Lets continue this journey on the art of the makiwara for karate training and practice. Again, I will cover additional statements made by other practitioners in the effort to combine and coalesce knowledge on this often misunderstood practice.
First Statement: "The makiwara is used to develop kime (focus), timing, good technique and punching power?"
Comment: True and a limited statement. These particular benefits fall into a wider spectrum of fundamental principles of martial systems. Focus, timing, and power all fall into those principles or are a product of proper application of principles in the particular system you may be involved in for training and practice. There is more to power than simply pounding on the makiwara. Many such aspects of martial arts are missed, ignored or lost under the guise of fame, fortune and many trophies associated with the accolades that come along side not to forget the validations sought after by all types of persons.
Second Statement: "It toughens the knuckles and skin?"
Comment: Yes it will and no it is not the primary goal of makiwara. This distinction is important to remember. You can gain the knuckles and skin that impresses folks uninitiated in such things and then you will have to realize that power and proper principle application is not a given simply because you wear the physical symbols. These knuckles and skin calluses are not indicative of power, speed and proper function of any technique.
Third Statement: "The makiwara helps develop concentration and technique to the point where there is a theory that the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts of your mind and body, meet as one at the exact point of impact, delivering incredible power and penetration into the target?"
Comment: Sounds really great. It would be a good sound bite to put into a martial art movie script that the sage tells the student as they leave the dojo to seek out the inherent evil of the world for applicable vanquishing. Yes, concentration is a product. Yes, it helps with technique as long as all the applicable principles are applied. As to any physical, mental and spiritual parts of the mind and body - more of a philosophical endeavor that can be attributed to any type of effort be it makiwara, tameshiwari, kumite or flower arranging. Chess can do this for you as well.
In this particular post we covered three distinct areas of concern when researching whether a person would utilize the karate tool, the makiwara. The answers here and in following posts will help karate-ka determine their needs in pursuing the art of the makiwara.
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