What is the purpose of makiwara?

The makiwara is used by karate practitioners to practice strikes in much the same way as a boxer uses a heavy bag. The makiwara develops one’s striking ability by letting them experience resistance to punches, kicks and other strikes.

How do you make makiwara?

An easy way to make a makiwara is to start with an 8 ft (244cm) long 4” x 4” lumber post. Select lumber that is as knot free as possible, and in which the grains of the wood run parallel to the length of the post. You have several choices of wood: fir, whitewood, redwood, and others.

Do Makiwara boards work?

Even though the Makiwara board has been in use for centuries, some suggest that training on such a board is actually counter-productive. They say it causes injury to the knuckles, hands, and fingers. That is not true if you know how to use a Makiwara board properly.

Does Wing Chun dummy work?

The Wing Chun dummy is outstanding for Wing Chun practitioners. My Sifu, Adam Williss, calls it “the best solo training device for Wing Chun”. This way, the Wing Chun dummy helps practitioners avoid using force against force. It also helps develop balance, accuracy, timing, mobility and positioning.

How can I prepare my hands for Makiwara training?

It also is a good idea to do knuckle planks and push-ups to help develop wrist strength and toughen the skin, connective tissues, and bones of the hand and wrist. This will prepare your striking surfaces and joints for the stress of makiwara training, which will allow you to do more makiwara training than you may otherwise have been able to do.

How important is the makiwara in karate?

Numerous Okinawan masters have stated that the makiwara is vital to developing a powerful punch; not through toughening the hands, but through the refinement of technique and building of strength.

What is a springy makiwara?

Chibana Chosin, founder of Shorin-Ryu, insisted that a springy makiwara was necessary develop a punch with penetrating power, and that a makiwara that was too stiff would only toughen the hands and lead to injuries. Essentially, a proper makiwara is a wooden spring, which acts much like modern automotive leaf springs do.

What are the different types of makiwara?

There are many types of makiwara – actual straw rolls used in kyudo (Japanese archery); tou-makiwara (bundles bamboo stalked used for conditioning the nukite – spear hand); and hanging makiwara, called “sagi-makiwara” (no relation to my last name).