Do you train with makiwara

[Chirath]

I don't use one yet. But Im planning to buy one for my birthday along with a punch bag.

[ramymensa]

Unfortunatelly I haven't got to even see one, not to use. But I would love to someday.

[makiwaraman]

Well I use a wooden post type, have been training seriously with it for 15 months, I do not have any callouses this is due to me using foam rubber target covered in leather. I have built up to 50 strikes a day of each technique. It does offer all the benefits Traditional- Fist lists and also a devolopment in kime. I have been with my current club for 7 months and at an impact training session a senior black belt said that I can hit the focus pad harder than any of the other black belts.(I am currently a red belt in this style) this is not due to size or strenth but correct technique devoloped through the use of a makiwara post. I think that the makiwara is a vital piece of equipment for the karate-ka. Sadly some dont know what it is anymore let alone use one, Maybe this is due to karate going down the sport road. Those that voted yes on the poll what do you use?

regards makiwaraman

[ncole_91]

Anywhere in Canada you can get one? Anyone know any stores, or anything?

[ONE TROOF]

Yes, in moderation.

[italian_guy]

No we don't have it, we use heavy bag and sometimes (rarely) we hit bare wood boards

[aefibird]

We use makiwara at my dojo and I also have one that I made myself for use at home.

My next project is making a Wing Chun wooden dummy - it'll go nicely sat next to the makiwara.

[shotochem]

I used to hit one regularly. The usual was 20 of each technique on left then right. Then repeat. I did this 4 days a week for a couple of years until it became too painful to hit the thing. It wasn't the sore knuckles and occassional bleeding, as after a while you become conditioned.

My shoulders started to hurt from impacting the makiwara too hard. I just felt the shock of the impact directly in my shoulders. These days I have moved over to a heavy bag and a partner usung a pad instead. I can't figure it out I hit everything else and it dosen't hurt. After a few days of the Makiwara it hurts.

Have any of you had any similar effects?

[JimmyNewton]

i have one i just recently built and is in my back yard.

i didnt want just a random post up from the ground, so i did some landscaping around the base of my patio and the akiwara and planted hostas, japense ferns, a variety of flowes etc. i work on about 4 or 5 tiomes of week. mine is a treated lumber post fropm lowes- about 10.00 cut at an the angle to .75" thick at the top, tapering down to 4" at the bottom, sunk 3 feet in the ground with bracers for support. the wood was sanded and stained cherry. the top had foam rubber attatched to it, then wrapped very tightly with clothesline rope. I wanted to makiwara to be functional, traditional, and look good in my yard..as i am quite particular about my lawn and gardens. if you doa search on makiwara construction, you'll find some good links. i highly recomend it as it is an incredible training tool.

[makiwaraman]

Shotochem your makiwara is too stiff the makiwara should offer the same resistance as a human body. As for the aching it could be that you are locking you arm on impact and the shock is traveling to your shoulders. when striking leave a slight bend in your elbow. Training with the need to reach so that you strike only impacts on the final two inches is incorrect. I train so that my punch for example stikes the target at the midway point just at the start of the fist twist, then your arms cannot be locked and the impact does not transmit to your shoulder.

Regards makiwaraman