First ever makiwara training tonight...one thing....

[muttley]

Makiwara hurts, that is all!

[sensei8]

Yes, it will...no pain no gain...SHUGYO!! However, the makiwara, like any stationary object, will give you immediate feedback whenever you're technique is incorrect.

Make sure your posture and stance are appropriate! Build up, at your discretion, your power and penetration slowly; don't ever rush the training because everything takes time.

Make sure that your weapon's orientation is accurate at contact. Contact the makiwara square and true, and penetrate to...and through! BREATHE!! Focus!!

The more you do it, the easier it'll be!!

You'll be just fine! Just don't rush it; that's the worse thing one can do when beginning to train with a makiwara.

Above all things, listen to your Sensei over anyone else!!

[muttley]

It did start to feel better once I got used to it to be fair and doing an open hand technique felt 100 times better than a punch! Definitely can see the benefit of the training already.

[sensei8]

The knuckles suffer the most at first, while the open hand is cushioned. I won't allow students to continue, for long, if at all, if their knuckles are bleeding because that's not the purpose of the makiwara. Are your knuckles bleeding yet? If so, I suggest that you let them heal first before resuming training.

[muttley]

No bleeding knuckles, just a little sore

[sensei8]

No bleeding knuckles, just a little sore

Then let the training continue; work the sore out!! Just don't rush it!!

[Spartacus Maximus]

The makiwara is a tool made for learning and practising correct structural alignment to strike without injuring oneself. Striking it hard with all one's might is dangerous and counterproductive.

It is advisable for beginners to focus on correct structure before attempting to put any power into the strikes. Only once the correct structure is consistently done should power be increased. Increased slowly and gradually up to no more than about one third of full power. Full power strikes are better practised on other tools, not the makiwara.

[armanox]

Also, slowly build up the number of reps you use. When I started Makiwara training, I only did five punches per hand. Five good, solid punches, that I made extra sure my technique was correct on. Then I did five hammer fists, five knife hands, five ridge hands, and five elbow smashes. When I have access to a makiwara again (or finally build my own) I'll be starting back at 10 since it's been a while since I've done it. Sensei does 50 of each every time he is there. I've seen him do more but it eats up a lot of time....

[sensei8]

The makiwara is a tool made for learning and practising correct structural alignment to strike without injuring oneself. Striking it hard with all one's might is dangerous and counterproductive.

It is advisable for beginners to focus on correct structure before attempting to put any power into the strikes. Only once the correct structure is consistently done should power be increased. Increased slowly and gradually up to no more than about one third of full power. Full power strikes are better practised on other tools, not the makiwara.

Solid post!! Your full power points are right on!!

I've had to upgrade to landscape beams because at times, I will strike the makiwara with full power, but I've been training with the makiwara for quite along time. Regular makiwara's don't survive long with me, hence the landscape beams.

Now, I don't encourage any of my students to train the makiwara as I do because of the points that Spartacus Maximus has made concerning full power techniques; dangerous and counterproductive.

If you ever watch a video on makiwara training, they're hitting the makiwara, just as Spartacus Maximus suggests...half-power, and for good reason(s)!! Yeah, I'm a model for how NOT to train the makiwara; it's a personal choice of mine, from time to time, and I'll not do it all of the time because I know better, but when I do, I get a rush!!