Fitness 'fun'

[Aefibird]

One fitness drill that we sometimes use (although, haven't done for a while actually) at my karate club is this:

Everyone starts off bouncing on their toes. The instructpr or whoever is in charge shouts out numbers - each number means a different move (ichi might be a sit up, ni a press up, san a squat etc etc etc).

The challenge is to have a longer list of commands everytime and see who can remember which number means what. The bouncing in between moves helps with fitness and shouting out the numbers faster and faster really gets the heart pumping!


One warmup drill I've done too is this:

everyone partners up and starts off by doing "one kick, one kick" - one person takes it in turn to kick, then the other (any kick, whatever you've been working on). Partners are close enough to just make soft contact with one another.

On numbered commands different things are done. Some of the things I've done have been both partners in front stance, facing, holding on to one anothers arms and trying to push each other backwards.

Also, another one could be having parters hold onto each others arms and try to touch each others toes with their foot - good for footwork that one.

I've also done variations of it where both partners lie down on the floor and play "thumb wars" or arm wrestle or other fun little games. Tis a good little exercise to do just after a warm up/stretching session.

[nkudahc]

1..2..3..4.. i declare thumb war ;D

[miffersy]

Thanks,
Only just seen the post but I will definately try them at Saturdays Class.

[Andy]

My favourite (stopwatch required).

Form your class into partners, facing each other in two straight lines.

One side does pushups for 60 seconds, while the other side jogs on the spot and counts for their partner, then the other side goes.
Then the first side does crunches for 60 seconds while the other side jogs and counts, then the second side goes.
Then the first side does burpees for 60 seconds while the other side jogs and counts, then the second side goes.

Partners counting and jogging should be encouraging the person performing the set.

The partners give each other their reps within the sets, and if you pull it out at squad trainings or say monthly intervals, they can get some feedback on their improvement and fitness.

If it's a junior class, you might want to try 30 second sets first.
I've had people running off to the toilets to be sick after the burpees.

[random]

andy said:

My favourite (stopwatch required).

Form your class into partners, facing each other in two straight lines.

One side does pushups for 60 seconds, while the other side jogs on the spot and counts for their partner, then the other side goes.
Then the first side does crunches for 60 seconds while the other side jogs and counts, then the second side goes.
Then the first side does burpees for 60 seconds while the other side jogs and counts, then the second side goes.

Partners counting and jogging should be encouraging the person performing the set.

The partners give each other their reps within the sets, and if you pull it out at squad trainings or say monthly intervals, they can get some feedback on their improvement and fitness.

If it's a junior class, you might want to try 30 second sets first.
I've had people running off to the toilets to be sick after the burpees.

Is this a health club or a MA Club ;D

Personally I hate this sort of thing during the class, I go to learn karate, not tire myself out doing cardio vascular workouts. Fitness comes through practice, which can be a plus side, I wouldn’t go to a club that made me do press ups and sit ups and all that stuff.

[AngelaG]

It has it's place... to test determination when tired, and to simulate adrenaline rushes etc. I wouldn't want to do it all the time, but we did something similar last week, and it was very telling.

[random]

I prefer a bit of ipon kumite to test determination and get adrenalin going. The trouble with this kind of drill is that it is of no benefit if it isn’t done regularly; therefore it is of little use in the dojo unless it is done regularly. Perhaps the answer would be to add it on to the end of the class for those who want to, then it isn’t down to the instructor to ‘do’ it but can be led supervised by other senior grades, give them an introduction into teaching/supervision and motivation.

[miffersy]

Hi Random,
In my Club this drill is used regularlyand with 5 fast BB's that's when you realise that Adrenaline is brown and as for benefit it teaches you body movement( try a Tai-Sabaki exercise afterwards). Also if you are brave enough my friend you can do the Drill using Jiyu-Ippon Kumite. Have Fun

[Andy]

random said:

andy said:

My favourite (stopwatch required).

Form your class into partners, facing each other in two straight lines.

One side does pushups for 60 seconds, while the other side jogs on the spot and counts for their partner, then the other side goes.
Then the first side does crunches for 60 seconds while the other side jogs and counts, then the second side goes.
Then the first side does burpees for 60 seconds while the other side jogs and counts, then the second side goes.

Partners counting and jogging should be encouraging the person performing the set.

The partners give each other their reps within the sets, and if you pull it out at squad trainings or say monthly intervals, they can get some feedback on their improvement and fitness.

If it's a junior class, you might want to try 30 second sets first.
I've had people running off to the toilets to be sick after the burpees.

Is this a health club or a MA Club ;D

Personally I hate this sort of thing during the class, I go to learn karate, not tire myself out doing cardio vascular workouts. Fitness comes through practice, which can be a plus side, I wouldn’t go to a club that made me do press ups and sit ups and all that stuff.

I should have explained what I used it for.
First of all it only takes 6 minutes.
Secondly, we'd only pull this out once every few months so people could gauge their own improvement.
It encouraged people to do the fitness training they were supoosed to be doing in their own time.

[AngelaG]

random said:

I prefer a bit of ipon kumite to test determination and get adrenalin going. The trouble with this kind of drill is that it is of no benefit if it isn’t done regularly; therefore it is of little use in the dojo unless it is done regularly. Perhaps the answer would be to add it on to the end of the class for those who want to, then it isn’t down to the instructor to ‘do’ it but can be led supervised by other senior grades, give them an introduction into teaching/supervision and motivation.

We do this with something like the tired person then gets attacked, or has to strike pads etc. In that way we can guage how strong and effective our techniques are under stress / tiredness / adrenalin.

Using ippon kumite would only be testing distance / control etc...