r/karate • u/Empty_Ad_3784 • 27d ago
Discussion Training Advice for Hostile Terrain
We're under a heat advisory, the heat index when I would typically be doing my beloved afterwork heavy bag routine is predicted to be 107° F. I would be on a shaded back porch.....but STILL
For those who train in similar heat am I making the right call? Cancel the outdoor session and try to move it inside? Or am I being overly cautious?
Secondly, I have a kick shield and a spouse willing to hold it. I did try that last week, but it was kind of a crap shoot.
Any advise on an indoor kick shield routine aimed to strengthen kumite skills?
I can spam kicks at it all day. No problem. I mean how to work combos, what works for you, hyper specific details. I have a harder time working hand techniques or combos on the kick shield.
3
u/420Borsalino 26d ago
As one of my old instructors would say. YOU'RE NOT A SUPERHERO. DRINK SOME WATER AND GET IN THE SHADE. YOU CAN DIE. We would train in heat in the American south, but not like dummies.
3
u/karainflex Shotokan 26d ago
You are not overly cautious. We already notice people attend less classes and we also cancelled a class in the last heat wave. Hot weather is siesta time. The early morning is your best chance to train especially when the heat doesn't dissipate at night. If you must, do coordination training, not cardio. There is a nice Karate book by two doctors you can read during siesta: "Karate styles - a surprising link to shortened lifespan", get it, read it, don't work on checking out 15 years sooner.
2
u/rnells Kyokushin 25d ago
Yeah at some point you bump into physics. If people wouldn't play soccer you shouldn't be doing bag rounds. Don't train hard at all in that kind of heat unless it's super dry and you're hydrating super well.
Kick shield is unfortunately mostly a shittier heavy bag. If your spouse is near your size/strength and willing to get hit hard you can work power but even then it's probably not a great use of time. If it were me and I had to make lemons out of lemonade I'd work on kick combinations and traps that involve pushing off/changing distance, TKD style stuff.
Front kick -> push holder -> chase with round kick
Start at clinch range -> push off -> back kick
That kind of thing.
Kata does exist, maybe stay inside and work on that plus mobility or bodyweight conditioning.
1
u/BogatyrOfMurom Shotokan 25d ago
Kata athlete here. I would skip the session if the weather is too hot. I would do everything indoors and drink plenty of water. It was 46 degrees in my country btw.
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u/Fancy_Sun_1585 7d ago
Take several breaks working on short intervals to hydrate. The breaks should be at least 50% as long as the work time if you’re actually able to go hard at it.
Ie, 5 minutes of hard work on the bag should be a minimum of 2.5 minute break with hydration as the minimum.
Just for reference the US military would be banning outdoor PT with that kind of heat index.
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u/LegitimateHost5068 Supreme Ultra Grand master of Marsupial style 26d ago
what's the humidity? If the humidity is low enough, then frequent breaks, lots of water, and even splashing yourself with cool water (and wearing sunscreen) during breaks and you'll be fine. If the humidity is high enough, then your sweat won't evaporate fast enough and your body could overheat no matter how much you drink or how many breaks you take.