Equipment? What Equipment!?!

[fireka]

i looked at the century catalog at some training equipment, then at the price tags and did this: way out of range, i mean, i could afford the stuff i need eventually, but at that price, i dont think id want to, id have to sacrifice everything else (i work part time at a Taco Bell for petes sacke!) then i got one of thiese: which led me to this question. anyone know a way, a book or a web site to tell me how to make some of the equipment my self? what i really need is something to work as a free standing punching back. anyone seen the movie 'ROCKY'? as i recall he had a unique way of punch training in his apartment, how did he do it? (im not talking about the meat thing)

[SaiFightsMS]

People have made things like punching dummies out of old tires.

[fireka]

theys not abad idea saifights, except im kinda planning on putting this in my room upstairs. i have seen that done though. i was thinking more along the lines of something a bit smaller, like maybe somesort of pole rapped in a kind of foam. or maybe a canvas filled with something and a base. i dont know. the thing on rocky kinda looked like a mattress leaned against a wall (dont know if my parents would aprove) i alos saw a stegall movie called hard to kill were he put a board in the ground, wrapped some rope around it a punched the bajezzas out of it, again though i need this in my room.

[SaiFightsMS]

You are describing a makiwara. There are a lot of posts on the forum about them. Put makawara in search and see what you come up with.

[BKJ1216]

Yeah you could probably make a makiwara pretty easily. Although a lot of people don't recomend training with them.

[crash]

I knew a guy once who went to the local army surplus store and bought a military canvas duffle bag and two sleeping pads for about 15 bucks, he rolled the sleeping pads up and placed them in the duffle bag as padding around the inside and then filled it with sand. cut the straps off so all that you have is the hook at the top, hang it up and you have a pretty good punching bag.

[Withers M.A.A.]

There are a lot of things you can make. When I was younger we used to take pillows and tape them together and tie old karate belts to them to make a kicking shield. It didn't work that great but it was better than nothing.

[SaiFightsMS]

I am sure that there have been many punching bags made out of duffel bags.

[CheekyMusician]

You'd maybe just be best buying a punchbag that you can hang up.

 

There relatively cheap. If you buy a free standing one then they cost a bomb, but ones to hang aren't too bad price wise. I got mine for £30 and bag chains for it were £10, but I didn't need chains as the room I put it in had a low ceiling and the chains made the bag hang way too low for me to kick and punch.

[delta1]

I've used sea bags/duffels for home made heavy bags. They work well. Old fire hose (2" or larger) doubled and hung also makes a credible dummy. For an appartment I'd say your best bet is to make a freestanding dummy. They aren't that difficult to make, and there's nothing better for working full power techniques. I'll see if I can find the IKCA website- I think they have instructions for making a dummy.

 

Other alternatives: old boat seat cushions, stadium cushions, etc. can be used as focus pads or targets. Old car seats leaned against a post or wall are decent kicking shields or makeshift dummies. Foam padded sticks make good blocking or striking arms. A tennis ball and some chord make a good focus target for punches or kicks, even elbow strikes and finger techniques. Your immagination is the only limmit.

 

Edit: found that website. http://www.karateconnection.com/

 

Go to the menue at left and select articles, Then select "Hey, Dummy".

 

While you are there, check out the rest of their site. If you are looking for a good system to compliment another style, these guys are pretty good.