I am interested in taking Karate classes, Is there a certain fitness level I should be at before I start?
461989
I started karate when I was 42 and had just begun recovery from a fall where I had nerve damage in my shoulder, elbow and hip.  Believe it or not, the exercise involved in the workouts actually helped the healing.  There is no fitness level involved in starting Karate, but it is recommended that you have a physical to help pinpoint any physical impairments or limitations.  For example, my doctor recommended I not do push ups b/c I have carpel tunnel in both wrists and b/c of the nerve damage.\n\nYour fitness level will come as you progress...because you will discipline yourself to push a little harder each time you work out.  I hope this helps, and good luck in your decision.
1040535
The first thing you should do is have some amatuer fights. Then after at least 30 amatuer fights(depending on your weight class) you should have an idea of where you stand.
804360
Your basic fitness should be pretty good at all times - I can understand that you might not be match fit - whatever you do, you should make sure that you have a well-regimented training plan to avoid injury during that period.
736625
Go for it!!!  No you are not too old to start.  Yes it's true that most of the class will be younger than you, but sometimes people start after retirement.  It will be tough at first, but keep practicing and you will improve in you techniques, strength and flexibility.\n\nIn a good martial arts school, you will be allowed to "ease in" to training.  You will be expected to try and keep trying, sucess will come with time.  It is normal to feel akward at first.  In a good school, thier philosophy on fighting will be similar to this:  Walk away from a fight if you can, run if you have to.  Fighting is a last resort.\n\nIf you are concerned about any part of training, you should be able to talk to the Sensai (instructor) about your concerns and the sensai should give you satisfying answers.  If you do not feel like you can discuss your concerns, then go to a different school.\n\nIf you want to talk to me about choosing a school, feel free to IM or email me.
439439
If you're looking for a self-defense class....these are the things I would look for...and also, warning signs to watch out for.\n\n1- How simplistic are the techniques that are being taught? \n   Rule of thumb: generally when techniques are overly complex, they're overly prone to failure against a non-compliant attacker...heh..{cough} Tae Kwon Do for example...avoid it at all costs.\n\n2- Does the system teach techniques that are universally applicable? i.e. - do they work against strikes, chokes, grabs, weapons and so forth....if they do not, they're too unilaterally minded to be useful.\n\n3- Does the class have a bunch of students wearing white uniforms screaming for no good reason? Do they perform very static, mechanical movements ala 'rock 'em sock 'em robots?'\nIf so....walk away, just walk away.\n\n4- Do they charge outlandish prices for classes, promotions, and 5 million different colored belts?\nIf so....walk away, just walk away.\n\n5- Do they spar w/ big targeted pads on their chest, poofy helmet things, and shin pads?\nIf so....just leave politely.\n\n6- Do they have a few classes you can try out for no cost and/or obligation? \nIf so, use them.\n\n7- Lastly, to they teach evasion and counter/release techniques over standing there and trying to block?\nIf so, that's a good thing...definitely a good thing. Blocking fails more often than not...it's better to just not be there.\n\nArts I would reccomend if you can find them :\n\nJapanese arts : \nBujinkan Budo Taijutsu (under a qualified Hachidan instructor or higher.) \nAlso, certain kinds of Aikido...depends on the mindset of the class, some are great...some do the whole Zen-hippie thing too much.\nKoryu Jujutsu is great as well, Hontai Yoshin Ryu and Yagyu Shinkage Ryu are great schools if the instructor can get past "kata mindset" and work on real combat.\nOut of all of them, I'd reccomend the Bujinkan first.\n\nChinese arts : \nChen Tai Chi - looks slow, but teaches principles of balance rarely seen elsewhere...and it's great for iso-kinetic exercise.\nChoy Li Fut (choy lay fut) - great southern striking art...lots of curriculum, but geared toward street fighting.\nHung Ga - southern art that combines strikes, throws, and locks/joint breaking w/ ease. GREAT workout too.\nXingyi-quan : tedious to study, devestating when mastered.\n\nKorean arts : I reccomend none.\n\nMuay Thai : for scrapping, 'nuff said.\n\nAnd also any kind of basic police training for unarmed or handheld weapons training - they teach great release and counter techniques very similar to Bujinkan material (same kind of mindset.)\n\nAlso, the Israeli art of Krav Maga....brutal and nasty.\n\nYou can always e-mail me directly if you want a more detailed answer.\n\npeace, and happy hunting!
646499
me I prefer Aikido, its based on self defense. I took aikido this summer, and our teacher told us that even the basic techniques can save your life. Even if you're a beginner you can learn some techniques you can use to defend yourself. Even tai chi can be used as self defense. So its up to you, i'm not into karate 'cause they're exercise is WAY upbeat. in aikido they teach you to counter/evade punches/kicks.
1152112
Most martial arts will provide those benefits so it really depends on what you like.  I would suggest sitting in on a class at several schools and see what you think you would be most comfortable with.
469254
The Karate guy. Muscles will only get you so far in a street fight. If you can land a punch, sure it'll hurt a lot.. but the bodybuilder will have a hard time landing it. The Karate guy will be agile, will know how to use energy and waste very little of it. The Karate guy will know how to use his fingers, his palm, his elbows as a weapon.
