Makiwara Training

[Brandon Fisher]

Again proper trechnique and a slow pace.

[Killer Miller]

There is truth as to what Rob states in his article. However, I have a different variation of opinion regarding Makiwara use and purpose.

I too used Makiwara for over a decade - perhaps not as much as Rob, but significant use just the same. In my opinion, Makiwara and Heavy Bag have two different uses and purposes. Training on either on by itself is not benificial to development.

Makiwara is primarily used for Kime (focus). Proper technique and stance, generating as much whole body speed and force, and at the last nano-second tense for kime, then release and return to ready punch position. Now the key of using this during training is to hear a LOUD CRACK sound!!! If you hear this, you are punching and using the Makiwara correctly - otherwise, poor technique and speed is the result. This is the only reason I will use the Makiwara... But is a useful reason to use the Makiwara just the same and should be part of your training.

However, the heavy bag give you a more useful target of a real oponent and provides realtime resistance. You can also use a more variety of techniques with the heavy bag. Personally, I like to use a lighter and slightly shorter heavy bag for angle of movement when applying technique. This mimicks body angle when in real situations. For example, I kick when bag is straight, then kick again while the bag is at an angle and perhaps follow-up with a punch or elbow. This is realistic as to what would happen is a real fight situation. This is just one small example of the variety of uses with the heavy bag.

So, to develop speed, technique, and focus (Kime), I would definately support Makiwara use. For the rest, I would recommend the use of a heavy-bag or a similar method. Of course, beating the Tar out of a real body works too!!! :0)

- Killer -

[alex673]

Hi all

I made my makiwara out of a 7' length of 3"x2" pine, and set it into the ground with concrete, so the top of the pole is at my head height. I wrapped the top (Jodan) section in nylon rope, and until my hands are a little more calloused, have zip tied some high density foam over the rope, and also at the stomach/chest (chudan) level. The foam at the chudan level is also good for my son, who is training in Tae Kwon Do, as it is at his jodan level.

Cheers

Alex

[bushido_man96]

Hi all

I made my makiwara out of a 7' length of 3"x2" pine, and set it into the ground with concrete, so the top of the pole is at my head height. I wrapped the top (Jodan) section in nylon rope, and until my hands are a little more calloused, have zip tied some high density foam over the rope, and also at the stomach/chest (chudan) level. The foam at the chudan level is also good for my son, who is training in Tae Kwon Do, as it is at his jodan level.

Cheers

Alex

Cool. Let us know how it works out for your training. Do you try kicking it at all?

[conrad665]

I want to make one, too, but how do you fix it on the floor? And which kind of wood is better for it? In Funakoshi Sensei's book, he says to use rice straws, but it is not possible to find some

[Adonis]

What is the proper way to use the makiwara, after you start off slow tapping it then work up to hitting it harder. Whats the prper technique to it, How many reps do you do on it in a session. How many sessions in a day, week, month. Once you develop what you want want from the training. However do you use the makiwara to keep conditioned on it? Or do you use it every day?

Curious about it.

[Deshikyle]

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh592/kkerns1/2012-05-11_14-31-39_743.jpg

This is the first makiwara i built myself from some old wood poles we had lying around. since its rounded, i dont use it for punching, but its great for heel palms, shutos, and even a little 'okinawa sunburn' if im feeling up to it. its buried about 3 feet down into the dirt and has enough shift when i hit it to not transfer all the pressure back into me. I'm now getting around to wrapping the bottom portion for some kicking too. The 'arms' of this one are at shoulder height. i can rest my chin where the head would be for reference.

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh592/kkerns1/2012-05-11_14-32-57_49.jpg

This is the second one i made. This one specifically was made for punches and heel palms, and works double duty as a stance trainer. A friend who also trains with me gets into horse stance and holds the tire while i punch. After a while, we switch and its a lot more of a workout than you'd think! Took me about 30 minutes to make and only cost me about 5 dollars(i had the tire and bolts/wood laying around.).

Hope this helps and gives you some ok examples of cheap alternatives to the traditional makiwara.[/img]

[hiddendragon98]

I have made a makiwara and i think it works very well u get a board that is 3 and 1 half inches wide 1 and 1 half inches thick and tappers down to a centimeter and 7 or 8 feet tall then bury it down to shoulder height for more specific instructions go here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makiwara