“Okay, everyone get warmed up because today we start our new Karate Experiment.” Holding up two small pieces of wood, I continued in my most serious voice, “We will begin by breaking these boards.”
You should have seen the Gym Buddies faces! Until Gym Buddy Megan busted up laughing. That girl never takes me seriously. But I had Allison good and scared for about half a second.
Actually the blocks of wood were there for a painful purpose. Sensei Don (Don Seiler, 3rd degree blackbelt and teacher of Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-do) gave them to me to toughen up my knuckles. You know, so it won’t hurt so much when I punch stuff. He instructed me to do two sets of 30 push-ups a day. On the wood boards. On my knuckles.
Allison was not down with this. “But it hurts!”
“It’s supposed to hurt,” I answered. I did one knuckle push-up.
“It hurts a lot!”
“I know!” Two knuckle push-ups.
“I have girly hands!”
“Me too.” Three knuckle push-ups.
“It’s easier if you do it this way.” She turned her hands to the side.
“Ow,ow,ow, ow… okay.” It took me three measely knuckle push-ups before I gave up and finished out the set the normal way. I think that Sensei Don does not fully understand who he is working with. Poor man.
Karate Means Open Hand
Ever since I started The Great Fitness Experiment, various readers have been encouraging me to do a Martial Arts Experiment of some sort. And given its reputation for being a hard-core full body workout, I was eager to give it a try. Plus, and I swear I’m not a psychopath, I really like to hit people and I never get to do it. Something about it not being a socially acceptable habit or whatever.
Anyhow, as Sensei Don informed me, they call it a martial “art” for a reason: it’s not just about fighting, it’s about training the mind, body and character to work together for self protection. Ideally, it’s mostly about strengthening the mind and character and the body will follow suit. In practice it means that you start with the most rudimentary techniques – called standing basics – and perform them hundreds of times until they become ingrained. In addition you perform routines of these basics – called kata – hundreds of times to demonstrate your mastery. You also get to yell. When I expressed my worry about yelling in the gym and looking crazy, Gym Buddy Megan cracked up something fierce. Again. That girl.
At the risk of offending my generous Sensei, I pointed out to him that since this is a one month Experiment, I am less concerned about the “art” and more concerned about the killing people. Not only was he not offended but he told me about a karate concept called “Ikken Hissatsu” which means something akin to “one punch kill.” Unfortunately, to reliably perform these manuevers (as opposed to on accident in a bar fight which is called a one-punch homicide and will land you in jail where, if you are really lucky, you can write a rap song about it and make a million bucks but barring that will live out the rest of your days being miserable and lonely so don’t do it), you have to be, well, good at karate. So back to the standing basics we go. But at least I have a goal now.
The Workout
Sensei Don devised a workout broken up in to three major parts for us: conditioning, standing basics and kata. He instructed us to spend an hour day on these things and then do whatever we wish with the rest of our time (helllooo cardio!).
Conditioning
The main parts to focus on for karate are your core, legs, forearms and back. He actually said that to be effective at karate we need to learn to rely less on our chest and biceps and more on using gravity and our body weight to help us punch and kick. So we do one hundred reps of crunches, leg raises (the ab kind, not the Jane Fonda kind), one minute supermans, and a squats.
Standing Basics
The easiest way to learn these is to have a qualified Sensei teach them to you. However, if you can’t find one or are as cheap as I am, you can always get his book Karate-Do: Traditional Training for All Styles. I tell you what, that man knows how to look fierce in a picture. Miss Tyra ain’t got nothing on Sensei Don.
See?There are about 20 standing basics of which I have only learned the first 4. But repeating each of those 100 times took the better part of an hour and I was pretty tight in my shoulders and sweaty by the time we were done.
The First Kata
I can’t describe the kata except to say that it is like a dance. Except a really tough guy dance. With yelling. Check out the video here. (Note the yell – I am very excited about this part.) This is what the Gym Buddies and I will be attempting to learn over the next week or two and will be practicing every day as well.
