| As a former International karate champion I | | | | have been training for a year then you are no longer |
| understand the importance of having the correct | | | | considered as a beginner and you should be looking |
| equipment to train with. One of the most important | | | | to change your karate gee to help you further your |
| decisions you have to make is deciding which karate | | | | development. |
| gee is the right one for you. There are many things | | | | When you upgrade your karate gee from beginner |
| to consider when you are choosing your karate gee. | | | | to intermediate, you will notice a considerable |
| You should think about what level of karateka you | | | | difference in the weight of the gee. If you are going |
| are (beginner, medium or advanced) and whether | | | | to be competing in tournaments, it is beneficial having |
| you are going to be competing in karate | | | | a intermediate gee ( mediumweight ), particularly for |
| tournaments. You may want a sparring gee and a | | | | kata. When you are executing striking moves, you |
| kata gee, depending on how committed you are to | | | | will notice the karate gee will make greater snap |
| being the very best you can be. | | | | sound than your previous beginners gee. This is |
| Beginners | | | | because the material used to make the gee is |
| Having made the decision to start learning karate it is | | | | thicker, therefore making a snapping sound which the |
| important that you train as often as you can. Karate | | | | judges will be listening for when you are executing |
| requires you to be in good physical condition, and if | | | | your striking moves. |
| you are not training consistently, you will lose some | | | | Advanced |
| of your fitness. Many people that take up karate do | | | | To be considered as an advanced karateka, you |
| not advance past beginner because they struggle to | | | | would be a brown belt or above. To achieve this |
| keep up the level of fitness required to allow them | | | | level will have shown a really commitment and |
| to be the best that they can be. This is mainly | | | | dedication to your training, and in return you will have |
| caused by lack of training. You cannot expect to train | | | | reached a level that many karateka fail to achieve. |
| once a week and become a black belt. Having said | | | | It is likely that by this time you are competing in on a |
| that, if you are looking to take up karate, and you | | | | regular basis in competitions. By the time I had |
| are not in a good physical condition, as long as you | | | | reached this level I made the decision to have more |
| are prepared to train hard then karate classes will | | | | than one karate gee. I had one for mediumweight |
| help to get you into good shape. | | | | gee for training, and two other gee's for |
| When you are a beginner choosing your karate gee, | | | | competitions. When competing in kata events I would |
| I highly recommend that you choose a gee designed | | | | wear a heavyweight gee. By choosing this gee over |
| for a beginner. Firstly, a karate gee from the | | | | a lighter gee, it maximised the snapping noise made |
| beginners range is going to be lighter than some of | | | | by the gee whenever I was demonstrating a striking |
| the other gees that you could purchase, and this will | | | | move. This is something which I found all the top |
| allow you to move more freely. Secondly, the | | | | karateka would do when competing in kata events. I |
| beginners karate gees are less expensive than some | | | | would then have another lightweight karate gee |
| of the other gees you can buy. I would recommend | | | | which I would wear when competing in kumite |
| that you train for at least a year before considering | | | | events. This allowed me to move as freely as I |
| getting yourself an intermediate karate gee, and this | | | | could, maximising speed and reducing fatigue |
| will allow you to decide if you are going to stick at it. | | | | throughout the event. You will also sweet less by |
| Intermediate | | | | using a lightweight gee for kumite. |
| If you have been training for over a year then you | | | | I hope you have found this information helpful. I wish |
| should consider getting an intermediate karate gee. | | | | you every success in your training and remember to |
| After a year you will have a good understanding of | | | | that, regardless of your level or belt, you must stay |
| what is required of you to be successful in your | | | | committed to your training if you wish to succeed |
| development as a karateka. By this time you may | | | | withing this martial art. If you would like some more |
| have had the opportunity to have graded at least | | | | information on karate gee's, or if you are ready to |
| once and possibly twice. Depending on which club you | | | | go ahead and purchase then please click the link |
| train with will depend on what colour of belt you | | | | below and you will find exactly what you are looking |
| wear after each successful grading. Regardless, if you | | | | for. |