Progress stalling!

[Mike1962]

Another thing to keep in mind, progress in martial arts isn't linear. You'll see a ton of improvement, then you'll plateau and see almost no improvement. Then you might see some improvement, but nowhere near as fast as you want. Then you might see yourself actually getting worse for a few months, followed by a random spike in your ability.

It sucks, it's frustrating, and it happens to all of us for various reasons. You're also not going to notice your improvement if you compare yourself to other people in the dojo - they're also improving at their own rates! And you can't even compare rates of improvement since, as above, progress isn't linear.

That's really helpful - I do feel like I'm going backwards right now, so it's reassuring that that its just something that happens. I guess it's something to do with how the brain works. Actually, I'd not connected before but I'm learning French and I've found that happens there sometimes - I have got really frustrated at times when I come across something I can't do, yet I know I could do it a few weeks before. Maybe that's why I'm extra frustrated with my last few sessions, when I seem to have been going backwards, because before then, when I was progressing slowly, I'd always think "Well, at least I'm improving a bit each week". Thanks!

 

[drop bear]

When you say you don't respond properly, what do you mean? ie: Is your reaction speed too slow, do you panic/flinch, do you get sensory overload, or do you do react with a block/strike, just not the 'right' block/strike?

You've gotten some good advice here, but which advice will help the most depends on what the underlying issue is.

It is common in drills. You stand in front of someone and they get to punch or kick you with either hand, either leg and you have, say, 4 different responses. One for each strike.

And you find there is no way you can process the information in time to do the correct defence to the correct attack. Even if you can pull off defenses in sparring. All of this is compounded if you are not striking back. Because the other guy just walks straight up the middle in range and camps there booping you with impunity.

And this is because strikes happen faster than you can react kind of.

This is also why good striking defence is not set up that way.

So for the O.P. you don't defend striking in the manner you think you do. You mitigate some of the striking with footwork. You don't stand where they can hit you untill you hit them. You move at angles that have the highest percentage chance that they were going to strike.(if they have thrown a left. You move out of the way of their cross)

Then you have a guard. It just sits there to either catch the shots you haven't moved out of the way of. Oe it limits the effective shots they can throw.

It is a super common mistake. And commonly solved by trying to be faster and have faster reactions. Which is ambitious.

Then you consciously react to what's left. And then you might have a chance to respond to an attack and do the correct thing.

 

[Badhabits]

Another point on your combos and joining them together in a smooth way as you said- there's the speed of the punches themselves, what most people focus on in the beginning. There's also the little gap in time between the punches. You launch a simple 1-2-3, say a jab-cross-hook. There's a gap between when you launch each punch. When that gap of time is relatively long your combos will look and feel sort of jerky, disjointed. Not flowing like you feel they should. Jab...half second....cross....half second....hook. Practicing combos slowly and smoothly can also help you focus on shrinking that time between launching each punch. It's not about the speed of the punch. It's about launching each punch sooner. That's when your combos will start to flow better. It'll also create the illusion that your punches are faster. Not because the punches themselves are, but because the time it takes to throw the entire combo will be less. Hope that makes sense.

 

[marvin8]

Thanks! Very good question! the problem is I often react with the wrong block. For instance, I know I should react to a head kick to the left side of the head by raising my left hand, palm in, to the left side of my head, and blocking with the palm of my right hand. But I often have my hands in the wrong orientation, or wrong position. Maybe I just need lots more repetition: I can remember what to do OK, but I don't have time to think through it. I should be doing the right thing quickly and without thinking, almost as fast as a conditioned reflex. I Can do that OK with, for instance 1-2 jab/cross (i.e. I don't need to think about fist positions, blocking, rotating from hips, stepping-while-punching etc) but of course with an attack I am in control: I'm not there at all with defences. Possibly another thing is that it's not really possible to practice defences on my own as I can practice punches and kicks (to an extent) on my own.

It's possible to practice partner counter drills alone by shadowboxing. Understand possible opponent's counters to your punches and kicks. Then, practice offense and defence in your solo practice. In kumite, there is more evasion than traditional blocking.

In his 3 Karate Sparring Combos video, John explains various opponent's reactions (e.g., hand positions).

https://imgur.com/R0nud7X

 

[Holmejr]

Holy schmoly,
Really, Mike, just relax and stay with it. So much will reveal itself as time goes on. Your flexibility will increase, your technique will get better and your timing will get better as time goes on. Literally EVERYBODY starts off in similar fashion. Everyone here has given good advise, but in a year, if you stick with it, you’ll look back and smile at this post.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

Any advice welcome!