How To Play Along At Home
Some of my Experiments are easier to follow along with than others. This one is going to be a toughie. I can’t teach Karate technique – even if I knew it, which I don’t – over the Internet. But what I can do is try out this particular style of martial art for a month and tell you what I think of it. If it intrigues you then I encourage you to check your local listings for a dojo near you. If not, then you get to sit back and enjoy the ride!
Do any of you have martial arts experience? What is your opinion of it as a workout? As a lifestyle? Any advice for me about the knuckle push-ups??
Karate and the martial arts is one of the best things I ever got involved with! From confidence, teaching experiences, fitness, friends, and fun, I have really enjoyed my involvement. What’s a broken bone or two among friends? I expect you to walk the rice paper without leaving a mark by month’s end 🙂
I love martial arts! Unfortunately I don’t have very much experience, I’ve taken two different karate/kickboxing sessions at a local dojo and loved it, awesome workout. And I LOVED being out of the gym.
AND My boys just finished a “little dragons” program at the rec center. (very VERY beginning karate). They loved it and it’s great way to keep them moving as the weather gets colder.
I have this dream that some day our whole family can go to a studio or dojo and have this awesome family karate workout together. Someday!
(p.s. I believe you and gym buddy Alison should do a video of yourselves practicing the kata…)
(p.p.s. Lemme know if you learn the wuxi finger hold. skadoosh.)
Oh Charlotte, I love karate!
I will just be along for the ride at this time though. So give us lots of updates, and lots of pics of you and the gym buddies working it!
Jenn
I wish I had stayed in karate as a kid. Karate or dance class, my mother said, they are on the same night, you must choose one. Dance is more lady like and there was combatting of the inner tomboy going on. Dance class sucked. Now I like boxing and have even done a few kickboxing classes recently. It is fun to hit people!
The picture of the sensei reminded me of Georges St. Pierre, my FAVORITE UFC fighter, who always goes out to his fights wearing the traditional karate jacket and pants because thats where his MMA got started.
Cool Experiment! Can’t wait to follow along with you!
I LOVE that you are finally doing this. I have always wanted to learn a martial art, but my gym membership costs so much that I can’t afford any “outside interests” at the moment. Dying to see how you get on. Wax on, wax off….
TA x
It’s cool that you’re doing a martial arts experiment, I’m afraid my expertise is limited to Taekwon-Do though, and as far as I can tell the two are very different. I wouldn’t really recommend that you do knuckle push ups on wood… In TKD we break boards alright, but the girls don’t have to break with punches – they use knifehand (side of the hand, like a karate-chop). Besides, it would take a long time to condition your knuckles (you need to break, and re-heal repeatedly in order to build scar tissue and deaden sensation.. nice eh? I’d leave that one to hard core power-breakers!) The great part about martial arts as a form of fitness is that it is all encompassing – flexibility (of the whole body, not just legs in splits stuff – think of upper body mobility), leg strength, core-strength, upper body strength, co-ordination (all the combinations of punches and kickes etc.), it’s a TOUGH cardio workout, and we regularly get to learn something new. In short, It ROCKS! 🙂
And, apart from all the wonderful physical aspects, there is also guidance for the mind, in fact this is being given even more importance in recent times, with numerous lectures on the topic at our Instructors Courses. I’m not sure about Karate, but TKD is described as a Way of Life, and there are defined teachings and instructions on how to be a good person.
I’ll stop my rambling there… 🙂
Im excited to follow this one as Ive had karate on my IM GONNA TRY list for years (Im bad about making classes but thats a whole ‘nother story) and the Toddler started a few months ago and loves it!
Looking forward to reading about this! Would love to try it.
Charlotte! Wow! That’s incredible. Especially the part about “…two sets of 30 push-ups a day. On the wood boards. On my knuckles.”
I really love reading about your experiments. 🙂
I usually do knuckle pushups. Normally, I have a mat to put them on, but occasionally I don’t, so I just put them on the floor. I do pushups this way because my wrists aren’t great, and this way feels better. But it’s definitely easier to do them if you turn your hands so your wrists are facing one another. I haven’t tried them with wrists facing my feet, but it sounds really uncomfortable!
