Unless you're lucky enough to have a dojo in your home, how big a space do you work out in, in your home?
Mine is about 6' across, and 18' long; an area of our downstairs family/stereo/computer/living room.
My sandbag hangs in the furnace room but in a very small area.
I find practicing kata in a given area like I do sometimes makes them "smaller" when I get to class, where there is more room.
NM
your personal (workout) space
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benzocaine
- Posts: 2107
- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2003 12:20 pm
- Location: St. Thomas
Man! Your space is huge 
I use my living room which where I have to slide the cofee table and a chair out of the room to practice. I just barely hit the wall when I get to the jump in seisan.. and the plush carpet used to throw me off when I would go to the wooden floor at the dojo I go to.
To compensate I practice at least twice a week at the athletic club aerobics studio.
I use my living room which where I have to slide the cofee table and a chair out of the room to practice. I just barely hit the wall when I get to the jump in seisan.. and the plush carpet used to throw me off when I would go to the wooden floor at the dojo I go to.To compensate I practice at least twice a week at the athletic club aerobics studio.
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Ted Dinwiddie
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Charlottesville,VA,USA
My basement is where my bag hangs and the open space varies depending on what else I'm into that week. My NordicTrack and Backpacking gear and tools and various projects all vie for the space. I have a fairly large deck off the master bedroom where I do most of my personal kata and kihon practice. The deck is semi covered by a smaller deck above, so I can practice in a light rain. I practice in bare feet and various shoes and sandals depending on my mood and the weather. The variability of the footing is a good thing, in my opinion, and I would always rather be outside than in. I have a couple of great spots within mountain bike range of my house that are also fun on occasion. One is a large gravel bar in the North Fork of the Rivanna River and the other is a flat spot on a hillside at a public lake/park nearby. The footing in the gravel bar is quite an interesting variation, and the serene atmosphere is magical. The spot at the lake is often not very private, but my sensei and I have had some great sessions there. Early morning mist on the lake, low morning sun, wet grass, and the rhythmic sound of oak on oak emanating from our bo drills...
Oh, and stretching, crunches and pushups in the living room in front of the widescreen.
Oh, and stretching, crunches and pushups in the living room in front of the widescreen.
ted
"There's only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - P.J. O'Rourke
"There's only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - P.J. O'Rourke
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
Smart on the scut work, Ted! 
Good use of idle time. My sister has her Nordic Trac machine in front of the TV where she watches the news every evening while doing cardio.
A comment here about space... If you find your space is cramping the "expansiveness" of your kata, then you can still maintain your mobility by practicing the movements individually or in pairs (to work on transitions) and maximizing the movement for just that one technique.
You also might consider "undesireable" workout space as a reality-based challenge for your workout. Is your property sloped (as mine is)? Well, why not do your kata in 4 different directions (starting facing North, then East, then South, then West) and use the uneven and/or sloped terrain as an extra element of challenge to your technique work? Trust me on this one; it'll work wonders for your footwork and surface awareness. Dojo rats that only work out in pristine dojos with clean white gis are so spoiled, and in for a rude awakening the first time they get attacked in a gravel parking lot, on wet grass, in your car, in a stair well, buck naked stepping out of the shower, half awake at night with kids' toys and the wife's shoes everywhere, etc.
- Bill
Good use of idle time. My sister has her Nordic Trac machine in front of the TV where she watches the news every evening while doing cardio.A comment here about space... If you find your space is cramping the "expansiveness" of your kata, then you can still maintain your mobility by practicing the movements individually or in pairs (to work on transitions) and maximizing the movement for just that one technique.
You also might consider "undesireable" workout space as a reality-based challenge for your workout. Is your property sloped (as mine is)? Well, why not do your kata in 4 different directions (starting facing North, then East, then South, then West) and use the uneven and/or sloped terrain as an extra element of challenge to your technique work? Trust me on this one; it'll work wonders for your footwork and surface awareness. Dojo rats that only work out in pristine dojos with clean white gis are so spoiled, and in for a rude awakening the first time they get attacked in a gravel parking lot, on wet grass, in your car, in a stair well, buck naked stepping out of the shower, half awake at night with kids' toys and the wife's shoes everywhere, etc.
- Bill
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RACastanet
- Posts: 3744
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA
Yesterday we used what is known as 'Landing Zone 6' for our workout. We got started before 0630 to take advantage of the near total darkness. Add in the wet grass, mud, deer poop (we spray heavily to discourage dear ticks before going out)... and we had a nice reality session. Sometimes it was hard to hear over the CH46 and CH53 engines and blades but that added to the challenge. Plus, there is nothing like the smell of aviation exhaust in the morning to wake you up.
All in all, much nicer than working out in a gym.
Rich
All in all, much nicer than working out in a gym.
Rich
Member of the world's premier gun club, the USMC!
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Brian Barry
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2000 6:01 am
- Location: Grove City College, PA
- Contact:
Here in the college environment it is easier:
I practice with other advanced students in the Intramural room, a huge gym that is half carpeted and half uncarpeted gym floor.
I teach my classes in the Racquetball courts.
I practice bagwork in my neighbors room, where by body opponent bag is set up. There is a 6x6ish open area to do that.
And other than that, I use my dorm room, with has room for me to do my kata in very "nonexpansive" fashion, or in the morning I use the bathroom, which has about the same area.
Grappling always happens in my room, with the fight moving from floor to couch to being thrown up against the bunk bed... very much nonideal training.
I practice with other advanced students in the Intramural room, a huge gym that is half carpeted and half uncarpeted gym floor.
I teach my classes in the Racquetball courts.
I practice bagwork in my neighbors room, where by body opponent bag is set up. There is a 6x6ish open area to do that.
And other than that, I use my dorm room, with has room for me to do my kata in very "nonexpansive" fashion, or in the morning I use the bathroom, which has about the same area.
Grappling always happens in my room, with the fight moving from floor to couch to being thrown up against the bunk bed... very much nonideal training.
