My Kyokushin Dojo Doesn't Push Me Enough

[Notdirtydannnnn23 2]

As the title states.. my kyokushin dojo doesn't push me enough; Iv'e attended 4 days a week since I started and hardly feel physically challenged outside a handful of occurrences. I personally feel like the curriculum is more geared towards children and long term adult retention; not fighting or hard conditioning. We fought for the first time in weeks for 5 three minute rounds and I was hardly warmed up when they stopped us. Why? I was having fun. It was a grading event, I wasn't grading to my surprise, but I made it to 5th kyu curriculum and I was asked to step off of the tatami (I hope I don't get charged a grading fee on my card, that would be messed up, I thought everyone was invited to train that day).

My question is what stand up style do you all suggest if I decade to quit? I am obsessed with K1, but sadly nothing like that is offered here; where I live is dominated by Muay Thai, BJJ, and MMA. I personally don't care for any of those styles; they don't have the decorum of a TMA (Not that K1 was/is always respectful).

This year:

I have fought amateur Muay Thai and lost via split decision; probably should have trained face punches before that but oh well; I believed in my solo cross training and it worked out decently, minus the 30 or so jabs I ate before my opponent gassed out.

I competed in kyokushin and won via head kick KO; but got backdoored by the federation who was hosting and didn't get to continue the tournament due to me being listed as the loser on their secret bracket they wouldn't let anyone outside of the one organizer have access to; I don't get that, any decent tournament in the modern day would have a digital bracket anyone should be able to access via their internet enabled device.

Where should I go from here? I am in my mid 30's, have good cardio and don't want to waste my able years training somewhere that isn't competition minded; I know katas, I know kihon, and I know renrakus, but there has to be more than this to fighting. I went to another federation's seminar in a distant city recently and learned more about mental toughness in 4 hours then I learned in 10 months at my current dojo, I obviously can't train there regularly, but I was most certainly jealous they focus on competition, conditioning, and their 50+ year old sensei likes to spar.

To put it simply, I need to get my *** beat by someone better than me, or else, what am I doing? Why should I even train? For a belt? For some acknowledgement? A pat on the back? The kids and adults I occasionally spar get something out of the encounter, but what about me? I am stagnant.

 

[Kung Fu Wang137 167]

my kyokushin dojo doesn't push me enough; ... Where should I go from here?

Your MA teacher bring you into the MA door. The rest will be all up to yourself.

You should try to:

- Create your own "fighting club" an spar 15 rounds daily.
- Develop your own "door guarding" skill.

 

[Notdirtydannnnn23 2]

Your MA teacher bring you into the MA door. The rest will be all up to yourself.

You should try to:

- Create your own "fighting club" an spar 15 rounds daily.
- Develop your own "door guarding" skill.

15 rounds sounds good.

Not exactly excited for the repercussions that come with running an underground fight club though.

 

[Kung Fu Wang137 167]

15 rounds sounds good.

Not exactly excited for the repercussions that come with running an underground fight club though.

Since you will be exhausted at the last 5 rounds of the 15 rounds fights, it force you to learn how to fight when you have no energy left. You will learn how to fight smart and not use brute force in the last 5 rounds (Boxing match was 15 rounds back then).

Don't accept strangers in your fighting club. You have to find someone who you can trust to be in your fighting club. Someone you can trust to let him to watch your back.

 

[drop bear136 11]

Ok. You probably should do a combat sport. Probably Kudo or something that has that blend of TMA ritual and actual fighting people.

But if you don't have that. Then thai or MMA is basically going to be your 2 choices. And you will just need to deal with the bits you don't like.

 

[_Simon_136 167]

Hey! For the most part I've found that Kyokushin is a style that has been the most consistent across different dojos in terms of their discipline and hard training. I would simply look for a different Kyokushin dojo, but maybe one under a different branch/org. Not sure of your area and what's available, around here I've got heaps of different groups. Good luck!

 

[Gyakuto137 146]

As the title states.. my kyokushin dojo doesn't push me enough; Iv'e attended 4 days a week since I started and hardly feel physically challenged outside a handful of occurrences. I personally feel like the curriculum is more geared towards children and long term adult retention; not fighting or hard conditioning. We fought for the first time in weeks for 5 three minute rounds and I was hardly warmed up when they stopped us. Why? I was having fun. It was a grading event, I wasn't grading to my surprise, but I made it to 5th kyu curriculum and I was asked to step off of the tatami (I hope I don't get charged a grading fee on my card, that would be messed up, I thought everyone was invited to train that day).

My question is what stand up style do you all suggest if I decade to quit? I am obsessed with K1, but sadly nothing like that is offered here; where I live is dominated by Muay Thai, BJJ, and MMA. I personally don't care for any of those styles; they don't have the decorum of a TMA (Not that K1 was/is always respectful).

This year:

I have fought amateur Muay Thai and lost via split decision; probably should have trained face punches before that but oh well; I believed in my solo cross training and it worked out decently, minus the 30 or so jabs I ate before my opponent gassed out.

I competed in kyokushin and won via head kick KO; but got backdoored by the federation who was hosting and didn't get to continue the tournament due to me being listed as the loser on their secret bracket they wouldn't let anyone outside of the one organizer have access to; I don't get that, any decent tournament in the modern day would have a digital bracket anyone should be able to access via their internet enabled device.

