Changing Art?

Hi everyone, I haven't posted for a very long time but I am looking for some advice.

I took Taekwondo for about 1 1/2 years, recently taking a break. I managed to progress up the belts well, but I just didn't feel challenged by it. I took my green belt test and felt I wasn't much fitter or stronger than when I started. Do you think this is the gym or the art?

I am considering changing art all together. I really enjoyed doing poomsae, and was consistently commended by my examiners (external examiners from the national governing body, so I do not think that the gym just passed us all to make money). However, I regret the fact that I didn't feel stronger and didn't feel like I got much from the experience.

I am tempted to try Aikido or Karate, but would either of these be suitable for me? I am quite a small girl (1.6m, 45kg) but would love to work at something that would challenge me. I would love your comments or suggestions. Sorry for such a long post!

 

Without being harsh...maybe it's you?
IMHO a class can only do so much and things like conditioning and personal fitness are on the individual to maintain and improve.
I used to like classes that were mostly technique and drilling (you know...actually learning and working on things) and take care of fitness in my own time.
These days, as I'm older, I like a fitness/physical/active class because being a badass fighter is lower on my list of priorities, I have a certain technical base anyway and just want to be active. And I have precious little time to devote outside of what little time I've put aside for martial arts.

 

I did ninjutsu for 18 months with an non affiliated dojo, though I learnt quite a bit I felt that some were just there for the word ninja, I have since been told by a high ranking bujinkan member that the instructor shouldn't even be teaching, I've decided to do judo, and kickboxing/thai you do get out what you put in like misfire said, I trained at home every day and rapidly improved. But I'd say any art is good if you train hard

 

Muay Thai is pretty challenging. That's without competing.

 

Might have been a mc dojo, so not her fault?

 

Thanks for your comments. The place I train at is affiliated to the national federation but is quite new. I was one of their first students when they opened. I will go and research a bit more.

Smitfire - I accept that I could do more myself. I do run 3-4 times a week and I also do yoga as it helps me keep old injuries away. However you are right that I could do more, as strength training is definitely missing. I guess I thought that I would get this from my class but I see this could be wrong.

 

Lack of an exercise element in a class doesn't always equate to a mcdojo.
In fact some classes cover up the fact there's not much technical material or in-depth study going on by doing loads of exercises instead (as they don't require any real knowledge or teaching ability to deliver).

 

My class is the highest quality and there is focus on technique. The theory being that people can get fit in their own time. They come to learn martial arts.

 

Word.

 

Many martial arts schools focus on relaying technique and refining that technique. Through that practice and carrying it home for repetition there, you will get to the point that you will be able to do what you're learning, but not much beyond that. An example from my experience in karate, two black belts that I knew could each do all the kata perfectly, and essentially identically. However, one did traditional hojo undo exercises at home, and worked on cardio conditioning and as such was stronger, faster and had a deeper gas tank for fights.

Basically, without dedicating a portion of outside time to improving the output capabilities of your body, you're only learning the technical part of the art, and you become like a blunt blade. It takes the additional activities to sharpen the edges.

 

I meant her feeling lack of progress, 100% agree about fitness, I do it all at home

 

Classes that involve padwork rounds, sparring rounds and drill resistently will work you out during technique practice with the added bonus of teaching you practical skills.

As Chadders suggested Muay Thai would do this.

 

Yeah the jkd I recently started might sometimes be nearly an hour or sparring, that's gonna build some fitness for sure my missus didn't want me in the car cos of the sweat dripping off me afterwards

 

I used to take the bus back from my muay thai gym before I moved house... Not sure which was more potent: the steaming rancid sweat or the palpable crushing sense of my own guilt.

 

I'd say try em all, I for one didn't get on with Tai Chi, I'm not disputing the effectiveness I saw in the combat applications just weren't for me, do separate fitness and try em all

 

Thanks so much everyone. I will maybe try some other arts to see if I enjoy something else more. We do not spar much in class, it is normally only 10 minutes at the end of class. Will ask my instructor if I can do some more sparring and will work on a strength programme outside of class.

 

I'd say being a small lady, concentrate on some low weight high rep dumbbells, still builds strength no matter what the meathead say, do HIIT cardio few times a week and first and foremost do an art you enjoy, and if you can get access to a Punchbag, kill it as often as possible

 

Id seriously consider keeping your comments to things you actually know about, I'm honestly not too sure what those topics are but I'm very sure strength and conditioning really aren't two of them