Strength or Aerobic

[DamianMac]

Is karate considered strength or aerobic exercise?

[Hidden]

Probably a combination! But I'd primarily class it as strength I think, as you build up your strength by doing it...

[DamianMac in reply to Hidden]

yeah. I thought as much. I have a 1.5 hour class on Wednesday, so I'll split it 50/50 on my chart.

[Hidden in reply to DamianMac]

On the NHS plan it specifies 150mins/week and 2 strength sessions. So you're definitely covering all bases. I like the sound of that chart by the way...

[DamianMac in reply to Hidden]

It's the one from the 12 week program.

[Hidden]

Definitely both! I use to do kickboxing and it was brilliant as it combined all the types of exercise I should of been doing and my body loved it too. Miss it I do.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Do it again! Keep looking for the class that's right for you even if you'd have to travel further

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It's money; I can't afford it and I can't drive due to a visual impairment and I can't afford to travel very far via public transport.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Does your visual impairment prevent you cycling? Also have you looked into getting a bus pass or similar via the job centre? There might be some other way to make it work Also there might be free kickboxing at a council venue somewhere freeing you up to pay for travel..?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I don't have peripheral vision so riding my bike can be dangerous and I will admit, I haven't been on it in years! I have retinitis pigmentosa.

Money is very tight at the moment, I explained briefly how bad it is but I don't want to have to explain that every time I mention money is not easy...even getting a bus pass is not always feasibly each week. I can probably afford one week a month and I haven't got a gym membership this month due to limited funds and that is while it is on offer. I have looked but there is no free kickboxing going lol... what is available is silly in price, it's why I had to stop going in the first place.

Since all the cut backs there's not much that's free these days; especially for me...I don't even get the little financial help I use to get because although the government will admit that I am a disabled person I am not disabled enough. This has limited me in a big way because I use to get a little money each week, on top of my benefit (it use to be £30) and that was so I could get around on public transport, due to my visual impairment. Now they have taken that away, this was months ago.

Thanks for the advice though, I wish things were just that easy!

Sazkia x ♥

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I wish things were easier too. There's so much to negotiate to just solve simple problems isn't there! Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It is not a simple problem for a lot of people though; I think drivers or people that take traveling for granted really struggle to understand where people like me are coming from and how I struggle to cope with 'normal' day to day things; these take a lot of planning and saving for me. Then there is the actual going out and doing it. :/

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I understand the not having a car thing, and I understand how limiting everything gets once you start having to negotiate various benefits etc. But being able to cope and manage things on your own are a big part of it too. You've totally made me realise how much independence I get from riding my bike. So I now love my bike all the more. I feel like you love kickboxing in the same way. My bike is always there but it's not the same for you. I totally get it. Hope you can get to some kind of kickboxing class in the future though. With everything in place, the transport, funds, and coping strategies. Sending hug ((( )))

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

When I was much younger I enjoyed riding my bike but I've lost confidence in riding, as I need to stay on pavements as I fall to pieces if I cycle on the road, near cars. People don't like cyclists on the pavements though and I worry I'll not see something and cause an accident. If you were to look at me you wouldn't think I was partially sighted but it's only noticeable when my environment gets busy or I am somewhere unfamiliar.

I am glad you have your bike and you enjoy getting out and about; it is a good feeling that I remember well. Especially as a youngster I felt the world was open to me haha!

[DamianMac in reply to Hidden]

Hi Saskia,

I too understand the limitations of being disabled and the lack of support that is available and the ridiculous benefit hoops we are made to jump through. I recently had my DLA replaced with PIP and, low and behold, I'm no longer eligible for Motability and have had my car taken away from me. I had my leg amputated in 1987, I was award Higher Rate DLA indefinitely in 1994 and had the security of knowing I would be able to get around, get to work, family, etc. and have one less worry. How wrong I was. I'm lucky that I have been able to change jobs so that I work from home and my wife has added me to her car insurance, so if I need to see a client we can negotiate use of the car.

That seems a lot of me, me, me. What I was thinking, having been watching a fair amount of Paralympics, is that perhaps you could consider Judo. Kick-boxing, as I understand it, requires fairly good sight, but the Paralympic Judo is for people with visual impairments britishblindsport.org.uk/sp...

Regarding your benefits, are you in receipt of PIP? If so you may be able to appeal the decision or, if your condition is worsening, you should be able get reassessed.

Good Luck

[Hidden in reply to DamianMac]

I too was told I would have DLA for life but then they changed the rules and took it all from me. I love kickboxing and it never stopped me, my visual impairment. I was told I was really good. How I would be now I don't know, as my eyes have got a bit worse and I am a lot bigger lol. I loved the fast pace of kickboxing, I felt it was like a dance, the combinations and the speed; it took me entirely out of myself for an hour or so.

I applied for PIP but was declined and I've missed the deadline I could appeal for. It did not matter to them, I felt they had made their decision before they met me. Do you know that the fact i had completed a degree worked against me? It was in my letter form them when they came to their decision. So much for no discrimination; they want people that are disabled to have same rights but then discriminated for trying to improve their lot. I've been very stressed with it. I use to feel very proud for gaining a degree then the government does stunts like this and it strips all pride away.

I just don't feel I get the support I need. I am all for being independent but there needs to be things in place so people can do that!

You're lucky your situation worked for you, with your wife adding you onto your insurance and your work. I have mental health issues too, which does not help matters. I don't have a partner or a job. It all feels pretty worthless right now.

I am proud of losing weight though, no one can take that away from me.

Thanks for your reply.

Sazkia