Timing

This is not the timing used on competitions, etc. but the time as it applies toward the time of the day, the day of the week, the week of the year and the month as well then add in the timing of the seasons, etc. So you might ask, “What has this to do with karate, training and self-defense?”

Well, it has to do with your mind, body and spirit as to its optimal time to train and practice. You already are aware that some folks seem to do better in the mornings and tend to decline as the afternoon wears on while other will do better after the morning has passed and the afternoon and evening arrive. It can be even more intricate than that, it can actually involve one to three hour segments throughout the day and night as well. 

Even the I Ching gets involved as to the timing of events and actions to take, etc. So, it might be that practitioners need to find those optimal times and those very low times to do training and practice. It also means they might want to deliberately schedule times when they are at there lowest energy points for training and practice. Consider that when you are under attack often it is to the timing of the adversary and your energy levels could be high, medium or even very low when that occurs and if you have not trained for it …..

Some believe those time segments are or similar to:

Noon: 12 to 3pm

Afternoon: 3 -6pm

Late Afternoon Sunset” 6 - 9pm

Evening: 9 - 12pm

Midnight: 12am - 3am

Early Morning Sunrise: 3 - 6am

Morning: 6 - 9am

Mid-Morning: 9 - 12pm

You can see these times in the I Ching, also through the system of Chi Gong as well as Tai Chi Chuan. I believe, have to check, that the Bubishi also discusses energy levels and timing through out the day and so on. 

I believe systems also discuss targets on the body as to timing, time of day, energy levels, etc. Similar to the discusson of the types of impact within the striking arts this also discusses timing toward those and factors such as these. 

Worth the effort to research, discuss and apply in training and practice, yes? Personally, I do my best early mornings. I tend to go to work around 7am, get up at 5am and do my best from 7am to around 1:30 or 2:00pm so I work straight through. I also get in practice before 7am, then again at break at 9:30am and again at lunch around 11:30am.

As the sun sets and goes dark my eyelids tend to lower and close but that is just me. I can often tell throughout the day when my energy level is high and when it is waning or low.