Hi!
I'm new here! I decided to join because I frequently have questions about karate, and while I know that every style is different, my questions are pretty general, so everyone should be able to answer.
My main question is this: does anyone know any specific exercises to improve speed? I'm really struggling with this right now. I've looked all over the internet for exercises, but nothing has really helped. Any ideas? I'm fixing to move into sparring hopefully at the end of this month when I test for my green belt (in my school, you don't start sparring until you have achieved the rank of green), and my kicks are too slow for my comfort. I've heard of plyometrics, sprints, and even doing your techniques while in water to improve speed, but does anyone know of a surefire way to improve?
Also, a friend of mine (who is also hoping to get her green belt at the end of this month) has been looking all over for pink sparring gear (lol). Any idea where she could find some?
Thanks!
-PierrePressure

The typical way to get speed is through simple repetition. If you already have good form, it is just a matter of increasing your speed while maintaining your form.

Sparring itself will help your speed as well. Just keep practicing, you will get there.

MattJ hit on it well,repetition with good form is the key.Some say using weights while kicking,but I disagree with that practice.You are probably faster now than when you started and will be faster yet in the future,with practice.

One thing to keep in mind is remaining relaxed.

Keep practicing your techniques. Plyometris are usually only useful in elite level athletics as they only make fractions of differences. (althought a fraction of a second in sparring is a great deal of time.) Nervous system coordination is your best bet and that only comes from practice.

I know it sounds boring but, just do your technique as fast as you can, be sure to keep good form though (don't forget to chamber etc) and mabey ask your sensi and fellow students how to improve speed.

I agree with the posts above, you might want to take them into consideration.

Also training with weights or under water may instead slow you down, because when you groove down your motor programmes into your spinal cord, if you do them slow (as under water or with weights) your execution of that technique may also become slower.
That is to say training with weights or under water are both ok, but you shouldn't do specific techniques that you need to do fast, but more general training.

I don't know if this is a proven fact or only a theory, but it could be a good thing to keep in mind anyhow?

Thanks y'all! I suppose you're right. Just increase the speed when I'm training, and sooner or later I'll get faster. It's just so agonizing! But martial arts requires patience, so maybe this is actually good for me.

whilst speed is very, very important do not rule out the effect of footwork and positioning - these 2 things will dramatically help with your 'speed', good tactical fighters are not allways super fast.