Try to drill "1 step 3 punches" for the next 3 years. To be good in 1 thing is better than to know many things.

 

[Mike1962]

That is really useful - makes perfect sense though I never thought of it! Thanks, I see just what you mean.

It is common in drills. You stand in front of someone and they get to punch or kick you with either hand, either leg and you have, say, 4 different responses. One for each strike.

And you find there is no way you can process the information in time to do the correct defence to the correct attack. Even if you can pull off defenses in sparring. All of this is compounded if you are not striking back. Because the other guy just walks straight up the middle in range and camps there booping you with impunity.

And this is because strikes happen faster than you can react kind of.

This is also why good striking defence is not set up that way.

So for the O.P. you don't defend striking in the manner you think you do. You mitigate some of the striking with footwork. You don't stand where they can hit you untill you hit them. You move at angles that have the highest percentage chance that they were going to strike.(if they have thrown a left. You move out of the way of their cross)

Then you have a guard. It just sits there to either catch the shots you haven't moved out of the way of. Oe it limits the effective shots they can throw.

It is a super common mistake. And commonly solved by trying to be faster and have faster reactions. Which is ambitious.

Then you consciously react to what's left. And then you might have a chance to respond to an attack and do the correct thi

 

[Mike1962]

Holy schmoly,
Really, Mike, just relax and stay with it. So much will reveal itself as time goes on. Your flexibility will increase, your technique will get better and your timing will get better as time goes on. Literally EVERYBODY starts off in similar fashion. Everyone here has given good advise, but in a year, if you stick with it, you’ll look back and smile at this post.

Thanks! You're right! Fortunately I have a very patient Sensei.

 

[Mike1962]

Try to drill "1 step 3 punches" for the next 3 years. To be good in 1 thing is better than to know many things.

Thanks! Do you mean: change location, then three different punches, then repeat?

 

[Mike1962]

It's possible to practice partner counter drills alone by shadowboxing. Understand possible opponent's counters to your punches and kicks. Then, practice offense and defence in your solo practice. In kumite, there is more evasion than traditional blocking.

In his 3 Karate Sparring Combos video, John explains various opponent's reactions (e.g., hand positions).

https://imgur.com/R0nud7X

Thank you - that looks a really useful video, and great advice too. Thanks for taking the time to explain.

 

[Mike1962]

I just want to say - many thanks for all this great advice, it's really good of you all to take the time to explain these things. What a useful forum! I'm glad I joined.

 

[Fungus]

But I just don't seem to be able to join them together in a smooth way - I'm not much good at combinations and when my Sensei throws a punch or kick without telling me first what it will be, I don't seem able to respond properly. Any advice welcome!

As another fellow beginner with only 2.5 years experience with kyokushin, I feel the same way still! So just be patient and hang on, as others already said.

Our highest instructors that has 30+ years of experience with fighting. There sense of timing, dynamical control and reading the opponent is impressive, and there is no way to get there in just a few years.

But of course, looking back, I am MUCH better now as when I started. So I feel that I learned alot, but I still every week polish and obsess over small details, sometimes too embarassing to say loud. I learn and develop the most when doing free sparring, and speed, balance and power of techniques I polish myself on heavy bag.

I do sparring only once a week and extra sessions for either normal classes or heavy bag work but feel that sparring 2-3 times a week would be alot better if you dedicate to it. In between sessions I always think of some little detail to improve or try the next time, and here one week is a bit long as you easily loose the thinking, as you brain is flushed by other things (work, etc.)

 

[Sammy Naur]

Hi, I've been learning self defence now for about 10 months. I'm 62, fairly fit but with no background in self defence. I train 1-2-1 with a senseri every week and practive every day. To start with I progressed quite well, and now know the basic kicks and punches fairly well. But I just don't seem to be able to join them together in a smooth way - I'm not much good at combinations and when my Sensei throws a punch or kick without telling me first what it will be, I don't seem able to respond properly. Any advice welcome!

Just joined but there is a great scene in The Black Phone that sort of nails the whole 1-2-1 concept. This is probably one of the best combo training sequences I've ever seen on film. Is it fictional sure, but it will also work.

The basic idea is you know your opponent knows one of you is going to strike the other first, so you "feint and bait", get them to swing but you already won't be there, and that's when you strike.

Step back, forward(bait), back (avoidance), forward, swing. Definitely works in kumite. Practice over and over.

 

[Mike1962]

As another fellow beginner with only 2.5 years experience with kyokushin, I feel the same way still! So just be patient and hang on, as others already said.

