![[striking pad]](straw.gif)
Makiwara is a punching board. It is a piece of equipment essential in
toughening
the hands and giving training in hand techniques.
One of the simplest pieces of equipment that can be found in a karate dojo is a lump of 4 by 2. What makes this seemingly simple item so mysterious that the great masters of the past as well as some modern masters revere the makiwara as the most important tool for the development of any karateka? Quite simply, the makiwara ('padded striking board used to harden hands and feet, strengthen body and increase power') is one of the most fundamental exercises in karate and is indispensable for achieving correct and effective techniques. Throughout this article I will first describe correct technique and then I will make an attempt to explain why the makiwara works. Firstly, here's a brief history of the makiwara. The makiwara was developed by the Okinawans in the last 1800s (around 1870s). Of course the practice of martial arts by Okinawans was outlawed at the time.
To keep practising the martial arts, the Okinawans had to disguise their weapons as farming implements. Likewise, the makiwara was disguised as a tool used for beating seaweed which the Okinawans retrieved from the ocean as a source of food. They would beat the seaweed against the makiwara to get rid of the salt and the water.
Makiwara is a punching board. It is a piece of equipment essential in
toughening
the hands and giving training in hand techniques.
A makiwara consists of a straight board with the top portion fitted for punching. The board itself is made from a seven or eight foot long four-by-four, cut diagnonally so that the very top is about half an inch thick. Traditionally, the striking surface of the makiwara consisted of a bundle of straw with rope tightly wound around it at the top part of the board for about one foot. Recently, a piece of sponge rubber, two inches thick, four inches wide and one foot long, covered with canvas, has been widely used. But anything that cushions the shock of impact can be used. For example, tightly bundled old t-shirts wrapped with duct tape would work just as well.
![[board]](board.gif){kind=small}
Regular use of a makiwara will develop strong technique and is an excellent way to get the feel of karate techniques applied to an actual target, rather than into the empty air. It gives practice in focusing, muscular control, breath control and is a convenient way to toughen the skin of the knuckles and other striking points. Because it is difficult to master the technique of focus (concentration of strength at the moment of impact), many karate experts feel that the techniques of those who don't use the makiwara are bound to lack power.
![[makiwara]](makiwara.gif)
The makiwara is used mainly for practicing hand techniques, although foot techniques are sometimes practiced as well. Pay strict attention to good form, including proper balance and hip rotation. In all cases, the point of focus is about two inches on the other side of the board when it is stationary. At the point of impact, sharply let out a short breath, breathing in while withdrawing. This gives good training in breath control. In hand techniques, take care to strike correctly with the knuckles of the fist while keeping the wrist straight. There will be a tendency for the hand to glance off at first, but constant practice will correct this. The hips should be lowered toward the target, rather than raised. Beginners should start with 20 to 30 punches per hand and slowly work their way up.