chi-ishi

Makiwara Exercises for Skills and Variety

This entry was posted in basics blocking bunkai chi-ishi combinations concepts fighting footwork hikite history hojo undo makiwara misconceptions punching stances strength supplemental and tagged concepts drills exercises footwork hikite hojo undo kuruma makiwara striking tai sabaki tenshin training uke-waza on by

The makiwara, or machiwara in Uchinaguchi (lit. “Okinawa mouth,” the native language of Okinawa), is a popularly referenced, albeit often misunderstood, traditional karate training tool. It has fallen out of favor with many karateka, either because they feel it is antiquated and less-useful than modern equipment, or simply because it is uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes boring to work with. As […]

Essential Karate Equipment

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These days, karate is often practiced without the aid of any training equipment, but that has not always been the case. Hojo undo (supplementary training) has long been a vital component of martial arts training not just on Okinawa, but also China and India. While it is certainly possible to develop a great deal of knowledge and skill without using […]