By Phil Snewin - Kamishin Ryu Karate-Do
At once both vilified by some as being a cause of physiological damage, and at the same time feted by others as being a vital part of daily traditional karate training, the makiwara or striking post of Okinawan Karate is a source of some interest for those wishing to pursue authentic Karate training.
With the advent of more and more interest being shown in some of the more old-fashioned and classical methods of karate and associated training methods, it is perhaps fitting that we scrutinise one of the most important training aids that has been around since Karate first appeared. The makiwara is principally an Okinawan training tool, and it's use can be traced back to Japanese texts from feudal times in Okinawan history.
Many are under the misconception that the purpose of the makiwara is to produce large callused knuckles which are impervious to impact and whilst this may have a degree of truth in it, this is not the main reason for training with the makiwara, and calluses more accurately represent a by-product of the use of this tool.
First and foremost, it is said that the primary aim of facing the makiwara is to develop a strong punch or strike and also to condition the hand and wrist to absorb some impact in order that the punch may be delivered correctly and effectively. This may seem somewhat obvious, however if a majority of your training involves "fresh air" techniques, then it is vital that you become accustomed to hitting something solid. It is highly likely that if this is not undertaken, then the first time you hit something hard with your best gyakuzuki, your wrist will give way before your opponent does so! Facing the makiwara also has the added benefit of ensuring that correct breathing and form are employed as poor technique soon manifests itself!
The Japanese word makiwara means coiled rope and in this context, the makiwara gets it's name from the fact that in the past, the padding used was rice straw which was wound into a rope and then coiled into a pad. This type of makiwara padding is still available, and is said to have a rather unusual feature in that the resins in the straw are supposed to provide a natural antiseptic effect for when one skins one's knuckles and also helps to harden the skin of the knuckles quite quickly.
The downside of using this type of padding however, is that it can lead to rather ugly hands as the resins also tend to darken the skin and it more readily causes calluses. It is also not particularly durable and gets worn out very quickly with prolonged daily use.
There are also a number of different types of makiwara, with the most common types being the tachi makiwara (or standing makiwara), and the Age-makiwara which is a type which can be hung from the ceiling and then kicked. There are two kinds of tachi makiwara - the first being the type most people associate with the word which is a post with a pad at the top which is hit from the front. The other type of standing makiwara is usually constructed of a round pole which is set in the ground.
When building a makiwara, it is important to pick a site which is not going to be too affected by the weather. Ensure that the ground you are planting your makiwara in has good drainage and is firm. You will need a post approximately 7 feet long by about 5-6 inches wide. The post should be tapered so that the thick end is buried in the ground and the thinner end finishes at about mid-chest height when standing naturally in front of your post.
The end which is buried in the ground needs to be treated with some form of wood preservative to stop it from rotting. The end then needs to be bolstered by the use of boulders or kerb stones. Make sure also that you have sufficient room to move around your makiwara.
Whilst this is one Karate training aid which does not need huge amounts of room, it is important that you do not feel confined when facing your makiwara. You also need sufficient room to be able to swing kicks at your post.
Makiwara need not be used solely for the conditioning of seiken, but can also be used very effectively to practice and condition our bodies for employing uraken, kote/ude, shuto, haito, koken, shotei, hiji, ippon ken, plus hiza geri, mae geri, mawashi geri, yoko geri, in fact if you use your imagination the list goes on and on.
The key to developing your punch and other techniques on the makiwara is to take your time. Rushing your progress will only end up in damage to your body. Starting with your weak side, hit the makiwara about ten times with one fist, slowly and steadily. Change hands and do the same with the other hand. When you go back to the hand you used first, you will find that it is warm and the blood flow to the hand has increased, you can now begin your training regimen.
When you first begin to hit the makiwara, do so lightly and slowly, but make sure that on each stroke, the weight of your body is pushed into the post, without losing your posture. Start off with a low number of repetitions, and use double the number on your weak side compared to your natural side. No more than thirty would be a good number to start with.
In 1985, the British Journal of Sports Medicine conducted a survey in which the hands and wrists of 22 Karate Instructors were examined under X-Ray and by a physician. The conclusions stated that: "Long term and routine practice of Karate does not appear to predispose to early onset of osteoarthritis or tendonitis in the hands of those studied".
Further evidence from Medicine and Science in Sports (1970) published a report on the hand of Masutatsu Oyama. Over 30 years of makiwara training had produced no malformation of the bones on his hand, and there was no evidence of any old fractures or calcification. The development was a combination of thickening of the skin (calluses) and a thickening of the metacarpal extensor tendon. This tendon covers the joints (seiken) and when repeatedly struck, the body protects itself by making the tendon thicker.
So what is the big deal with "facing the makiwara"? Simply put, it is a challenge. Just like every other aspect of training Karate, it represents a commitment which is hard to live up to. Facing the makiwara is hard - it takes everything you give it and yet demands more - it acts like a teacher, controlling your progress and punishing your errors.
With permission © Copyright Phil Snewin 1998
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