I found it enjoyable to break down various statements for commenting so I am continuing to post on them. This is the next generation of statements to comments. Remember that it is still my viewpoint, perspective and opinion which should be taken with a grain of salt.
First Statement: "The makiwara is not a good tool to train with because it will damage the structures of the hand over time?"
Comment: This is an urban legend as well. Yes, you can damage your hands using makiwara. No, the makiwara will not damage the hand. How? Well, it is like the gun issue. Gun's don't hurt, people using them incorrectly and irresponsibly do the actual damage. Therefore, the makiwara doesn't hurt people, people using the makiwara incorrectly and irresponsibly do the actual damage to the hand, feet, or any other body part applied in the practice.
Second Statement: "Training with a makiwara at this age, 18 or younger, can damage the growth plates and stunt growth of the arm?"
Comment: I would agree as to the definition I found that damage is possible but as to the makiwara it is best to be cautious when young adults are involved. I do believe that young adults can receive growth plate fractures which remind of of the stress fractures I endured from running as a Marine. This by itself warrants restriction to makiwara to adults only. As to the age where that changes we cannot fall into an assumption that means 18 years which relates, I believe, to some legal age of adulthood which remains subjective and to the degree of maturity at any age. The only definitive answer to age is the statement, "All children who are still growing are at risk for a growth plate injury. These injuries are reported to peak in adolescents. ... Growth plate fractures occur twice as often in boys as in girls. ... Any child who experiences an injury that results in visible deformity, persistent or severe pain, or an inability to move or put pressure on a limb should be examined by a doctor." The question I ask myself, "Do you want to gamble with a young adults body, mind and life?"
See more info here: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00040
Third Statement: "It develops targeting, and focus, which is the ability to penetrate the target (i.e., opponent) to varying degrees of force?"
Comment: Develops targeting? Nope, since the makiwara, tachi-makiwara as the most commonly used device, is stationary and restricts the movement of the practitioner and becomes the de-facto threat in this view is too limiting and dysfunctional regarding self-protection against violence. The mind set here is still important and translating learned materials away for the makiwara as a development and training tool to actual chaotic application in combat is a distinctive process with great importance. This is worth studying.
Focus is not training to penetrate. Focus is a mind training thing. Some can use focus to mean that energy focused into a target point but that is limiting and not the result of makiwara training. It is a limited experience, teaching and application as to makiwara vs. combative intent.
The varying degrees of force are not governed by focus, penetration or targeting. Force is governed by the fundamental principles of martial systems and is taught, learned and applied in all aspects of karate, not just as a product of makiwara. The degree of force depends on angles, alignments, threat target, the techniques, the bunkai or end result of the applied technique, the body mass and its movement at the applying of the technique and so many, many more "things." It would better suit the martial artist to not limit their abilities by limiting the explanations and definitions.
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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