-
Step 1
Set long- and short-term goals for studying karate. The way in which you condition your body will be different if you just want to learn the basics than if you hope to compete in national competitions.
-
Step 2
Consider hiring a fitness coach if you are serious about karate. He can help you target the appropriate muscle groups when you work out, and can advise you on the proper diet. A personal trainer at your local gym might be a good place to start.
-
Step 3
Determine your current fitness level and start exercising accordingly. If you are out of shape, you'll need to start with the basics, and you shouldn't worry about complex karate movements just yet. Instead, focus on conditioning your body for athletic activity.
-
Step 4
Start karate lessons with a local instructor. She will first teach you Kihon, which encompasses the fundamentals of karate and will help you condition your body correctly for this form of martial arts. Later, you will move on to more advanced levels of karate, such as kumite (sparring).
-
Step 5
Participate in cardiovascular exercise whenever possible. Your karate lessons will probably not result in an elevated heart rate right away, so consider running on a treadmill or taking kickboxing classes to ensure you are in the best shape possible.
-
Step 6
Develop healthy eating practices, perhaps following the diets of the Chinese and Japanese for authenticity. Karate is just as much a state of mind and being as it is an athletic sport, so consider all aspects of this culture if you want to condition your body appropriately.
-
Step 7
Seek advice from your karate instructor about proper body condition. Try to follow his advice whenever possible, but allow yourself to find your own way.
-
Step 8
Focus your efforts on strength and balance, which are the basic fundamentals of karate training. Later, after you have mastered the basics, you can add speed and power to your skills.
-
Step 9
Try new exercises as you learn of them and discard the ones that don't seem to work for your particular body type. Working out and practicing martial arts is very much a personal experience.
