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!
Progress stalling!
- Thread starter Mike1962
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drop bear
Sr. Grandmaster
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.
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.
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).
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, youāll look back and smile at this post.
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, youāll look back and smile at this post.
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.
That is really useful - makes perfect sense though I never thought of it! Thanks, I see just what you mean.
Thanks! You're right! Fortunately I have a very patient Sensei.
Thanks! Do you mean: change location, then three different punches, then repeat?
Thank you - that looks a really useful video, and great advice too. Thanks for taking the time to explain.
Fungus
Black Belt
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
Green Belt
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.
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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.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
That's great! Thanks
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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