Karate Grading

Just finished my training at the Spectrum fitness centre till after Xmas as I go on the road up north on Tuesday for book signings and schools talks for 2 weeks. It was my last training before my karate grading in London this Sunday. Among the things I have to do is to fight 5 times. They usually stop the fight when someone scores, but these 5 fights are not getting stopped, its pure endurance, and the opponents are usually bigger than me, but my stamina's up for the fighting from doing two-hours of BodyPump and BodyCombat back to back for a few months, and my upper body strength is up from doing daily morning handstands in my yoga sun salutation routine. Sparring earlier in the year when I was much weaker, I ended up with 3 broken fingers and bruised ribs, and I couldn't exercise for a month, so its serious stuff. This belt (brown) is the last belt before black. I've got 2 xmas parties this weekend with fellow exercise fanatics in Guildford, but I'm only going to drink water and I have to get plenty of sleep for the karate grading. Where has the party animal gone? I hope to see some of my fitness friends at the White House pub in Guildford on Saturday at 7.30, where I'll be drinking water with our brilliant instructors, Tracey Debenham, Jon Hawkins and Tony Coker.

Part of the grading is also this kata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWnVeAAcjRA&feature=youtu.be

Shaun Attwood

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yey for handstands

Callie

Anonymous said...

Do footstands count?

Thomas Rourke

Jon said...

if only i could hold them for as long as you, Callie

Jon said...

yes, Rourkey, you really have to focus on your footstands in the weeks before the fight and your sleeping positions too :D

Anonymous said...

Good luck for Sunday Shaun

Ian

Anonymous said...

Yes but there's more of you... I'm just a dot! Next challenge ... handstand, into cross legged, into crow into Chaturanga. Ooh tires me out just typing it!

Callie

Jon said...

what is that routine called, Callie?

Anonymous said...

'Confidence Flow'?? - "The hopeful man sees success where others see failure, sunshine where others see shadows and storm."
O S Marden - quite fitting for your BIG day on Sunday

Callie

Anonymous said...

Atty...I understand the foot stands....but lets not bring this lower than we need to with your other comment...we are respectable people here in Brazil..

Thomas Rourke

Jon said...

staying with the footstands, Rourkey, so as not to disrespect you Widdy-Brazilians, its very important to increase your little toe strength in the run up to a karate grading as its regarded as the deadliest part of the human body to strike with, i've got tiny barbells that i do special sets of little toe curls with first thing in the morning

Jon said...

oh i like the sound of that, Callie

Anonymous said...

Brown Belt? If them boys on the yard could see you now, LOL

Zack

Anonymous said...

hey whens party time book out??

Lynda

Jon said...

Party Time comes out April 11, here's the Party Time webpage including Chapter 1: http://shaunattwood.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&Itemid=119

Anonymous said...

How can anyone be bigger than you? I wish you luck for your brown belt, I know how hard it is to Achieve this but nothing like your black belt which If I can remember rightly its a few years for first Dan, the higher the Dan the longer it takes. Take care.

Debby

Jon said...

thanks so much, Debby

Anonymous said...

i have you lar

you need a filling in too make you lar

Wild Man

Anonymous said...

always the over achiever & maxing out to "infinity & beyond" (Buzz Lightyear)

Double A.

Anonymous said...

Good Luck With the grading buddy

Mike

Anonymous said...

nice one shaun -good luck brother ........

Nige

Anonymous said...

Shaun, senpai ...good luck with your grading , youll have no problem because you've got the right attitude . Remember attack forwards defend sideways NEVER go backwards !! OSS

Tony

Anonymous said...

Even though I may be characterised as one of those opponents "bigger" than you, trust in your fierceness, dedication and those dis-jointed hips making your long legs a lethal weapon. You'll be absolutely fine.

Phil

Anonymous said...

Lots of luck for Sunday Shaun! Reserve me a front row spot when you're ready for the black won't you?! (and for goodness sake protect those ribs - with all the laughing you do at the book signings you're going to need them intact for the coming weeks!!)

G

Anonymous said...

My son take karate he's in the 80 a witches American Taekwondo Association he's only 5 yrs old, were hoping that he can reach black belt by age 8 or 9. That's great you take martial arts good for you mentally and physically..

Pat

Jon said...

It's great that you're starting your son so young. it;ll give him confidence for the rest of his life.

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