I’ve trained at and visited schools where I realized the instructor was impossible for me to work with. It sounds like your experience in this case was a bit different from mine, but in the end it’s the same, it’s the wrong place for you. This happens. Recognize it and move on. Don’t dwell on it. Cross that one off your list.
I will train any system for 3 or 4 months and see if it fits me. If I had to choose between Goju and Shotokan, I'd pick Shotokan.Okay... the time has come!
I'm finally (after much, much hesitation and deliberation haha..) enquiring about new styles, as I'm honestly just itching to get back into dojo training.. and feel mostly ready health-wise.
It's been an incredibly rough, painful, hellish and emotional 8 months or so.. and I still have a bit to go in terms of recovery, but I feel ready enough to try getting into training properly again. And it really marks a big step for me, as I definitely wasn't in this position a little while ago.
So the plan is to try a style for about a month or so to get the feel of it and see if it clicks with me. Very different to how I decided before, which was just training because I 'felt like I should', out of obligation almost. So suffice it to say, I'm very excited
I've gotten a call back from a karate dojo just around the corner from me, I asked if i can sit in and watch and they said people tend to get more out of just giving it a go, so they invited me to train so looks like I'm training!
It sounds really awesome, it's a small dojo, and has gone through a few changes of style affiliation over time, and I think they operate more independently now, originally he trained in Kyokushin (and personally graded to Shodan under Sosai Oyama!), then Ashihara, Shintaiikudo, and taught in all of these, now with all his experience has organically sort of formed his own style, which incorporates all his previous styles plus including some Aikido principles as well (which he teaches as well).
Definitely sounds more up my alley, I'm really excited
That might be generally true (I don't know), but be wary of defining expectations of intensity by the style. In general, the intensity fluctuates more within a style than between relatively similar styles. I've had students who came from Shotokan who were only used to soft-tap kind of sparring (and some who were accustomed to quite hard contact)
Good to hear you are still at it, Simon. It certainly hasn't been an easy year for anyone so good on you for persisting and finding ways to train on your own. Hopefully you will find a 'home' where you can train regularly with like minded folks.Been awhile folks! Thought I'd provide an update!
It's yet again been a year like last year, and the lockdowns make it very difficult to contact and trial places, but definitely a time of patience. My online training with the Sunday Morning Keiko folks has continued and has been just beyond incredible. And they're offering much more in depth training weekly now, which I quickly jumped onto, and that has been the best. So very blessed that this has all unfolded.
I still plan to join a dojo, but the area I'm looking into is in an extended lockdown again so another wait. BUT in the meantime, one of the places on my list to check out is offering free live online classes. Contacted them and actually had a video chat with the head instructor. Really, really nice guy, and the style is Goju Kensha (Goju ryu with Shorin ryu and even internal kung fu influences). A style I've been researching alot and very interested in.
Obviously the online format is very limited, but thought I'd give it a go, and I can still gauge how he teaches, the sort of technique, the energy and vibe etc. Got a class this Saturday
. Secondly, I split my time doing fitness classes (first on zoom and then in person). I had a group of people that I have been training and it has allowed us to explore a number of formats which has kept things moving forward and in the right direction. I also decided to alter my diet a little and have lost about 25 lbs so that also has helped me set a new bar in the classes I teach at the dojo. Still no contact but that is coming soon. Matter of weeks now but I plan on ramping conditioning up slowly and keeping healthy. Healthy is good. In the fall, we begin gradings again for the kyu ranks. I suppose Dan ranks will follow.
That's really fantastic to hear, what a nice plus to your journeyGood to hear you are still at it, Simon. It certainly hasn't been an easy year for anyone so good on you for persisting and finding ways to train on your own. Hopefully you will find a 'home' where you can train regularly with like minded folks.
As strange as it sounds, the break has had a number of unforeseen benefits for me. Number one, it gave my body a chance to heal properly
Stay at it and look forward to following your progress.
. It's amazing how introducing new facets can have such a flow on effect. Keep at it brother.
A proper Shotokan school, from my experience does Kyukushin type fighting. If it doesn't, i wouldn't call it Shotokan.
But they do, and belong to a Shotokan organization. So, apparently, it is Shotokan.
