Get better at Karate - 5 Tips

[@timkittle5418]

You're a man after my own heart. I have offered these same observations many times, particularly the need to think about what one is doing. Focus on the techniques and performing them with excellence is paramount. Practice does NOT make perfect - practice makes PERMANENT.

[@ronan4681]

6: When you do a technique well, take the time to close your eyes and reflect on how the body felt. Remembering the feeling of doing a technique well is often better than remembering the mechanics of a technique

[@Iamtrejack]

Wow, what a great addition, something I’ve never thought of really in my training. Thank you

[@nathearn]

🔥🔥🔥

[@marshp2749]

1. Think more 2. Get stronger 3. Don't neglect mobility 4. Always ask questions 5. Slow down

[@ojasdongare]

The strength aspect really gives you an edge over other people

[@lisaseibukan]

Great points! I love the point about asking questions, and not just about why something is done a certain way. When Sensei has to tell me a 2nd time to fix the same thing, I will ask him what I’m doing that’s different from what he’s saying, because I sometimes can’t tell what I’m doing wrong, I will think I’ve fixed it. He will explain in a different way, enabling me to understand and make the correction to my technique. So now when I’m teaching I will even ask if everyone gets it, if not I will explain differently. Thanks for your great videos!

[@Tomek_DC]

It's true that my style is Taekwondo, but I agree with Your advice 100% :), especially with the mobility and the fast speed point. These tips are universal for all styles. Great job, Sensei.

[@lgp1905]

John ur an absolute unit lad

[@jkgardiner]

Trying my best to be 💪🏼

[@CJAPP-qy9kq]

Basic aspects. Thats why its important to remember and have this advices frequently.

[@bunburyodo]

With point 2, there is a ridiculous myth that permiated the karate world, and some still say, of "big muscles make you slower". Point 3, I agree, and having a desk job makes things damn hard, but without karate my mobility would be much worse. Point 4, I'm lucky that I was raised in an organisation that encouraged asking questions and I do the same as a teacher now. With point 5, my instructor always said "If you do something fast and badly you are just working hard to get worse at something. Seems a waste of time doesn't it?". Love the use of the Chung Do Kwon 'grandmaster' grading clip. That's one of my go to clips to show people if I want a chuckle.

[@j.wright8157]

Your videos are making me want to get back into taking the "Ichi, Ni, San, Shi" again🥋

[@markfisher2683]

Another tip would be to do your karate practice homework, at HOME. Learn, and tweak your techniques (corrections, by your Sensei/Sempai of your personally practiced training), and learn concepts in the Dojo- But do 80% of your karate training and practice OUTSIDE of the Dojo. You won't excel very much at all if you only train 2-3x a week. Thank you for the tips!

[@jkgardiner]

Absolutely, this is probably the most neglected part as well. 👍🏼

[@ghaniusman]

I enjoy your videos so much Sensei. I have started doing Shotokan and your videos are very beneficial.

[@panostheodoulou1166]

Agree entirely with all those points

[@natoonstopmotions181]

Chadest karateka on earth.

[@jkgardiner]

💪🏼

[@sassuki]

Fully agree. Especially the strength training thing. You don't even need to go to the gym, even a weight vest is enough to catapult your results! I noticed that you need at least 10% of your bodyweight added to see significant improvements in the dojo. So for example, if you weigh 70kg, do your calisthenics with a weight vest of at least 7kg. Optimal results can be obtained by using a vest that roughly equates 20% of your bodyweight (14kg in this example). Vests with removable weights are best. That way you could even begin with 2kg and then progress slowly. I recommend the "You Are Your Own Gym" DVDs of Mark Lauren.

[@parthadey2536]

Love and respect from an Indian brother

[@dougfowler6898]

Yes Sensei! Strength training is a game changer and has been for me! Thank you for the excellent post.

[@tims3602]

Well said. After 40 of karate study I agree strength and conditioning training alongside your normal martial art practice is transformational.

[@Daiikiru]

Thank you. Great list.

[@PeaceInOurTime]

This something I use myself whenever I practise karate either in shadow sparring or kicking a bag I always think about the technique when I kick and before I kick. mostly to be sure I dont kick anything else because my bag is in my bonus dad's garage. Its also so I can get a good and brutal kick because I sometimes imagine I kick someone in the ribs, legs or head.

[@richardbartlett8038]

I agree with everything you say here you are bang on with it.

[@1979jon]

Applied some tips yesterday in class, taking a bit more time was a good one. My tip would be keep going to classes, have to be consistent.