I did take ju-jitsu for a couple years in high school and apart from the flying through the air thing (there’s judo in ju-jitsu, which involves throwing people over your hip or shoulder), I enjoyed it. I took a break at one point and then went back in as a yellow belt (as far as I got, unfortunately), and so I had to punch and kick with force. Man did I hurt the next day! I could barely move my quads or back or triceps.
I always felt kind of self-conscious about the shouting thing. I think that if you’re in a martial arts class, then it becomes normal and not so strange, but if you’re in the basic gym you couldn’t pay me to ki-ai loudly! Maybe expel air while I punch…
I hope you enjoy the martial arts!
I want to try this so bad! Am very excited that you’re doing this experiment, I can’t wait to see how it goes.
I did TKD for a while, and didn’t like it so much. I do want to try boxing, although BK is against anything that nurtures my naturally high levels of aggression.
And I can’t find a gym around that I’d go to frequently (not taking the train into philly to train).
I can barely do regular push-ups. 30 push-ups…on your knuckles…on a board? Wow. Keep us posted on how it’s going. Good luck!
I will watch your progress with great interest… from a safe distance. Please let us know how it goes!
This reminds me of that part in Kill Bill where Uma goes to train with that formiddable sensei in the middle of nowhere. Talk about hardcore!
I’m really excited about this experiment and can’t wait to hear how things develop.
Hello. Long time reader, first time poster. I study (and teach) Krav Maga. It’s not so much of an ‘art,’ as it focuses on hand-to-hand combat and self-defense, and doing whatever it takes to get out of harms way and ‘go home safe.’ It’s not pretty. But, I love punching and kicking and yelling. It’s easy to yell and grunt when someone is choking you.
I did Karate as a kid and never took to it. I’m sure as an adult I’d have more patience. Good luck with this one and I look forward to updates.
I’ve always thought this would be fun, though I’ve never tried it, maybe if you rave about it I’ll have to find a dojo since my gym doesn’t do any classes. Very interested to hear updates on how this goes!
Wow! How cool!
I’ve taken self-defense and some Krav Maga, which I really loved (but it got to be too expensive).
I must say that I’d like to do more, but I’m a little intimidated. Not just at the prospect of getting hit, but more so at being a student again.
Long story.
But looking forward to following your progress!!!!
Sweet! Im excited to see how it goes!
That dog and cat picture is hilarious. I hate cats.
Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com
Oh, wow, something I can do! I have a black belt (a jr. black belt, I admit, but I am almost there!) And one free tip on the punching people strong knuckles thing. Just do an open palm strike. Just as good, less knuckle ripping and way less hand bone breaking. Broken bones are really bad in a fight.
I expect a follow up post to this asking the question about when karate became a strip-mall McSport for only stay-at-home moms and small kids.
Ooo! *waves hand wildly in the air* Can I make a recommend for January’s Great Fitness Experiment? Please try Aerial Silks/Tissu! (think Cirque du Solelil) I would love to hear what you think of it!
I love you Charlotte! Ooohh this is so cool! I love martial arts, I have been doing TaeKwonDo for a long time, and am testing in spring for my black belt. Anyway, TaeKwonDo covers everything! We practice (contact!) sparring, punching and kicking techniques, and even rolling and falling 🙂 I get a great workout and have fun at the same time. Plus my Korean instructor is so funny when he tries to say “questions”)
Watchin’ from the sidelines here. Who knows? Your experiments have prompted me to try new things, so that’s a “maybe.” Best of luck.
Dr. J – Sensei Don said nothing about broken bones or rice paper!! Hmmm…
Katieo – Aw, I want to put my kids in martial arts! We’ll see about the video;)
Toots – glad to know I’m not the only psycho around here!
TA – yeah, me too. I’m really fortunate that Sensei Don is doing this out of the kindness of his heart.
