makiwaraman

yeah, but you can't realistically train throws on your own, unless you are doing inner tube drills or something, which we do. IMO Karate- ka have been training to throw people on their own by jumping for hundreds of years, The effort required to launch yourself is the same as needed to throw someone else and by jumping you are training the muscles needed to do this. Therefore the katas are a complete system and you can train realistically to throw on your own. regards maki

Hi try this link http://www.bushifitness.com/hu_training.htm regards maki

by throwing them. that's how we do it in judo. Throwing eachother and doing uchi komi. our throws aren't hidden in kata. in the context of kata, I would find the throwing segments, break them out and drill them individually. The kata were originally devised so that a person could train in their fighting system, on their own so there would be no option of throwing someone else in training. So on our own we jump in karate, if you train with a partner we throw eachother. Regards maki

Hello and welcome, by Aikido routines I assume your are talking about locks and throws. There are many more locks and throws in karate than people think for example most if not all jumps represent a throw in kata's. How else can one train to throw someone ? I have been taught that there are no set bunkai but many variations and you should interpret them the way that best suits you. Regards maki

Does sound a bit tough for 8th kyu but I see you do kyokushinkai that explains it, Congratulations. regards maki

We don't fix this head to anything. I only use them in class and we partner up and use them. Our partner will hold it while we strike. What I said about alot of people making do with infearior versions of makiwara was not aimed at you just. The whats yours fixed too was. The way you use a makiwara head is the next best. regards maki

Well I have just started skiping on the advice of my sesei who says I move like a train and can confirm that it will do all that you want to improve and help with your co ordination. regards maki

Well I do most of what shoshinkan does but tend to do straight punch and reverse punch every day. the others 2-3 times a week. I also do hip flexes on a heavy resistance ash post 50 x each side x 3 days a week. I move around my post conditioning my forearms etc by practising blocks once a week. I have found that some tegumi drills work well on a makiwara and do these once a week. The most important consideration is not to run before you can walk! Regards maki

I was once told these high kick were used to knock samurai off their horses, so are no longer needed or used. regards maki

No its an old wifes tale about the arthritis I read an article that said they x-rayed the hands of several masters that had trained with makiwara for at least ten years and there was an increase in bone density but not one showed any arthritis. IMO The people who end up with arthritis are the ones who make do with 4x2's with no taper or those horrible spring block types. It is also worth saying that anyone who wishes to train with a makiwara should seek advise from their sensei or a senior member with makiwara experiance Regardless of their grade! As incorrect use could also result in the above happening. regards maki

Just search makiwara posts on Google and you should get a couple of ideas. I am with P.A.L in that I think correct makiwara training should condition more than your seiken, for example when we do conditioning drills at class involving a partner they always complain my arms are like concrete. This IMO is due to increased bone density from makiwara conditioning. Shoshinkan recently showed me how he conditions his big toe's by stiking it in to the lower part of a post and I now do this as part of my daily routine on my makiwara post. I am already seeing the benefits of this conditioning. Regards maki

Hi and congratulations. regards maki

So whats this makiwara head fixed to. It seems that alot of people make do with inferior versions of makiwara, At least if you are going to do this attach it to a post prefably tapered. I have seen first hand what a 2x4 with no taper can do to your hands when used as a makiwara, and those split block type with little pading and springs are terrible I speak from experiance. They have about 1 inch max of give and then your hitting the wall etc not a good idea, Compared to a tapered oak post that gives up to 12 inches maybe more but I can't hit it that hard yet. If anyone would like a free drawing on a proper makiwara with detailed instructions let me know by PM. Regards maki

If you are just cutting one for yourself I would say mark the taper and cut with a sharp hand saw take your time to get it right and plane and sand to a better finish. Most power saws wont be able to cut any deeper than 90mm. So if this is your option mark the taper on both sides and cut along each line ensure the blade is absolutley square or the cuts wont line up. regards maki

Sam don't leave it at that, what type? how often?What techniques? and what benefits do you think you have goten from makiwara training. regards maki

Monday ,Wednesday,Friday = 3.5 hours at dojo learning Rest of time = 5-10 hours at home practising Also about 2 hours a week on the makiwara/ long bag regards maki

Were I train we do a lot more kata than kumite, having said this I enjoy the outwitting and fighting involved in kumite . As for why the westeners put more emphisis on kumite than kata is that westeners seem to do karate as a means for self defence. regards maki

Congratulations Solo, IMO all gradings should be carried out at normal training, This will reduce the amount of people that pass just because they paid for a grading. Then the grades would mean you reached a set standard in your style. regards maki

And practise at home lots then when you go to class you can learn. Sadly too many people dont do this and go to class to practise. regards maki

Despite having graded I always train in a white belt and I wish to keep it that way until shodan if I am allowed. regards maki

I figured hanshi was someone to get to train under when after training speaking to others they told me how far they had come and I thought the 24 miles I did was far enough. regards maki

Yes I felt like that when I got my 5th kyu last november but it did not matter as I left the Mc dojo I was at and found a good dojo. Now I am 7th kyu again. regards maki

Thank you for your advice, I went and trained with hanshi Steve Arneil any of you know him or train with him. I feel a bit disapointed as we did not do any kumite as such we did do target practice were you stand still and the person facing you attacks with no contact for two minutes then you attack then change partners down the line and start again . But if all kyokushinkai classes are like that you guys are fit warriors. I enjoyed the training and will go back and train with them soon and hopefully do some sparring. Regards maki

I agree but the kiai should be on impact so your jaw would not be open until you hit them, So the opening would not show until impact, by then it should be to late. But its all about timing. regards makiwaraman

Thank you OK so whats not allowed in kyokushinkai sparring. The shotokan club I go to is not your usual in that we do not do point sparring and low stances are for katas , but we can do takedowns low kicks etc with light contact. When we spar and it gets heated the contact seems to increase and thats when I most enjoy kumite(I may feel differently after tommorrow)But I find it hard to train to miss. So is the kyokushinkai kumite with full spirit/power. Regards makiwaraman