[@Vincentorix]

I’m really enjoying your videos Sensei. Your content seems to be evolving and getting increasingly interesting and helpful. OSS!

[@garymiller1875]

Thanks Sensei.

[@ProjektowaPrzestrzen]

Great tips!

[@Robbo3369]

Cool channel . Breathing & meditation also. To be violent we also must learn to be at peace . There's no front without a back.

[@thorstenh1976]

Thanks a lot for your information... really appreciate it

[@NYKgjl10]

Since discovering your channel several months ago, I've done already several of your mobility exercises here on KZbin and I've seen excellent results through my mobility and my techniques 10x's better than before, even my shihan is quite impressive on how my kihons has become sharper. I feel that as karatekas, we need to refine ourselves to improve as the martial arts is a never-ending journey of self-improvement physically and mentally.

[@jkgardiner]

I’m very pleased to hear you’ve found these videos of benefit 👍🏼

[@guninduinduwara5000]

This is the most underrated martial arts channel ❤🔥

[@delta1ster]

Always great instructional examples and explanation. Kudos!! Sensei please include mindset before starting your training. Osu

[@danausten1046]

Great points as always. I still start slowly for the first 20-30 minutes of class and I started in 74 😂. My two favourite martial artists Kanazawa and Joe Lewis stressed starting slowly to get the movement right and reinforce the neurological pathway! I think the Japanese really love doing things silently by rote, but that’s a Zen thing and most Karate Ka have access to training 2-4 times a day, so it’s easier to achieve a good technique. However, our lack of access to Dojo time makes us unpredictable in Kumite, something I have heard on interviews with Senior Sensei. I would like to just add that there comes a point after considerable training that going into the Zone is a great feeling of “Mizu No Kokuro” - or “Mind like water”! 🙏

[@last-zura8899]

thank you so much

[@kadolphin5131]

DAMNNN John, these are really good tutorials/tips 🤩 New subscriber ❤👋

[@jkgardiner]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@PeaceInOurTime]

Also when fall seasons starts I will join a taekwondo club which I am very existed for. And my companion is a taekwondo master and has a blue belt in karate. two weeks ago he testet my taekwondo skills and he was so impressed he said I faught like a monster. :D

[@LotharDeLaRey]

You’re a really great sensei! Oss!

[@alberttrotter1262]

Thank you

[@ronan4681]

4: Always ask questions. (And challenge the answers). This is why I was given the knickname "Ronin" back in the 80's. It was always looked on as being disloyal and disrespectful. It's nice to see someone who thinks like I did and still do. This makes for a better teacher because it causes the instructor to think more deeply about techniques.

[@jkgardiner]

I like to encourage questions, it keeps me accountable as a teacher/coach as I need to make sure what I am teaching has a reason and is in my opinion the best way to do it. Unfortunately a lot of people teach things just because it’s what they were taught without any understanding or reason.

[@ronan4681]

@jkgardiner ... exactly right, probably why I enjoy and respect your channel so much John. Although I am a computer and electronics engineer, I have worked every weekend for the last 40+ years in security/bodyguard work purely to enhance and test my karate training. In my early days, I would go to work with the intention in my mind that if conflict happened, I would use specific techniques I had recently learned to test their effectiveness. What I discovered is that many techniques handed down generation after generation as fundamentally wrong and ineffective.

[@IvanTrekh]

Would probably add No.6 - get image of yourself getting better (target of winning the competition, or get great in kata)

[@jkgardiner]

Good one, visualisation is important.

[@JN-hg5wn]

Thanks for the good advice 🙌 I ask questions all the time. Afraid I do it way way to much. But I allways have that urge, to know Why and How 😁👍

[@jkgardiner]

@@JN-hg5wn If we don’t ask questions how do we get to understand? Simply copying doesn’t give the same level of understanding. Keep on asking 👍🏼

[@JN-hg5wn]

@@jkgardiner Thanks sensei 🙌 My Shihan always says it's good I ask. But feeling embarrassed of annoying the Others 🤣 But you're right - just ask away, and keep learning! Big OSU and thanks!!

[@goatstrategies]

Good tips.

[@nadirgas]

Amazing video, as always. New game: Take a shot every time John says "body"

[@RidhyaVR]

I m fan of your channel. Can u pl give a detailed video as to what will be included in your membership, so as to make an informed decision

[@jkgardiner]

Thank you, it’s new at the moment so only just begun uploading content. However it will have more detailed tutorials, training ideas and programmes as well as a more request led approach to uploads, members can request certain areas to be covered for example. In addition to this it also helps to support this channel and continue to make the continued production of content possible.