Shivers – Thanks for the encouragement! I imagined you would have a lot to say! Sensei Don read your comment and would like to add a few points (I’m quoting his e-mail on these):
1. The knuckles are not strengthened by breaking and re-healing. The actual result of this tactic is loss of flexibility, accumulation of scar tissue, arthritis and the developmenbt of really ugly hands. Scar tissue tears and bleeds more regularly than healthy tissue so you would actually be making the knuckles weaker. This is the way wanna-be tough guys “condition” themselves through the acquisition of scar tissue that makes their hands look more like clubs than fists. In my opinion, if you’re bruised and bleeding you’re not training; you’re damaging yourself! that’s out-of-sync with the spirit of karate-do. The idea is to gradually overload the cells (just like muscle training) so that the cells build themselves up. Studies have shown that this type of gradual training even increases bone density in the affected bones.
2. There are clear advantages and disadvantages to both palm strikes and fists. The ability to use either one effectively takes time in training. There is simply no data I have ever seen to support a statement that one is superior to another except by personal comfort/ preference. For some reason, though, most modern self-defense systems as well as traditional systems instruct primarily in using a fist and save open hand techniques for more advanced levels.
Lethological – You are truly a woman of many talents!! In regards to your push-ups Sensei Don had this to say: “There’s a reason why you need to do these with the top of your hands facing your head. This position trains not just the knuckles but the proper positioning of your arms during a straight zuki (punch). Your elbow should be facing your feet while you do this and your shoulders should be relaxed.”
Tricia – Well then you’ll be excited to know that a Great Boxing Experiment is coming up shortly! 😉
Liz – You are not the first person to compare me to Uma Thurman. Oh wait, yes you are. But thanks for the compliment;)
DaniD – Yay for commenting! And I think your last line sums it up perfectly! I really really want to try Krav Maga.
Azusmom – I love that you did Krav Maga. I asked Sensei Don about it and this is what he had to say “Krav Maga is a great self-defense system. I understand the military origins and training techniques of Krav Maga. There are several other similar systems that have emerged in recent years titled many things from “reality-based personal protection” to “street self-defense.” The element missing from all of these is a strong undercurrent of character development. The point is well, even if simplistically, illustrated in the classic movie The Karate Kid that Karate without character is dangerous. When you focus solely on the combatives you always run this risk. Traditional martial arts (taught by someone who is qualified and willing to share what they know) provides the same level of self-defense capability as these streamlined systems, but never leaves development of character out.”
Emma – How impressed am I with you now??? And you make an excellent point about the evolving nature of martial art instruction. Must ponder that one! PS> Sensei Don has something to say about open hand strikes (see reply above to Shivers).
Rebecca – I'm DYING to try that! If there is any way I can work it out I will totally do that. So far though I haven't found anyone who teaches it around here:(
Anon – Good luck with your testing! Let me know how it goes!
Oh, sadness! I took Tissu for about three months, and had to stop after a car accident injured my back. Let me tell you what, though–I have never had such strong arms, core, and such flexibility. I really, really hope you find someone who teaches it in your area!
ps (i am so glad i stumbled upon your site, ‘coz i likes it. 🙂
I think this will be the most interesting fitness experiment yet.
Maybe this’ll be the inspiration I need to finally try this. I’ve always wanted to.
Wow! You’re school sounds very old-school like when I started training 28 years ago.
Well, I guess that you would expect me to have strong, positive opinions about the martial art. I do own a karate school.
The best part about the martial arts is that it’s a terrific workout and we teach leadership and success skills too. It’s basically an exercise life coaching program.
Long Island University did research on all the major sports and found that karate was only 2nd to basketball in all round physical training. Of course, that depends largely on the teacher.
If you love screaming and yelling and want another terrific experiment, check out a fast defense seminar by my friend Bill Kipp. It will be the most empowering seminar you’ve ever taken. Guaranteed!
I would not let my daughter go to college without these self-defense training. Seriously! It’s that great.
Tim Rosanelli
timrosanelli.blogspot.com
60situpschallenge.blogspot.com