996566
Here's an old answer of mine that might help:\n\n\n\n1. Get a sheet of paper and write down exactly what kinds of benefits you wish to obtain from studying karate/martial arts. It's a good idea to know exactly what you want to achieve.\n\n2. Go to www.smartpages.com and look up MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTION in you city and state. It will tell you what martial arts are taught in your area and where the schools are located.\n\n3. Once you know what martial arts are offered in your area look up their definitions on the net. Note the similarities and differences between each. A good place to do that is www.wikipedia.com.\n\n4. Visit the schools in your area. Ask for a free class. Make sure you find a Master Instructor who is overseen by a larger governing body.For example: Many Tae Kwon Do schools belong to the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Verify your instructor's credentials.\n\n\nSome Martial Arts:\n\nTae Kwon Do and Karate will provide you with a great cardiovascular workout. They will also tone you. For the best results go to class around 4-5 days per week and at least 20-30 minutes a day at home to practice your moves.\nKoei Kan and Isshin Ryu are two good styles of karate. You can also look up Kenpo.\n\nKrav Maga, an Israeli style of self defense, is a superb physical workout. Around 4-5 days of Krav with transform your body. I've watched it happen. Fair warning! The workouts are intense! Take a look at Jennifer Lopez in the movie Enough. She's doing Karv Maga.
40571
It depends on starting weight. It also depends on how serious you are. I don't care what kind of program you try it takes some personel coaching and dedication to do this.
418784
there are many aspects of karate that benefit its practitioners: improved health by exercising and making the body stronger, increased confidence that they can handle themselves in a self defense situation, pride in pushing themselves to their limits, social interaction with others. it is also good for the ego. outsiders may think that learning karate will just turn a student into a killing machine. actually, the longer you study, the more you realize just how much there is to learn. its said that when someone reaches the level of black belt, they are just beginning. up to that level, they were learning how to be a student. at a black belt level, a student should now realize that he is not an expert and there is so much more to learn. as in any sport, the more you put into it, the more you get out out of it. also, martial arts usually have a spiritual/philosophical side that may not be present in other sports. this may help develop a better code of ethics. good luck with your report.
581192
Check the links in the sources below. Also ask at local universities a lot run beginners classes for students. I've got a lot of friends who study Shotokan Karate and really love it (not in that area mind you). Good luck with it.
407639
As you say, it depends on a number of factors. Assuming you are of average skill and intellect and that your Sifu is a skilled teacher, and you stick to the 2 hours of training a day every day schedule, there are a few benchmarks we can estimate for you. \n\nWing Chun was designed to be a combat art that teaches a person how to defend themselves. So, keeping the above assumption in mind, here are my estimates for you.\n\nYou will be a reasonably skilled combatant able to hold your own in most common one on one situations within 6 months. \n\nWithin a year, you will be able to handle yourself against most opponents that today would scare the tar out of you.\n\nWithin 2 years, you should know the first two form inside out and backwards and ready to start on the third form Biu Jee and about 1/3 to 1/2 way through the Muk Jong techniques. You should have a pretty good grasp of the philosophical aspects of the art as well as al of the basic combat principles.\n\nBy the end of the third year, you should have a very strong understanding of the basics. Your Chi Sao should be very impressive. You should be working on Blindfolded Chi Sao almost exclusively. Your should be mastering the advanced combat principles by now.\n\nYear 4 should be about fine-tuning your forms, Chi Sao and Muk Jong techniques. At this pint, you should be ready to open your own club under the direct guidance of your Sifu.  Some schools have different rules for this, but usually by the end of 4 years of training, most people who push themselves are ready for this responsibility. \n\nI hope this helps.
711609
depends how hard you train, how often you train and how intelligently you train and what your definition of good is\n\nno one except you can know the answer to that question\nit depends on your natural intelligence, your commitment, your spirit and your physical attributes\n\nyou can become a competant fighter against a non-martial artist quickly \nyou can become a competant fighter against a kickboxer over say two-four years\n\nyou can become a master of martial arts over a lifetime
974864
at least 30 min. if you are in pretty good shape, 45 if you are looking to improve.
942857
hey,\nfor 13 u sound very committed - well done.\nI started karate when i was 5 - uechi-ryu - its a okinawan karate. i got my black belt at 12 and then i won the world championships in okinawa when i was 19, but then i wanted something different.\nI strongly recommend KENPO....not kempo...KENPO. if you watch the movie "the perfect weapon" with Jeff Speakman - thats the style. I started it and have stopped. At 16 i also started Muay Thai...and went on to fight professional.\nIts important that you keep your body and mind satisfied with what your doing. Dont do too many because you wont be "the best" at any of them. \nkeep keen - but give kenpo a go.
1057783
I started Ishinru karate at age 9 and stopped at 14.  I feel it's never too early, especially if children are being taught the respect and discipline aspects which goes hand-in-hand with karate.  Just make sure you don't teach your wife, or you could really have a heck of a fight on your hands, LOL.