Tournaments vs. Job

[andy83]

Fight until you're young enough to bring satisfying results, the teaching role can wait...

[Nix]

As far as I'm aware, all of the Danish knock-down fighters hold full-time jobs or studies, regardless of ambitions. For the people I know who have been world champions in Ashihara, karate has always been a money drain, so a full-time job has always been needed. I don't know anyone who gets paid to teach, so that is not an option.

I know this is not the case with the Russian fighters, who are sponsored by a very large corporation.

Regarding practice and work as a oil driller: Working off-shore is usually in 2 week shifts, or longer. This means you will be away from your dojo and practice for weeks at a time. I know a few people who did this, none of them had any ambitions of beeing world-class fighters.

[Nitekon]

Nice to see a couple more aussies on here. This is an intersting thread, i've seen it work different ways for different people. some pepole I work with miss a session often because of work, but then again they are not training to fight on a world level. I work and study and always make time for training. Priorities are important. Im studying courses that tie in with karate so its not so serperated between work and training. I don't get as much study done as I'd like but I do enough to get decent-good marks. I work my studies around training, as I want to make to world class. Even alot of Aussie muay thai fighters have full time jobs and still manage to fight at an elite level, The biggest names do have their own gyms or teach for a job (like wayne parr, nathan corbett) I think priorities is the biggest thing but work and life situations can make it hard...Like a nagging partner that can't understand how karate and competing can be such a passion and such a part of who you are!!! ;-)

[Kris]

Originally Posted by vapor

That was my issue when I was in Tokyo---I worked at an ad agency, and I was putting in 60 hour weeks, every week....
vapor

All the people that put in serious time at the dojo where I train in Yokohama do not have career jobs. It is all "arbeit" (part time).

[kyofighter]

With all due respect for those who say that they can't go to the dojo enough because their job, that is just another excuse.
I'm hearing it so many times that I'm sick of it - ,, Oh , you know - I would train more and compete , but my job is to demanding and I don't have time.,,
Sacrifices are need be made - you want to train more and be good at karate, then change your job , find a part-time one and reduce your spending. Don't walk around with that regret feeling on your face and expect others to pitty you.
You want more money and things (a good car , a big screen tv, xbox 360 , iphone ), then don't tell me how much you love kyokushin, but you don't have time for it !!!
The reality is that you dont' want to make the sacrifice and give up all those things.
Osu.

[Dent]

Osu!

Bit harsh there, KyoFighter.

I used to expect much more from members, but now realize that each one gives/ trains according to their desires. Sometimes it's 110%, and sometimes it's 30%.

IMO, it isn't a race, and we are each in control of where we want to be. I encourage those who say that they want more to sit down and plan it out. Sometimes they waffle on, but a lot of the time, they need some help in seeing how to make it happen.

Osu!

[kyofighter]

I see what are you saying, but my problem is with those who are constantly crying about. After a few times of hearing them , it really makes me mad.
I have no problem with those who train for other reasons and they do what they can .
During my fighter years I had to make hard decisions about my life , yet still I had some ppl tell me that is easy for me because I don't work full time and I have time for training more then them. It was like I should feel sorry for them becaus they can't train .

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by kyofighter

I see what are you saying, but my problem is with those who are constantly crying about. After a few times of hearing them , it really makes me mad.
I have no problem with those who train for other reasons and they do what they can .
During my fighter years I had to make hard decisions about my life , yet still I had some ppl tell me that is easy for me because I don't work full time and I have time for training more then them. It was like I should feel sorry for them becaus they can't train .

I feel compassion for them because they can't train, but that compassion is strained a bit if, after being given a number of opportunities, they still don't take advantage of the training available.

I have just such a situation right now, where one guy has every opportunity to train, but hasn't made the effort to show up. Nothing more I can do for him, so I have left the door open, and offered that same chance to someone else.

Chances are I'll hear from the first guy again and again, and chances are he won't train, but that door will stay open as long as I can keep it that way. Most of us on this list have probably worn out more training partners than we have shoes. If this guy does start training, it may be at a time when one of the others needs a break, moves, or has other responsibilities.

