questions questions questions

[40 cent]

hey guys, practically just started karate and im looking for a bit of help on a few issues. i know theres a search function but um, i couldnt seem to operate it correctly, so if i ask a question already answered let me know. im just gonna ask a few questions, if you can help me with any of them please reply, if you know them all, post that too. thanks guys, ur posts are real helpful. thanks for any help u can give me!
1. firstly, in our dojo, we do virtually no conditioning exercises. so, i was wondering if you could tell me the most helpful areas to condition and give me a few methods for conditioning all of these. give me even the 'hard techniques' for each area
2. how long should i stretch each day? i have real inflexible legs, any little trick stetches you know for stretching the legs?
3. know any links/websites that have cool/helpful stuff ?
4. could u give me a brief overview of different styles? just the main ones, because ive read about a few on here and i get confused between them. just yeah, give me some history on each one, the credibility of the style, the style it uses, strenths/weaknesses etc. are there any rivalries between styles?
5.i used to go to the gym 3 times a weak to increas my stength, since i began doing karate 5 times a week ive stopped. how important is physical strength?, should i sacrifice a karate lesson or two for the gym? or are the extra training sessions more beneficial for my fighting than the strength training?
6. ive only being doing karate for a few months, im fit, but not skilled or experienced by any means yet. i would love to compete, just to get some 'real fight' experience. any advice? i dont want to go in large tournaments yet.
7. could any of you guys give me some help in constructing a good program for my training? as in foods to eat, stretches, how much sparring to do, fitness, bag work, stuff like that.

thanks heaps for any help you can give me on any or all of these questions. i appreciate it heaps.

[sub wrestler]

Good questions. My honest reply to would be to drop the karate and join a grappling school or club. If you want to learn stand-up join a boxing gym or take some kickboxing classes. If these are not options in your area, seek out like minded people in your karate class, invest in some sparring gear, and spar, spar, spar.
Likewise, wrestle as much as you can. Invest in instructionals and teach yourselves.

Sparring against resisting opponents is one of the single greatest ways to develop the conditioning required for fighting. It is also vital in learning how to really defend yourself.

As far as conditioning.....utilize interval training. Slower paced movements interspersed with high output efforts. For example walking really fast on the treadmill (set at an incline) for a few minutes and then cranking the speed way up to do short sprints. You can also jog on the treadmill, then crank it up for sprints.

The Schwinn Airdyne is awesome. If you can find one, go as hard as you can for a minute, get off of it, then get back on for a minute. Repeat. You can also set the timer for 15 minutes...pedal easy for a couple and then really blast it out, then pedal easy again.

Search bookstores for books on flexiblity. There's a million. I advise not stretching untill you have broke a sweat though.

If your like me (getting up in years), you might find that your sparring training takes care of all your fitness needs...add some stretching and your done.

Please ask any questions you may have.

[IPON]

40: you have to be more specific of what style of karate you train and what type of karate you want info about, generally, Japanese, Korean, Okinowan are the main styles.

So you don't want specifics about too many styles becuse it is confusing, but you do want the strentghs and weaknesses.I would recommend also posting in the appropriate forum for your style Japanes, Korean or Okinowan.

Also, I am suprised any karate style would not include some conditioning even a McDojo

[FUH-Q]

also let us know what your trying to get out of your training.

if your looking for a "real fight" expierience drop the karate, join a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school and/or muay thai school. the mixture of these two arts will cover all ranges of unarmed combat and will get you the workout you desire.