Any advice for newbie

[Seta]

Hi,



Just started kendo and have never taken martial arts before. How do I feel ? So far I really love it but unfortunately I'm overweight and I'm not as fit as I'd like to be. I wasn't sure what to expect as I have a friend who practices aikido and he says you don't have to be that fit for a martial art. I also noticed that some of the other kendoists with me are also kind of overweight don't run as fast as I do during warm-up and still are able to keep up much better during the Kirikaeshi and Uchikomi geiko etc.. Any advice on how to improve my training will be really appreciated.

[emitbrownne]

when I started I was 'Big'....

I took everything at an easy pace.. there is no point in rushing things as you will either strain yourself, do it incorrectly or develop bad habits.

depending on how big you are, just work on your general fitness. Long walks, swimming, jogging.. anything which will get your heart racing.

You will find if you practice suburi (the aerobic bit of the class, generally without an opponent) out of class as well as during then that will help too.

You can have a gut and fence as the movement is your legs/hips, and the cutting is done using shoulders...

overall Kendo can be treated like any sport... start bad and out of shape..practice (lots) and get better, and as you do your fitness will improve.

Paulo
(i'm still big, but I'm cutting out on the trifles :) )

[xvikingx]

Cardio is the way to go if you want to get in shape for kendo of just loose weight. For kendo I suggest jogging and stomach crunches.

EmitB.,
Are you still doing naginata?

[Neil Gendzwill]

I have a friend who practices aikido and he says you don't have to be that fit for a martial art.
Sounds like an aikidoka. I trained aikido for a year, never broke a sweat once and I'm not unique. I know there are aikido dojo where the practice is tough, but in many cases it's pretty light exercise.

One guarantee in kendo - you will sweat. You don't have to be a tri-athlete to start, but eventually kendo demands a certain level of fitness. Just carry on with your practice, you will get fitter as time goes on, and also more efficient at the movement. If you want to be extra-serious about it, cross-train in some form of cardio - bike, run, stairs, whatever you like. It's a lot easier to concentrate on the techniques when you're not sucking wind.

One more thing - don't be foolish with your health. Stop and take a rest if you feel like you're over-stressed.

[Seta]

Thanks everyone,

Thanks so much for the advice, greatly appreciated. I really want to do well and will train hard. I did two exercise classes at the local sports centre on tuesday, one aerobics the other lower body 55 min each to be ready for kendo practice on wednesday. Turns out was a big mistake. Lactic acid bulid up and could hardy move my legs in the morning:D . oh well u learn over time I guess. Completely recovered now but would have to wait for next practice.:cry: Thanks again.

PS Kendo practice raises my heart rate way more than the aerobics class did, and that was high impact aerobics too.

[midnightdawn]

If you continue to exercise that soreness will go away. I was a runner way before I had even heard of kendo, so I know all about that. ^_^ It seems to me you just took a little too much on too fast. At first you should only do about 3 workouts a week if your body isn't used to it, then after 2 or 3 weeks step it up as you feel necessary. Keep working hard at kendo and your cross training efforts.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Yes, when cross-training you have to be careful to coordinate with your kendo classes. Some people like yourself need to leave a day space between the gym and the dojo, others (like me) are OK with being in the gym the day before class. I find weight-training on the same day too much, especially if it's a lower body workout, but I'm OK running the same day (especially as I run at noon, then am in the dojo in the evening so there's recovery time).

[emitbrownne]

EmitB.,
Are you still doing naginata?Its more off than on.. but yeah I twirl the fishing pole whenever I get the chance :D

[xvikingx]

Its more off than on.. but yeah I twirl the fishing pole whenever I get the chance :D
Good-o! You should check out the Tendo-ryu seminar in Paris (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?p=35160#post35160) if you have a chance (meaning time & money). Fun koryu practice and I am sure you can get some atarashii naginata keiko in as well.

[emitbrownne]

Good-o! You should check out the Tendo-ryu seminar in Paris (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?p=35160#post35160) if you have a chance (meaning time & money). Fun koryu practice and I am sure you can get some atarashii naginata keiko in as well.
Unfortunately I cannot attend because fortunately I am going to Kyoto for two weeks, and the seminar falls right in the middle of the Holiday.

Thanks for the thought though. :)

[xvikingx]

Unfortunately I cannot attend because fortunately I am going to Kyoto for two weeks, and the seminar falls right in the middle of the Holiday.

Ah, poor baby. :wink:

[samurai999]

The only advice I can give to you is, try not to do everything at once. If you haven't been training your body (ie exercising regularly) before you start kendo, that could be the basis of many injuries later on. Work yourself into it slowly. Start slow and keeping working your way up to where you want to be. Push yourself to become better, but don't burn yourself out or get injured in the process.

Tim