Bag Paddle for Stand-Up Bags

[joesteph]

I purchased a Bag Paddle from AWMA, the clapping device now strapped around the top of my WaveMaster. I've noticed a greater emphasis on certain kicks, particularly the inside-outside as well as outside-inside crescents, in the kicking drills of my dojang. I've also used it for hand drills, such as repeated knife hand blocks while I move to one side, and I'm working on what else can be done with it.

Does anyone else use a Bag Paddle, either at the dojo/dojang or at home? Are you pleased with it? How have you used it?

[bushido_man96]

I don't have one. I have always wondered how well they would hold up. I think they would be a great tool to work hook kicks, heel kicks, and crescent kicks, as well as round kicks. Do you have any problems with it coming undone, and falling off?

[joesteph]

Do you have any problems with it coming undone, and falling off?

No problems so far, Bushido Man. There are two velcro straps, so that helps with stability, and so long as the striking motion is side-to-side, which is what the paddles are designed to take, they stay stable.

I've even done "blocks" against them, as though they were an arm/fist, using a knife hand as I move my body away from the "punch," and they stay in place.

[bushido_man96]

Nice. I may have to look into one, then. Have you thought about strapping two to the Wavemaster, so that you can do different levels and combinations?

[joesteph]

Have you thought about strapping two to the Wavemaster, so that you can do different levels and combinations?

Not a bad idea; reminds me of that Wing Chun (or is it now Wing Tsun?) dummy. There are different "arms" and a "leg" that are available, too.

Right now isn't the financial time, though. Maybe down the road . . .

[joesteph]

Update:

My instructor purchased not a bag paddle (clapper), but one of the "arms" that is attached by Velcro straps to a WaveMaster. She put it on the one used by kids, and I manned that "station" tonight for the special needs group.

The kids can hit it at any angle without fear of injury, so it was used for blocks without worrying about their little hands. It was also used for them to crescent kick (inside-outside is preferred by my instructor) over the arm; if they accidentally clipped it, there was no harm to the kicker.

I still prefer the bag paddle for what I do, but for kids, and I imagine adults as well, the "Strong-Arm" (as it's called) works just fine. It can always be looked up by going to the AWMA web site.

[bushido_man96]

Cool. You could also use the StrongArm as a limb that you are stepping inside or outside of, checking, and then counter attacking. Really nice for working on angles.