will ever wear. It’s a great feeling, and one that you should desire if you are on that journey right now.
However, you should ask yourself this question:-
‘What am I doing outside the dojo that can help me achieve this huge goal?’
It was no secret to my fellow class mates that I changed my lifestyle to help me achieve my black belt and subsequent Shodan grade. I joined a gym, I went swimming regularly and I changed my diet. It wasn’t easy to stick to either. I like steak and chips as much as anybody else. But I wanted my goal so much that I made the sacrifices I needed to make to get there. And I did, on the date I originally set. I remember feeling very strong that day. I remember feeling like I could achieve anything. This, I believe, was due to the preparation and extra training I put in.
So ask yourself that question again. ‘What am I doing outside the dojo that can help me achieve this huge goal?’ or ‘What am I doing outside the dojo that is pulling me away from this huge goal?’
Do you smoke? Do you eat bad food? Do you stay up late?
A black belt is not an award given to you for showing up to class. It is an award to recognise the person you have become. To acknowledge the personal changes you have made during your journey.
Sacrifice is never easy, but it is essential for success. Good luck on your journey.
Comments - as ever - much appeciated!
( Seeing as how its valentines day, maybe I should be concentrating on the Marital rather than Martial Arts!
)Tom.
