robertmrivers
Orange Belt
- Joined
- May 21, 2005
- Messages
- 85
- Reaction score
- 3
JT
Thanks for the comments. I was punching with one hand because the camera was on that side! Your learning is correct. I was always taught 100 with the right, 200 with the left. But, once the coordination is there, keeping it 50/50 is correct. As for bringing the hand back to the hip...that is a whole different can of worms. Remember, you bring the hand back to the hip because there is something in it! You don't really punch someone like that in a self defense situation. Watch it again...watch my belt...there is plenty of hip. Again, the surface of kata is deceitful. Also, having both hands in front puts MORE power into the punch than bringing one side to the hip. I don't have time to explain it. Practice , practice, practice...maybe I'll do a Martial Minute on that...
My fist is not vertical...it is a 3/4 punch, about 45 degrees from being horizontal. As I said, there are many ways to hit the maki. This is my preferred way as it is also a typical way of hitting in Okinawa. Motobu Sensei taught me his (and his father's) method as well which is actually a little different. There are so many ways to do it.
The purpose of hitting the maki with the 3/4 punch is that when you actually make contact with the target, you're fist is not completely twisted. If it is, as in a typical TSD punch (or any punch from kata) then you are snapping your technique on the surface of the target. You should make contact at the 1/2 to 3/4 mark and the remaining twist is your follow through...you need penetrating power...not snapping power. You don't actually see the remaining twist on the maki because the board is pressing back on your arm and it just won't twist. You need to punch differently (and with less power) if you want to roll the hand over. If you hit the maki enough, it teaches you how to punch correctly. Making contact at that 3/4 mark (at the distance I was at, anyway...the fist is at a different position depending on the range) gives me the maximum musculo-skeletal strength to support my strongest punch (hitting with my whole body).
You need to blast the heck out of that bag JT! Its there, put it to work! When it is all said and done, conditioning is conditioning. Anything is better than nothing. A heavy bag is actually the next best thing so hit it! I can show you how to make a makiwara. You may not be able to put it up at the dojo, but you can have one at your home...and you don't have to do Okinawan Karate to have one. If you want it, build it. I think you'd like it.
The purpose of the maki...and why we don't only hit a heavy bag, is the maki hits you back...if your arm is out of position, punching with the wrong knuckles, too much wrist twist, not enough hip, sloppy stance, etc the maki will "bite" you back. The oak plank is really stiff and offers a ton of resistance as soon as you make contact. It is truly one of the best teachers in the dojo...better than some of my black belts!! (just kidding).
Anyway, hope you all get something out of it. Sorry again for the size...
Rob
Thanks for the comments. I was punching with one hand because the camera was on that side! Your learning is correct. I was always taught 100 with the right, 200 with the left. But, once the coordination is there, keeping it 50/50 is correct. As for bringing the hand back to the hip...that is a whole different can of worms. Remember, you bring the hand back to the hip because there is something in it! You don't really punch someone like that in a self defense situation. Watch it again...watch my belt...there is plenty of hip. Again, the surface of kata is deceitful. Also, having both hands in front puts MORE power into the punch than bringing one side to the hip. I don't have time to explain it. Practice , practice, practice...maybe I'll do a Martial Minute on that...
My fist is not vertical...it is a 3/4 punch, about 45 degrees from being horizontal. As I said, there are many ways to hit the maki. This is my preferred way as it is also a typical way of hitting in Okinawa. Motobu Sensei taught me his (and his father's) method as well which is actually a little different. There are so many ways to do it.
The purpose of hitting the maki with the 3/4 punch is that when you actually make contact with the target, you're fist is not completely twisted. If it is, as in a typical TSD punch (or any punch from kata) then you are snapping your technique on the surface of the target. You should make contact at the 1/2 to 3/4 mark and the remaining twist is your follow through...you need penetrating power...not snapping power. You don't actually see the remaining twist on the maki because the board is pressing back on your arm and it just won't twist. You need to punch differently (and with less power) if you want to roll the hand over. If you hit the maki enough, it teaches you how to punch correctly. Making contact at that 3/4 mark (at the distance I was at, anyway...the fist is at a different position depending on the range) gives me the maximum musculo-skeletal strength to support my strongest punch (hitting with my whole body).
You need to blast the heck out of that bag JT! Its there, put it to work! When it is all said and done, conditioning is conditioning. Anything is better than nothing. A heavy bag is actually the next best thing so hit it! I can show you how to make a makiwara. You may not be able to put it up at the dojo, but you can have one at your home...and you don't have to do Okinawan Karate to have one. If you want it, build it. I think you'd like it.
The purpose of the maki...and why we don't only hit a heavy bag, is the maki hits you back...if your arm is out of position, punching with the wrong knuckles, too much wrist twist, not enough hip, sloppy stance, etc the maki will "bite" you back. The oak plank is really stiff and offers a ton of resistance as soon as you make contact. It is truly one of the best teachers in the dojo...better than some of my black belts!! (just kidding).
Anyway, hope you all get something out of it. Sorry again for the size...
Rob