A question for the "seasoned" among us

[IcemanSK]

I was trying to find a polite way of addressing those of us over 40...I think seasoned works.

I'm looking at testing for 4th Dan in March. I've been loosing weight & getting back into shape after a long injury. I work on poomsae weekly on my own a part from my teaching regular classes.

I tell you that background to ask the question, how long do you train (not prepare, but train) before your actual test day? I still have that "young guy" thought process that says, "go all out every day, now until March." But I know that's not realistic or healthy. I want to be able to give it my best & as injury free as possible.

 

[Stac3y]

I'm training for my first black belt test right now (3 weeks to go!), and I try to train almost every day, with some days off, or "light" training days (just stretching and easy-paced techs, kata, or SD practice). I'm 42.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Conventional wisdom is to rest 48 hours before stressing the same muscles again. Now, rest can be in the form of a mild workout.

I tell my seasoned people to concentrate on full range of motion rather than full speed and power each time. Practice the range of motion along wih correct form and speed and power will come. Just like the instructor taught you when you were a white belt.

 

[KELLYG]

The training required would depend on the test that is given. At my school 1 2 and 3 Dan test are very very physical and lengthy but 4th and up is more of a demonstration If the test is more a demonstration of technique then slower, paying very close to the minute details is most important. If it is a "regular" test then alternate hard training days with soft training days and make sure to listen to your body it will tell you what needs to be done. I feel your pain, I get to go for 4th in April 2011 at 46 no I'll be 47 by then.

 

[StudentCarl]

At 47 I'm getting better at listening to my body and identifying healthy and unhealthy pain. I need to be a little more selective about warmup, rest and nutrition than when I was 'unseasoned'.

The guideline I go by is that if there's more negative/injury pain than it last workout, I need to ease back or do something else.

Cross training, or at least healthy variety of movements, is important. As I get more seasoned, too much of any one type of motion is a recipe for strain.

Good luck with your testing.

 

[Manny]

I am almost 43 and just did my second degree black belt and also I am injured so I can tell you how was my training before the examination.

I was very worried about my foot condition since may this year, I mean I start to listen to my pain and knew I need to slow down a little, so basically I trained two nights per week on average and some weeks maybe three times.

As I was (and still) injured my training was light to medium and offcourse I was too worried about my examination because the physical thing.

About two weeks before my examination I had a nice chat with the grand master who was to examinate me, I told him all my worries and with a big smile he asked to come to Mexico City and do the eamination, he asked me to give my best but also taking care of my foot.

Well I did my best, and yes at some time I felt exausted but made it.

My advise to you mi amigo is to prepare yourself for your 4th dan in a smart way, do light to medium training sesssion, take care of your injuries and don't push yourself to the limits. I think two times per week is okay and concentrate in poomsae and light sparring.

Manny

 

[Haakon]

I still have that "young guy" thought process that says, "go all out every day, now until March." But I know that's not realistic or healthy. I want to be able to give it my best & as injury free as possible.

Ah, I know those thoughts well, the mind remembers being able to do things the body simply can't anymore.

I started ramping down a week before my test, same number of workout days, but shorter duration. Instead of doing 2 classes a day 4 days a week I dropped down to 1. Keeping injury free before the test was paramount on my mind too, I wasn't likely to see any great improvement in technique in the last week but I should could get an injury and miss the test or get sidelined for who knows how long easy enough.

It's terrible how much longer it takes for minor injuries to heal after 40. Strains I remember healing good as new in just a few days now take weeks if not months to heal 99% (nothing seems to get back to 100% anymore).

 

[seasoned]

I am what you would call "seasoned".

The best advice I could give you, has already been given. The secret is to train don't strain, slow and steady. Every few days or so ramp it up a bit, and keep a training log. Progress should be, as I said, slow and steady. A few days before the test rest and kata. To reach my ripe young age, you would need to continue the above and pace yourself.:asian:

 

[IcemanSK]

I am what you would call "seasoned".

The best advice I could give you, has already been given. The secret is to train don't strain, slow and steady. Every few days or so ramp it up a bit, and keep a training log. Progress should be, as I said, slow and steady. A few days before the test rest and kata. To reach my ripe young age, you would need to continue the above and pace yourself.:asian:

Thank you so much! I didn't mean you use your screen name as a euphemism, whatsoever. I will take your sage advice and the advice of the rest of the wise folks here.:asian:

 

[Miles]

I don't have any words of wisdom that have not already been spoken/writtten. However, knowing the history of your last injury, your tremendous attitude, and having had the pleasure of training with you in Chicago, I think you will do just fine.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

I was trying to find a polite way of addressing those of us over 40...I think seasoned works.

I'm looking at testing for 4th Dan in March. I've been loosing weight & getting back into shape after a long injury. I work on poomsae weekly on my own a part from my teaching regular classes.

I tell you that background to ask the question, how long do you train (not prepare, but train) before your actual test day? I still have that "young guy" thought process that says, "go all out every day, now until March." But I know that's not realistic or healthy. I want to be able to give it my best & as injury free as possible.

Assuming that you train regularly already, endurance likely won't be much of an issue. I'd train with an eye towards things that are known quanitities, such as large quanities of kicks, all of your poomsae, and probably a fairly lengthy period of sparring.

Otherwise, I'd train with an eye towards precision. Do your roundhouse kicks still look like roundhouse kicks after 100 straight? Are your moves still crisp and precise after you've gone through all of the geub grade poomsae and two dan grade poomsae?

Precision is what I have focused on in Kumdo after I earned my second dan, much more so than the endurance, and that made a huge difference for me.

Best wishes to you! I have no doubt that you are ready.

Daniel

 

[Balrog]

61 year old Viagra Ninja here. :lol::lol:

Ditto to everything said so far. I'll add the famous proverb for old guys:

Don't let your eternally 21 year old brain make promises your 61 old body can't keep!

 

[Archtkd]

I was trying to find a polite way of addressing those of us over 40...I think seasoned works.

I'm looking at testing for 4th Dan in March. I've been loosing weight & getting back into shape after a long injury. I work on poomsae weekly on my own a part from my teaching regular classes.

I tell you that background to ask the question, how long do you train (not prepare, but train) before your actual test day? I still have that "young guy" thought process that says, "go all out every day, now until March." But I know that's not realistic or healthy. I want to be able to give it my best & as injury free as possible.

Iceman. Very glad to here you are back into the swing of things. I would think regular teaching will give you lots of opportunity to polish up on lots of stuff, especially the basics and general conditioning. Training for at least an hour, weekly and with a partner, should get you ready in poomsae, self defense, sparring and breaking. I have a feeling you'll be OK without too much extra work.

 

[terryl965]

Tom slow and steady my friend, knowing everything you have been though, remember it takes for ever for some of us to heal the right way. I am sure you are doing great and you will be great at your exam.