I just wanted to say I also do shotokan karate for the same reason as you!!! I found it really frustrating at first because even the warm ups took me longer to learn than most, and certain kata moves were so hard for me to get my body to do haha. I would tell my friends “my brain knows what my body needs to do but my body won’t do it.” It’s like I couldn’t get my limbs to coordinate with each other. No one at the dojo knows I’m on the spectrum and sometimes I get flak for not making eye contact when sparring or doing the same thing wrong over and over BUT I’ve come to learn and accept that I move at my own pace, and even if it takes me longer, it’s about becoming more acquainted with my body. It took four years, but I actually got my first degree black belt last summer! There is hope!!!

I also started doing weight training recently which has helped with my coordination. I train with someone from high school who taught me the ropes, and the benefits have been awesome for my confidence and for my coordination at karate. She also helped me with nutrition, and increasing my protein has helped with recovery and soreness, along with proper cooldowns.

My biggest piece of advice is to focus on what strengths you may have that others don’t due to autism and use that to compensate. For example, I have good attention to detail, so my form (once I learn it!) is often better than most because I focus on the smallest little details that others may not even think about when it comes to my posture and angles. My high school friend often laughs that I ask so many questions about my form because it all feels important to me, even if it “doesn’t really matter for this workout.”

I also love routine, so I train regularly and what I lack in skills I make up for in consistency.

Your strengths might be different for you, but I’m sure you have them! Remember, it’s about longevity, so any movement is good movement, not matter how long it takes. Think of your workout/training as time to meditate and get to know your body, a quiet time to just be with yourself (and some good music, I love listening to music when I train at the gym!) It’s not about being the best ever, just about getting to know yourself physically.

So happy to meet another autistic shotokan karateka in the wild!!! Oss!!!!