To break or not to break

[Kung Fu Wang]

Seems like a lot of schools don't believe in hitting bags or anything.

This is why I treat my heavy bag days as my regular work out days, and my punch into the thin air days as my resting days.

 

[_Simon_]

Our makiwara was probably stiffer than most, also bloodier. Actually, very few of us used it regularly.

Haha, it was like that scary sinister looking tool that sat in the corner of the dojo, that no one dared go near, that taunts you as you train...

 

[J. Pickard]

I think this depends on the type of makiwara. I've seen at least 4 distinct styles, ranging from boards meant to be be mounted or held, posts without much give, standing boards with some give, but a lot of spring-back (so penetrating actually sent a lot of energy into the shoulder), to standing boards you could reasonably deliver penetration power to. The last two looked very similar to me, but felt dramatically different.

Well, I learned something new.