If I'd had any idea this pandemic would keep things messed up so long, I'd probably have tried to pick up a kata-oriented art at the beginning of it. I'd have all this time to just focus on the kata, and get into the sparring and other parts when we're able get back to regular classes. Hindsight...All going very well! We've actually been put back into lockdown and have been for a few weeks, and the guys have kept inviting me to train with them free of charge, so have been training in their online sessions which are twice a week. Yet another case of being blown away by the generosity of martial artists around.
Really enjoy the people, vibe, and the teacher has a really great energy and disposition. The style itself is fascinating, and we haven't gone too in depth with some of the particular subtleties of the style (sort of a bit hard to in the short sessions), but I think the sessions are mainly to keep people in some sort of training, fitness etc. But I'll definitely ask more questions. Thoroughly enjoying it all so far
Osu, doing something is often better than doing nothing. Now with the restrictions lifting in our area, we are seeing people come back to the dojo after a year and half. Some have been doing things to stay fit while others have been doing not much of anything. The transition back is easier for the people that have been keeping up with karate (either zoom or in the park). Not only has their kihon stayed reasonably sharp but they aren't spending all their energy remembering what we are doing
. It is going to take a while for us to get back up to speed for kumite but again that path is shorter for people that have been doing something. Starting again after 18 months almost makes you feel like a white belt again but you are not and so the ego is going to take a backseat while you get yourself back up to speed.
The dojo I was teaching at closed permanently after a few months of the pandemic - she just couldn't keep it open (it wasn't a money-maker, even at the best of times). I managed to keep myself active for a long time, teaching kata-only classes outdoors to the (eventually) 1 student who stayed the longest. Then that one finally left, too, when the school closed permanently.Osu, doing something is often better than doing nothing. Now with the restrictions lifting in our area, we are seeing people come back to the dojo after a year and half. Some have been doing things to stay fit while others have been doing not much of anything. The transition back is easier for the people that have been keeping up with karate (either zoom or in the park). Not only has their kihon stayed reasonably sharp but they aren't spending all their energy remembering what we are doing
It's not to late to join something and even if it is kata based the work in kihon should help with body control. Hopefully they have a good foundation in fitness as well so doing something is better than doing nothing at all. Good luck.
Hahaha, she and you are not alone. Hasn't been easy for many to keep their businesses going let alone their practice. Even though things are opening up here and we are seeing more people return, we need to be careful we aren't giving the wrong appearance that we aren't 'playing by the new rules'. We have to follow government regulations on the number of people that can train in our space at one time, check people for vaccinations and wear masks when we are in contact range. I was part of a small group last night that started back to kumite (light contact). We need to build up our conditioning again (ie: deaden the nerves
) before we can go harder. Sparring in masks is not something I missed. It's doable but I am looking forward to taking the mask off.
Thanks! I'm looking forward to things opening back up (our area has pretty high infection rate right now) so I can go looking for a new place to teach, too. Trying to see the silver lining in this, that there may be a lot of folks looking for someplace to train at that time.Hahaha, she and you are not alone. Hasn't been easy for many to keep their businesses going let alone their practice. Even though things are opening up here and we are seeing more people return, we need to be careful we aren't giving the wrong appearance that we aren't 'playing by the new rules'. We have to follow government regulations on the number of people that can train in our space at one time, check people for vaccinations and wear masks when we are in contact range. I was part of a small group last night that started back to kumite (light contact). We need to build up our conditioning again (ie: deaden the nerves
Good luck in finding something that will start you back on your journey. Again, something is better than nothing.
That's awesome, Simon. Happy for you, bro.All going very well! We've actually been put back into lockdown and have been for a few weeks, and the guys have kept inviting me to train with them free of charge, so have been training in their online sessions which are twice a week. Yet another case of being blown away by the generosity of martial artists around.
Really enjoy the people, vibe, and the teacher has a really great energy and disposition. The style itself is fascinating, and we haven't gone too in depth with some of the particular subtleties of the style (sort of a bit hard to in the short sessions), but I think the sessions are mainly to keep people in some sort of training, fitness etc. But I'll definitely ask more questions. Thoroughly enjoying it all so far
This is such a strange time. I think back and wonder what it would have been like had we had this pandemic when I first started training. I wonder if our dojo would have gone out of business - I think it would have. I wonder if I would have continued in Martial Arts.
I remember how easily I was derailed in the early days (I had a minor surgery behind one ear, and went back to training a year later). If this had happened back then, I'm certain it would have taken me years to get back to training, if I managed it at all.