Our highest instructors that has 30+ years of experience with fighting. There sense of timing, dynamical control and reading the opponent is impressive, and there is no way to get there in just a few years.

But of course, looking back, I am MUCH better now as when I started. So I feel that I learned alot, but I still every week polish and obsess over small details, sometimes too embarassing to say loud. I learn and develop the most when doing free sparring, and speed, balance and power of techniques I polish myself on heavy bag.

I do sparring only once a week and extra sessions for either normal classes or heavy bag work but feel that sparring 2-3 times a week would be alot better if you dedicate to it. In between sessions I always think of some little detail to improve or try the next time, and here one week is a bit long as you easily loose the thinking, as you brain is flushed by other things (work, etc.)

Thanks! that's very encouraging. Although I'm doing self defence rather than Karate specifically, the dojo is primarily kyokushin. I'm still only doing 1-to-1 weekly sessions with my Sensei, no group sessions yet, plus daily practice on my own. On the whole, I love it, and especially because it's great for fitness, focus, balance etc too.

 

[Mike1962]

Just joined but there is a great scene in The Black Phone that sort of nails the whole 1-2-1 concept. This is probably one of the best combo training sequences I've ever seen on film. Is it fictional sure, but it will also work.

The basic idea is you know your opponent knows one of you is going to strike the other first, so you "feint and bait", get them to swing but you already won't be there, and that's when you strike.

Step back, forward(bait), back (avoidance), forward, swing. Definitely works in kumite. Practice over and over.

That's great! Thanks

 

[Gyakuto]

10 months is a very short time. If you have the same issue in 2-3 years consider switching to trampolining.

 

[JowGaWolf]

But I just don't seem to be able to join them together in a smooth way - I'm not much good at combinations and when my Sensei throws a punch or kick without telling me first what it will be, I don't seem able to respond properly. Any advice welcome!

Don't waste energy, time or effort with these types of thoughts. Just focus on training and everything else will work itself out. Thoughts like this will degrade your efforts.

If you aren't good at something, then practice. It's as simple as that. Since Practice is the answer, then practice without those worries. The more you do things, the better you get. It's kind of the default outcome for people who practice.

My personal thought is that you just need to have what people in martial arts call "a light bulb moment." It'll happen when you least expect it, and you'll get an improvement jump out of it. Just focus on practice and enjoy practice. Small gains add up to big gains.

 

[JowGaWolf]

Also, don't compare yourself to anyone else

Very important. I tell students that this learning process will be one of the most selfish and most giving experience they will. It's one of the few times when everything they do in training should be all about them and their growth. By focusing on their personal growth and development, they will reach a point where they want to help others. This s what I often tell students:

Be "selfish" about personal development in martial arts. Focus on your training, on your progress. Do not focus on the progress of others. That is the instructor's job. It doesn't matter if your progress is bigger or smaller than your fellow students. Put in effort, do your best, and train honestly. Those are the only thoughts that should occupy your mind. Do not think greater of yourself or less of yourself by comparing yourself with others. This is your development.

I'm not worried about them turning into bad students because they learn kindness and willingness to help others by how I treat them. Those at the gym who see me train by myself comment on my dedication when I train. Little do they know, that's me being selfish only focusing on my development for 2 hours, and not about what others are doing around me or if they are improving.

 

[JowGaWolf]

I'm not much good at combinations and when my Sensei throws a punch or kick without telling me first what it will be, I don't seem able to respond properly.

Oh one more thing. I'm not sure if this applies to you or not, but if you have a "Hollywood perspective" of how martial arts works then get that out of your mind. Students sometimes see martial arts in the movies and make assumptions of "that's how I'm supposed to react" or "that's how it should look like." If you have something like that running through your mind, then dump it out. Do your best to forget about it. Real Martial Art Applications aren't like that. It would be nice and awesome if they were, but they aren't. Real Martial Art Application are far from that.

I had one student who was so much into the look of martial arts that it degraded her ability to apply martial arts. Because of that she earned the nickname "Hollywood." If you don't have the 'Hollywood Perception ," then you are in good shape. Just keep practicing and it will work out for you.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I'm sure you've heard it before, but I'm going to jump on the bandwagon.
Nobody has steady, constant progression. Everybody learns in bits and pieces. You peak, then stall, then peak again. And oft times, you're advancing without really noticing. You'll have the occasional epiphany, when something you've struggled with suddenly makes sense.
Bottom line, stop worrying about it. Just go train.