Shotokan karate: Need some advice on building endurance

[KatanaDV20]

Hey guys

To get my ass in shape Ive taken up Shotokan karate. Been doin it for about 10 weeks now. Really enjoyin it but I got a real serious problem..Im hopin all you lot on here who do martial arts (or for that matter any kinda exercise) can gimme some advice as this is really bugging me and Im scared it will hold me back

Basically I suck at endurance. My techniques are good, strength is good for punches & kicks....but man do I have pathetic endurance.

Ask me to take up a stance.....and in just 15 secs im knackered

Specially this stance (horse-riding stance)...hurts

While others around me stay still like rocks....WTH!

My thigh muscles burn...they BURN with crazy pain after just 10-15 secs so I have to relax them which of course looks pathetic and results in intructors hollerin' "GET BACK INTO STANCE! See THROUGH the pain...it will make you stronger!"...of course they are right but as hard as I try I just cant

Umm what kinda exercises can I do to get strong thigh & leg muscles so I can hold a stance and do karate without getting out of breath so soon?!!!!

Im lookin at gettin a bike, hopefully that will help. But if any of u martial arts people or regular gymn-people have some tips....?!!

 

[KatanaDV20]

Try asking in the Sports Arena

Oh no...I didnt even clock that there was a sports sub forum...maybe the mods will move this there...!

Sorry mods!!

 

[KatanaDV20]

and don't hate the burn, love the burn.

I cant wait to get to that stage! I need to feel the burn...and then *keep* goin..right now I cant do that will my jelly thighs! I admire the others who feel pain...and then make their stances DEEPER! "Pain...what pain?" they say....

I think they're cyborgs

 

[KatanaDV20]

Thanks loads for al the great tips, I hear ya all on the practice. Ive pushed the furniture aside in the living room even hee hee.

Can you do split ups? do high kicks such as Mavashi geri?

I cant do 100% splits I can take it up to about 60% to be honest! I can kick resonably high on mawashi geri - I can kick at ear-height on right leg and shoulder height on left leg!

Horse Stance takes TIME!
After a couple of years I can sit in it for a fair while but then I was doing a fair bit of cycling before that so had a head start.

Hmmm lots of support for cycling, I will have to look for a good bike!

Horseriding stance (Kibadachi) is aweful for most people starting because its holding your body in a position and with strain that its not used to. Practice is the only way get better, If you have access to any small weights (10k or something) then id try holding the weight whilst in the stance, when it becomes to much then stand up for a while then try and drop back into the stance. These may help but to be honest you will get better at it purely through training in time.

Thats a good idea dude I shall try that out. I actually got some weights , will start using them. I was thinkin about using small handheld weights to speed up punch speed as well. Youre right about kiba-dachi being difficult...pain like none other!! I really envy the endurance of the high grades but I know it will just take practice!

The reason your teacher is pushing you is he know's full well you won't improve if you don't keep trying.
Anyway, as someone else mentioned, wall sits will probably help.

Yea he is a really good instructor and i enjoy being pushed TBH. I tried the wall sit! Im such a wuss...could only hold it for 20secs! Will keep trying to increase the time!