Just for discussion....
I like of makiwara to strike on. Sadly, I have managed to reduce mine to rags over the years and the cost of ordering one and having it sent to Japan is outragous.
I have another makiwara I got here in Japan, and also use a bag. But bags are not all that great for our art IMO. The locally made makiwara also does not seem to be able to put up with much abuse.
So I am back to hitting steel beams when I can. Open palm only of course. I want to get the sand filled bag just so I can used a closed fist without risk of breaking my knuckles.
How many people use makiwara? I was rather surprised to find people that don't use them. After all, you can see them being used as far back as the pictures in Andrew Adams books, and they are being used in the Koto ryu tape from Quest. IMO, nothing beats hitting a makiwara. (Pun intended.)
If you doubt me, arrange to get hit by Oguri. He is the smallest of the Japanese shihan and uses dentures. But a half powered love tap from him still rocks me more than any blast I have taken from a visiting student. Guess what he sites as the source of his hitting ability? Yep, makiwara.
Oh, I use a bag from time to time, but the way we strike in the Bujinkan is better trained at with a makiwara or steel I- beam. The lack of movement on the part of the target is the big difference. You need to have great body allignment to hit correctly with a makiwara. With bags you can get away with just arm strength. I have seen massive guys hit a heavy bag and make it fly, but carefull observation shows they do not seem to have much of their body behind the blow. They can get away with it because of their bulk, but they miss the important lessons a makiwara can give.
Oh, and is there anyone who is planning on coming to Japan and maybe wants a little extra help with translating? Would they happen to have some extra space in their luggage for an empty sand makiwara? (Hint, hint, hint.)
I like of makiwara to strike on. Sadly, I have managed to reduce mine to rags over the years and the cost of ordering one and having it sent to Japan is outragous.
I have another makiwara I got here in Japan, and also use a bag. But bags are not all that great for our art IMO. The locally made makiwara also does not seem to be able to put up with much abuse.
So I am back to hitting steel beams when I can. Open palm only of course. I want to get the sand filled bag just so I can used a closed fist without risk of breaking my knuckles.
How many people use makiwara? I was rather surprised to find people that don't use them. After all, you can see them being used as far back as the pictures in Andrew Adams books, and they are being used in the Koto ryu tape from Quest. IMO, nothing beats hitting a makiwara. (Pun intended.)
If you doubt me, arrange to get hit by Oguri. He is the smallest of the Japanese shihan and uses dentures. But a half powered love tap from him still rocks me more than any blast I have taken from a visiting student. Guess what he sites as the source of his hitting ability? Yep, makiwara.
Oh, I use a bag from time to time, but the way we strike in the Bujinkan is better trained at with a makiwara or steel I- beam. The lack of movement on the part of the target is the big difference. You need to have great body allignment to hit correctly with a makiwara. With bags you can get away with just arm strength. I have seen massive guys hit a heavy bag and make it fly, but carefull observation shows they do not seem to have much of their body behind the blow. They can get away with it because of their bulk, but they miss the important lessons a makiwara can give.
Oh, and is there anyone who is planning on coming to Japan and maybe wants a little extra help with translating? Would they happen to have some extra space in their luggage for an empty sand makiwara? (Hint, hint, hint.)
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