Conditioning For Karate

Osu Karateka,

This article is a short note on conditioning as relevant for our chosen martial art – Karate.

In my mind the word “conditioning” as used in the context of a physical discipline refers to the physical and mental attributes that need to be developed in order to be successful at something or in order to be able to perform well in an event in that discipline.  I see conditioning as the sum of one’s physical and mental training at any particular point in time, or a snapshot if you will.

As Karateka we train for a number of events throughout the year, including gradings, full-contact and non-contact tournaments, kata competitions and camps.  How you prepare for a given event will depend on the specific physical and mental demands of that event.

Each event will require specific mental preparation and a unique combination of the various physical and fitness attributes, which include:

·         cardiovascular fitness

·         muscular endurance

·         power

·         strength

·         speed

·         agility

·         balance

·         stability

·         flexibility

·         coordination

Before commencing your preparation it is very important to consider the demands of the particular event as against your baseline physical and mental condition.  From there, you will be able to identify your current strengths and weaknesses and this will enable appropriate programming for your preparation for the event.  Your instructor or a good personal trainer should be able to work through these issues with you and help you prioritise the aspects you need to work on most at various times during your training cycle. 

Mental preparation plays a vital role in training for an event.  Sometimes the only way to psychologically prepare for an event is to experience the event itself (eg. a grading or a competition).   No one can describe to you how it will feel or how you will react to certain situations so that you completely understand it.   Each subsequent time you experience an event teaches you something about yourself and the person you need to become for the next one.

If you have any questions in relation to conditioning and preparation for your next event, please do not hesitate to speak to one of our instructors.

We are here to help!

Osu

Yours in Budo,

Sempai Eva Sklavos