Topic: MAKIWARA or PUNCHBAG ?

[dogberry]

I've just finished reading 'THE HEART OF KARATE_DO' written by SHIGERU EGAMI which is an interesting read as it follows the changes in karate-do during the lifetime and study of the art by the author and how basically he accepted the improvements in the art from the original teachings of the master FUNAKOSHI and his predesessors.

This book was written nearly three decades ago and no doubt there has been further changes during this time.

One interesting passage covered the making of the fist and the perfection of the making of the 'IRON FIST' mainly by use of the striking post or 'MAKIWARA' thus eventually producing two enlarged knuckles or even better one large callused knuckle deemed to be as hard or harder than the sole of the foot........

EGAMI explains that he changed his 'normal formed' fist to that of a 'SINGLE POINT FIST' which had the middle finger (second joint) protruding slightly.

I have tried this and have found that the first two knuckles are more promenant than in the regular fist.

I then tried this fist whilst striking the MAKIWARA and found that the point of contact seemed more focused on the two knuckles whereas with the regular fist I was sometimes striking with 3 maybe 4 knuckles on the target.

My knowledge of physics is limited but surely it is better to have all that energy and psi being released through a smaller point than a larger one.
i.e if I were to stand on someones foot wearing regular heeled shoes the pain would not be as great if that persons foot was stood on with the same pressure if someone was wearing a stilleto heel!!!(not that i'm into cross dressing - everyone to their own!!)

Is there any problem with using the 'single point fist'? has recent study reversed EGAMI's theory?


dogberry

[Moley]

The type of fist you are refering to is "The Phoenix fist" and is one of many many ways of using the hand to hit an opponent. There is nothing "wrong" at all in using this type of "hand" as there is nothing wrong either in using "Shuto" "Haito" etc etc. Karate even has one figer strikes and a really odd technique called "Chicken beak"
You are right in saying that it will produce more damage in much the same way as a stilletto heel damages a linoleum floor.
Mind you, if you make chudan contact with the "Phoenix fist" you will break a rib, no doubt about it ! So don't do it to me-- Or else !

 

I am told that Lloydie knows "The secret of the Iron fist" having seen a film about it in his youth !

[Huw]

I am told that Lloydie knows "The secret of the Iron fist" having seen a film about it in his youth !

Back in the days when Funakoshi was a lad eh Dave.

[Lloydie]

Moley wrote:

I am told that Lloydie knows "The secret of the Iron fist" having seen a film about it in his youth !

Shsssss Moley That technique was only revealed to a select handful of people at the Rhyl Odeon in 1975!  However, recent events, when a certain karateka injured their fist whilst doing something with gravel leads me to believe that the secret of the "Iron Fist" is now common knowledge.

Either that, or Icy was in the back row of the Odeon all those years ago    

Huw wrote:

Back in the days when Funakoshi was a lad eh Dave.  

Yes Huw, you will recall how we used to turn up to watch you playing football for the senior team....ah happy days!

lloydie

[Icy]

One interesting passage covered the making of the fist and the perfection of the making of the 'IRON FIST' mainly by use of the striking post or 'MAKIWARA' thus eventually producing two enlarged knuckles or even better one large callused knuckle deemed to be as hard or harder than the sole of the foot........

Along with shifting 2 tonnes of gravel, I have been busy landscaping my garden, and had kept one corner to build a makiwara, but if I end up with horrid hands, I don't think I'll bother   (I think there may be a joke about a ferrari in here somewhere, or so I have been told, but excessive red wine has had a memory loss effect on me! hss!!).
But just in case I do decide to build one, I need some more advice on the dimensions. If I get a 4x4 post, and start tapering it from the bottom, to what thickness is it tapered by the time it gets to the top? Is one inch too thick or too thin? Oh, and will a 'metpost' be ok to house it in instead of messing around with concrete and blocks?