I’ve been an instructor of Shotokan Karate for almost 25 years now and helped to teach many classes from the time I was a purple belt. I’ve helped many people learn techniques and moves and fixed and explained countless things with the encouragement, “Now go home and practice this”! How many times do you think, that person went home and practiced that correction? Not many. How many Karate-kas do you think came to class the next time with the same bad habit that I had fixed the class before. More often that I can count! What do you think the student is called that practices as soon as they get home and practices often? Champ, State Champ, National Champ, Black Belt or maybe Sensei or Master. Hmmmm?
Yes, the best time to practice is as soon as you get home. Many times I’ve told students to ask questions. I’ve told many people to stay for a few minutes and ask a couple questions. I’ve told students to read, get videos or watch You Tube about karate. How many do you think do that. Not many? The percentage is extremely low. Again what is the Karate-ka that does read and watch karate related things called or soon to be called? Again, it’s Champ, State Champ, National Champ, Black Belt or maybe Sensei or Master.
When I started training, my Sensei was a great technician. I watched very intently. I imitated his movements. I loved Karate (hmmmm). I practiced at home. I would stay and ask questions after class. We only trained one day a week. If you were to progress with class once a week, you better practice extra. Shortly after I started, Sensei suggested that I read Black Belt magazine. Black Belt magazine didn’t sound like something that a white belt should be reading and I asked you mean I’d be allowed to buy it? He thought that was hilarious. Didn’t take much to make him laugh, he had one of the best senses of humor I’ve ever seen.
I started to read Black Belt magazine and others, as he suggested and learned many things from them. After a few months my Sensei told me about a Karate tournament. I immediately said, that I would go! I was excited. He explained to me that he had never really competed because the schools that he had attended never went to competitions. He said that he would help me as much as possible though. My first tournament was just as should be expected. I bombed! The guy that I fought (who was my earliest nemesis), beat me with spin kicks and back fists. Back fists we trained on some but of course I was unfamiliar with a spin kick and had no answer as to how to defend against it. The next tournament was more satisfying because I at least knocked the same guy into the spectator’s seats. Kind of stupid because if I would’ve controlled that punch I would’ve won because we were tied up at that time. I still fell victim to the spin kick, which he had even improved, of course. It came to me that, Duh, figure out how to beat a side kicker. The next month or two I spent figuring out how to beat a side kick and I finally got pretty good at the defense of it. A big tournament came up and guess what about eight guys in my division and I still got paired up with my nemesis the first round! Just what I wanted, though. My time had come. I knew it. He spent his time practicing his spin kick and I spent my time practicing the defense of it. The match went just as I had planned. I purposely left my torso open for a spin kick, knowing that he couldn’t resist that. He bit, I slid up behind him and back-fisted him in the head. Point. Second point same as the first! I was rolling! He looked bewildered. His unstoppable spin kick had been his downfall. I quickly realized that he would not be stupid enough to attack immediately again and give me a third straight point and end the match. I knew that he would turn defensive which was not his forte. I turned into a right forward stance and when the judge yelled hajamae Mr spin kick stood frozen in unsuredness and I immediately dove right in with a back fist to the side of his head. Yamae was called and all hands pointed at me! I ended up losing in the fight for first to a front thrust kick. Guess what defense I studied next. That was an awesome day. None of it would’ve been possible without extra practice, extra studies and extra questions.
If you want to be good then be good. Make a plan. Listen in class. Watch anyone that is better than you are. Always try to look better and faster than the person next to you. Ask questions. Above all practice corrections. If you think that teachers give homework to be mean then you too will fall by the wayside. Teachers give homework to produce excellence.
When should you practice? During class and definitely after class but more importantly practice things that need improvement often. Plan a specific time and get into the habit of having short but meaningful practices.
If you can conceive it, and believe it, then you can achieve it!
Written by:
Sensei Perry Culver 6th degree Black Belt (Shotokan Karate), Syu Sin Do Black Belt, Trained in Kickboxing, CDT and Personal Training.