Who knows? All I can do is continue to be welcoming...

Osu!

[senshido]

In my opinion, if somebody REALLY wants to train they will be there week after week. (obviously there are times when even the keenest student cant make it)
There are so many people who want the end results without the hardship of constant training.

[medguy]

So many people train for world class events while holding down day jobs. Personally, I was in the military and was on an endurance race team. Several guys on the team were Ironman Triathletes. They would be up at 0430 or 5, train in one sport until 7, shower and be on base at their post by 0715 or 0720. At lunch they would train an hour, and after work they would train from about 5 to 7 pm.

So, the point is, if you want to do the "crime" (ie tournaments) you CAN do the time.

Osu!

[tmd]

Am about to take on a new job that will consume 65 plus hours a week, add to that 3 kids and a missus to spend time with and I was feeling like I'm gonna have to finally call it a day as a fighter but I really wanted to fight for one last year

Now, I am a student who likes to be kicked up the butt every now and then so thank you to all the posters especially medguy and kyo fighter for putting me right, - if I truly want it I will find a way, maybe I don't want it enough to find the time but just haven't come to terms with the idea of retiring but thank you guys for the butt kicking; one only a Kyokushin instructor could dole out

[MilkManX]

That will be tough but if you want it you will make it happen!

[GJEChamberlain]

Osu! tmd,

If I may make so bold ....

Looking at your post on 'my current training' and the one above, I think you're doing far too much. If you add in 65 hour weeks and family life, I think you'll soon struggle to give everything your full attention.

The most important exercise factor is intensity, followed by regularity. Volume is a poor third, as once you train over a certain amount, the body struggles to recover properly so progress will be stiffled. The end result is a feeling of real frustration at best or if you're unlucky - stress induced injuries.

As to priorities. For us dads it's got to be Family:Work:Training. If you burn out or get injured and lose your job, your family suffers. Not a great result! As to fighting again, if you re-jig your routine you'll feel stronger each time you train - a better build up physically and easier on the head. If you overtrain and fry your CNS you'll always feel tired, not strong.

As a young single man I regularly pushed into overtraining and took time off work to my boss's displeasure. I ended up really overdoing it. I would never make the same mistake again. PM me if you feel I can help, or to tell me to mind my own business! Up to you.

Gary

[DKKC]

Originally Posted by GJEChamberlain

PM me if you feel I can help, or to tell me to mind my own business! Up to you.

Gary

Erm ... can I actually ask you tmd NOT to PM Gary - I'm also interested in what he has to say!
Thank you!

[tmd]

we did have some PM discussions which I'm happy to share if it's OK with GJE, I also checked a few things out with BIG AL re the actual weight training I'm doing.

[GJEChamberlain]

Osu! DKKC

No big secret! I realised some years ago I was wearing my body out with just relentless volume of training. Many sessions just cancelled each other out, as for example running in the morning and weights in the afternoon meant the 5 hour karate training and teaching later was half-hearted and generally poor quality.

I'm very lucky to be in Loughborough and to know some good athletes and coaches. Picking out the best advice I got and hours spent studying led me to a simple conclusion: Do less, work harder!

By doing less volume the intensity of each session can be increased, and by structuring the week properly each session enhances and doesn't detract from the next. As fighters are working towards explosive techniques in a predominantly anaerobic event, the hours and hours of work at sub-maximal intensity usually undertaken may be a waste of good effort.

If we asked most fighters how they build up for a Tournament, the standard answer involves adding in lots of extra work. You know, running every morning etc etc. In my experience, a better answer would be to shed all unneccessary work, making each session better quality and more intense.

I type with one finger and it's getting sore - as I said to tmd, please PM for further info if interested ....

Gary

[DKKC]

Thank you Gary! Yes, I think I know what you mean - I have learned this out the hard way!!

[tmd]

As someone who I rate as a current top fighter DKKC I would be interested to know your regime in the build up to K2 and how much this differs from your standards training - you can make it a PM if you don't want to give anything away...

[DKKC]

You might be dissapointed

[tmd]