| You see guys at the gym, sweating and grunting | | | | body and spirit are going north and south, you will |
| while they work on those machine trying to get | | | | not have the power or the strength to be worth |
| stronger, doing all these workouts to improve karate. | | | | anything. This is why I say Tai Chi will balance your |
| Well, I have always been a different kind of guy, | | | | chi and keep your spirit and body in harmony. Then |
| going for the old school way of getting fit and | | | | you will be free to focus on increasing your body's |
| getting in shape. My workouts to improve karate | | | | power and skills. |
| don't involve playing on some sissified equipment. | | | | As for power and increasing your karate skills, you |
| Sure, I mean, that's good for the muscle boys and all, | | | | won't get that on some machine. The only way to |
| I mean, Bruce Lee was known for his "one inch | | | | do that is to hit the mats and do these exercises: |
| punch." Do you think he got that kind of power from | | | | * Front Kicks against a pad - each leg (sets of 12) |
| working on some machine? I highly doubt it. | | | | * Butterfly Stretch |
| So, if you are really wanting to get that kind of | | | | * Forearm Strikes against a pad - each arm (sets of |
| power, accelerate your learning and get your skills | | | | 12) |
| into shape, then you need to get off of those silly | | | | * Crunch Sit-Ups |
| machines and get on the floor. Free weights can give | | | | * Rear Leg Sidekicks against a pad - each leg (sets |
| you some of the strength training that you need to | | | | of 12) |
| get the power that you want, but you need to hit | | | | * Quadriceps Stretch |
| the floor and really work out to get the results that | | | | * Pushups |
| you want. Pushups, fingertip pushups and other | | | | You need to move quickly from one exercise to the |
| exercises that increase your core power will give our | | | | next, keeping your heart rate up. Move quickly from |
| body a good foundation. But you gotta be focused in | | | | exercise to exercise and do not stop in between. |
| order to really get what you are going after in your | | | | Keep your blood pumping and your heart rate up |
| workouts to improve karate. | | | | while you work so that you can get the most out of |
| My first piece of advice is to focus. Yep, that's right. | | | | your workout. Don't wimp out and rest, keep going, |
| If you want to sharpen your karate skills, you won't | | | | NO MATTER WHAT. You can drink water while you |
| be able to do squat if you don't know how to focus | | | | work out. In fact, you SHOULD drink a lot of water |
| your energies first. Meditate, do whatever you have | | | | while working out. I mean, how is it going to look if |
| to to get the level of focus that you need. Your | | | | you dehydrate yourself and pass out in front of your |
| spirit must be in tune with your body because if your | | | | buddies in the middle of your workout? |