training without a dojo

I have found myself in the entirely un-unique situation of being a karateka displaced from his/her dojo. rather than give up karate (i dont think i would even know how) i now have to train at home.

my question is, other than kata, what have all my fellow practitioners done to keep their karate sharp without a dojo?

 

Bag-work is the obvious suggestion.

 

i try to improve the way i move, rather than just performing techniques (no sensei to give me corrections or a specific direction, so no point in mindlessly repeating something strictly until someone finds a mistake and nudges me towards the right direction), and i try to actually train/study the kata rather than just performing them (which i increasingly see as an extremely pointless endeavour because it improves nothing about my karate). and i go train other styles (i highly recommend taijiquan in particular)

 

obviously the lack of training partners makes my ability to use the stuff stay rather stagnant, but that doesn't prevent me improving my technique given prior knowledge of what partner drills are like (which means less work to do to adapt things once i do find people to train with)

 

You know the drill man, exercise, bag work, kata and find yourself a dojo asap ;p

 

Use videos.

Of yourself that is. Your mind knows what you should look like when you're doing kata, but what it thinks you are doing and what you are actually doing may be two different things.

Video review of your form/structure can be very helpful for home training.

Oh - build a kakete-biki and makiwara and use them too.

 

combat conditioning. a well conditioned fighter is better than a non-conditioned fighter. I know this all too well. that being said, invest in equipment that can help you conditioning.

- a pair of good running shoes
- a heavy bag
- a speed ball
- a string ball
- heavy ropes
- a bulgarian bag (can be made easily diy at home)
- a truck tire
- a sledge hammer
- pull up bar
- kettle bells (if you're into such things)
- a yoga mat (for core strength workouts)

work your core like crazy. run like you're being chased by giant hornets.

 

i have been going to the gym, focusing mostly on cardio (bycicle machine, my knees havn't been acting their age lately) chest, core, and upper back.

since i just moved and havn't yet found work, my training equipment is somewhat limited. i have a bag but no stand for example. thanks for the suggestions! these are helpful. luckily i have video of me doing kata from about 8 months ago while i was still at my dojo to use as a baseline to compare myself to so i don't get too sloppy with my form.

 

you can run. just 45 minutes of running. running properly, from the gut. landing on your forefoot. running is good. running separates the good from the great.

 

Place a personal add in the newspaper

Karateka looking for training partner.
Preferably (inset style), (insert belt), and (inset gender)
Must be willing to clean floors and equipment as well as cook.
Must be willing to spar and keep complaints to a minimum.
This offer is first come first serve, limited space available.
Must provide own gi.

You could try craigslist too

 

Kata, bag work, makiwara, some supplementary training and plenty of kihon waza when given the opportunity.

I also kickbox occasionally which helps with the sparring practice.

I don't go the gym though as it bores me stiff. I do have a barbell, sledge hammer and small tractor tyre and some various hojo undo tools made with cement and empty paint cans. And an ab wheel.

EDIT: Ah, just seen you have a bag but no stand. Have you thought about getting yourself a kick shield and tying it to a post/tree in your back yard/somewhere convenient?

 

Could you expand on this please shoots dog, for the thickies like me.

Particularly 'from the gut' 'landing on your forefoot' and any other 'running properly' tips.

That video tip is gold I recon, with or without a teacher ! Saves the 'why is he always picking on me and saying I'm stiff midset'
Cheers

 

Dojo yaburi?

That'll keep you sharp.

 

And post videos of it

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzjDIAKUZ9Q]forefoot strike[/ame]

running from the gut means, you engage your core.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_aqCiziTaw]orton's running form tutorial[/ame]

 

There's also the book "The art of Hojo Undo" by Michael Clarke. It's filled with different exercises with different training tools as well as guidelines on how to make some of your own tools. And they work incredibly well.

 

Sorry but I just wanted to add why running is good for you. take it from laila ali

 

per a previous suggestion: run. for me, there's nothing better to get your whole body toughened. and then: pushups, pullups, abs. if you can't train at a gym, i'd be worried that i'd take on some bad habits, potentially. but you can always tune your body to be fit on your own.