[@RidhyaVR]

Thanks sensei. My daughter and myself are training in shotokan. Recently we were awarded shodan in grading conducted by Sensei Rajeev Sinha, President, World Fudokan Federation. This is the link to one of my daughter's performance on bassai dai. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6WrfIxtmq-co6csi=_Er0AOETAB0FP9-5. I m interested in join the tutorial for improving my daughter's skills.

[@BillyBob23327]

Thank you. I started karate at a late age. So I am use to asking questions in life. But I think that the older generation Sensei do not quite like being asked "why". For example we started learning Chinte the other day and I asked why the 2 finger block. Thinking that the fingers will be an easy target to grab and potentially break. And the answer the Sensei gave was to become the top JKA Sensei and you can then change it. So still I don't know the reason as to why we do a 2 finger uchi uki salute😂

[@jkgardiner]

Often it’s just that they don’t know the answer but don’t like to admit it . it’s important for me as a teacher to invite questions as it keeps me accountable and makes sure what I’m teaching has a reason. That movement in chinte is unusual and at the moment I can’t think of why it would be done in that way rather than the usual uchi uke. In fact chinte has many “interesting”movements.

[@BillyBob23327]

@@jkgardiner Thats true. Chinte is definitely not one of my favorite katas. But that experience and with what you said just made even more clear that if you don't understand a certain technique and can't get a satisfied anwser from your Sensei, you should never just accept it as "it is". There must be a reason for why it is. Don't ever stop learning. Only when you fully understand the why, only then will the practice of that technique become easier. Oss

[@jkgardiner]

@@BillyBob23327 definitely and the answers I come up with for things now will also change over time as my understanding changes. That’s what makes kata interesting.

[@BigBoiMagyarban]

I love your videos, i just got brown belt ❤

[@jkgardiner]

Congratulations 👍🏼🥋

[@joshgilligan5466]

Great video, If I had to add one thing I'd say practice the techniques you don't like. Far too often I see students neglect certain kicks or patterns because they don't like them, but they don't like them because they're bad at them. You can't get better at techniques you avoid practicing

[@jkgardiner]

This is a good one ☝🏼

[@Tahaayilmaz]

Will there be a video about strength and martial arts training?

[@jkgardiner]

Yes coming soon

[@sylwalsh4313]

Very good, that’s how I teach, but some go way too fast and technique goes out!

[@vivalaskelton]

Hi Sensei John, can you please confirm what type of gi you use and the Oz? It looks really crisp and sounds fantastic! I’d really like to purchase one as my current Japanese cut 14oz gi restricts my kicks

[@jkgardiner]

This one here is a custom made Hirota, I can’t remember if it is 12 or 14oz. I’m having another karategi sent to me soon that I’ll be trying out and maybe switch to that one, but I need to try it first.

[@vivalaskelton]

@@jkgardinerAwesome thank you for your response. A new gi review video would be cool when it does come (: all the best Sensei

[@subhamdawnknight]

You forgot two vital points, mostly overlooked, but crucial if you are practicing Shotokan. 6. While doing kihon focus on your balance, breathing and kime. 7. Keep your spirit high and indomitable, like a fire inside the gut ready to explode, all the time.

[@jkgardiner]

Yes I could add probably 20+ more points, this is just a few 👍 Breathing is especially important

[@Vegetto19]

6. Try not to miss training at the Dojo

[@jkgardiner]

Yea consistent training is important

[@moha8916]

Be consistant and try to train smart and hard.

[@SilentCourier17]

Muito bom

[@ronan4681]

2: Get stronger. I am 6 feet tall, and in my prime, i was 168kg of pure muscle. Never did a day with weights, but would spend hrs every day doing dynamic tension exercise, mainly through sanchin kata . It is important to complement dynamic tension with soft flowing movement. This is where the Tensho Kata comes in. Hangetsu kata is another good kata for dynamic tension training

[@johnnyworzel3741]

168kg! Wow that’s huge. Arnold was about 110kg and 6’ 2” when he won Mr Olympia so 168kg is really something.

[@RoyAlexander]

168 pounds or kg?

[@ronan4681]

@@RoyAlexander … KG

[@khimberleyjozamipaz3199]

going to gym can help me?

[@jkgardiner]

Yes

[@LucasBJJKarate]

OSS!!!

[@michaelfirth1075]

Good instructions, you’ve nailed it. Just do what you do. M firth 4th Dan wado.