Where should I go from here? I am in my mid 30's, have good cardio and don't want to waste my able years training somewhere that isn't competition minded; I know katas, I know kihon, and I know renrakus, but there has to be more than this to fighting. I went to another federation's seminar in a distant city recently and learned more about mental toughness in 4 hours then I learned in 10 months at my current dojo, I obviously can't train there regularly, but I was most certainly jealous they focus on competition, conditioning, and their 50+ year old sensei likes to spar.

To put it simply, I need to get my *** beat by someone better than me, or else, what am I doing? Why should I even train? For a belt? For some acknowledgement? A pat on the back? The kids and adults I occasionally spar get something out of the encounter, but what about me? I am stagnant.

1) Open Chatgpt.
2) Type in exactly what you’re looking for in a sport combat art and ask for reasoned suggestions.
3) See what it suggests.
4) Go and try those sports.
5) Evaluate your level of satisfaction.
6) Thank Chatgpt profusely for when Ai takes over the world: it might be kind and kill you quickly.

 

[Notdirtydannnnn23 2]

Since you will be exhausted at the last 5 rounds of the 15 rounds fights, it force you to learn how to fight when you have no energy left. You will learn how to fight smart and not use brute force in the last 5 rounds (Boxing match was 15 rounds back then).

Don't accept strangers in your fighting club. You have to find someone who you can trust to be in your fighting club. Someone you can trust to let him to watch your back.

I really respect boxers for being able to go 10-12 rounds the way they do. Obviously they are limited to their hands as their only 'tools', but the footwork alone would leave the average brawler on their stool a few rounds in; look at guys like Marvin Haggler and Tommy Hearns, they were cardio monsters.

Also I feel like we are breaking some sort of rules right now discussing fight club details, this line isn't safe.

 

[Notdirtydannnnn23 2]

Ok. You probably should do a combat sport. Probably Kudo or something that has that blend of TMA ritual and actual fighting people.

But if you don't have that. Then thai or MMA is basically going to be your 2 choices. And you will just need to deal with the bits you don't like.

Agreed. I do judo sometimes, but obviously that's a different class outside of kyokushin; unfortunately there is nothing kyokushin adjacent unless I move a few hours away.

There is a Chinese Kickboxing (Sanda) gym in my area, it looks cool, no idea what type of competition would be available close to me.

I will save the MMA and MT gyms for last haha, I am not desperate just yet.

 

[Notdirtydannnnn23 2]

Hey! For the most part I've found that Kyokushin is a style that has been the most consistent across different dojos in terms of their discipline and hard training. I would simply look for a different Kyokushin dojo, but maybe one under a different branch/org. Not sure of your area and what's available, around here I've got heaps of different groups. Good luck!

There were a few times I was starting to fade at the end of a hard training session, but I think it had something to do with the spinning kicks and my equilibrium; if we did that more often I wouldn't complain. Some of the younger teens fake injuries and cry to get out of the training; I don't blame them though, they are young and still developing, it's a lot to ask of a kid.

I am jealous of your situation, it would be nice to shop around, unfortunately this is the only kyokushin adjacent dojo for 2.5 hours in any direction.

Thanks!

 

[Notdirtydannnnn23 2]

1) Open Chatgpt.
2) Type in exactly what you’re looking for in a sport combat art and ask for reasoned suggestions.
3) See what it suggests.
4) Go and try those sports.
5) Evaluate your level of satisfaction.
6) Thank Chatgpt profusely for when Ai takes over the world: it might be kind and kill you quickly.

Ah, you want me to feed the AI machine and expedite it's progression.

That's not a bad idea, I had been looking at what classes some of the MMA gyms offer and some claim they offer boxing, kickboxing and standup striking for MMA, I will have to give those a spin and see if I like them.

 

[Kung Fu Wang137 167]

There is a Chinese Kickboxing (Sanda) gym in my area, it looks cool, no idea what type of competition would be available close to me.

Sanda is MMA without the ground game. When you knock/take down your opponent, the referee will get in.

 

[Notdirtydannnnn23 2]

Sanda is MMA without the ground game. When you knock/take down your opponent, the referee will get in.

Seems like a good balance; no Neanderthal like violence. Reminds me of K1 with some sweeps, throws, and takedowns built in. Pure sport.

The only reason I never tried that place out is because I know next to nothing about Chinese culture. At least with karate I have years of language study and multiple trips to Japan under my belt so I was familiar.

Since your name on here is kung fu wang I assume you have some sort of connection to Chinese martial arts. Do you personally know much about sanda? Or do you focus elsewhere?

 

[Kung Fu Wang137 167]

Since your name on here is kung fu wang I assume you have some sort of connection to Chinese martial arts. Do you personally know much about sanda? Or do you focus elsewhere?

In ACSCA, Sanda tournament record is the 2nd degree BB requirement.

My interest is the integration of the striking art and the wrestling art. How to change a striking game into a wrestling game ASAP is my main goal.

 

[Gyakuto137 146]

Ah, you want me to feed the AI machine and expedite it's progression.

That's not a bad idea, I had been looking at what classes some of the MMA gyms offer and some claim they offer boxing, kickboxing and standup striking for MMA, I will have to give those a spin and see if I like them.

What would be interesting is comparing Ai’s suggestions with those of this forum’s members.

 

[drop bear136 11]

Agreed. I do judo sometimes, but obviously that's a different class outside of kyokushin; unfortunately there is nothing kyokushin adjacent unless I move a few hours away.

There is a Chinese Kickboxing (Sanda) gym in my area, it looks cool, no idea what type of competition would be available close to me.

I will save the MMA and MT gyms for last haha, I am not desperate just yet.

The other thing is if you want to compete. You might need to learn Thai or kickboxing because they will be the available competitions.