Bags and pads

[Aefibird]

Do you train with pads and/or heavy bags at your dojo? If so, how often do you train with them and for how long? What sort of exercises do you do with them?

[RigsVille]

I practice Shukokai Karate and part of our training syllabus includes the use of impact work, this involves 2 people, with 1 holding an impact pad* and the other performing kihon techniques against the pad.

We tend to do impact work in the Dojo about every other week

This works well for both people, the person striking the pad obviously gets to improve their power and technique against a physical object and the other person holding the pad gets used to feeling the impact.

* Shukokai impact pads are very different from the normal pads you would find in most Dojo’s – the majority are made up of 4 or 5 inch thick pieces of high impact foam held together with an old karate belt (obi)

Quote from the www.tska.co.uk karate forum:

Shukokai pads are unique to our style. In the early days Sensei Kimura was developing power and found a company called Sheffield installation who made large pipes for companies and oil rigs. They would package the pipes in large foam packaging (our pads). In the early 1970's the company was booming and word soon spread round the SKU of the availability of these foam sheets. Quickly they were being ordered in bulk and cut to size. Sensei Kimura said that the pads were equivalant to the density of the body and absorbed the shock waves evenly preventing too much direct trauma on those holding (never worked for me you certainly feel the impact unlike some of the modern shield pads that diffuse the power).[/color]

I also have a 6’ leather punch bag for home use, but I use that more for CV work outs than impact work, that I do a few times a week.

[AngelaG]

High density foam pads are certainly not unique to shokokai. We use high density ether foam at my dojo, and having chatted to people on other forums I know a few other people that do too, and the styles are not all the same.

I would say that it is definitely worth getting hold of some though - it means you can't kid yourself about how powerful your strikes are.

[Petek]

I think prior to sensei Kimura, very few people had heardof/used high density foam in their kickpads - it was 30 years ago. They are a very useful tool.

At our dojo we both kick pads and focus mitts. The focus mitts are very versitile, offering a vast range of targets at different heights and distances, one partner has one on each hand, the other person attacks - bingo the world's your oyster. I won't go into specific routines - use your imagination. Impact training is good, I regularly use a makiwara - 3 times a week. Using bags and pads is very good training , mainly as an eye opener. I thought I had a very good mar-geri until I kicked a kick bag the first time, I thought I had broken my big toe. So start gently and build up.

2 things to consider : i) attacking combinations - hands and feet, & ii) distance, both long distance and close in, also having your partner,(sparring) move in as you attack, to practice making kime from any distance.

happy striking !

[Aefibird]

Petek said:

Using bags and pads is very good training , mainly as an eye opener. I thought I had a very good mar-geri until I kicked a kick bag the first time, I thought I had broken my big toe.

Same here. When I was first learning Ushiro Geri I thought my technique was fairly decent...until I tried it out on a kickbag. Sheesh!

We use bags/pads pretty much every week at my dojo.

We have focus mitts, kick shields, thai pads, hanging heavy bags, floor-to-ceiling speed ball and wall bags.

Oh, we used to have one of those BOB bags too (that freestanding thing that looks like a person) but Sensei sold it to the boxing gym down the road because it took up too much floor space (a great priority when you train in a dojo the size of a cupbard. ).

[Sionnagh]

IMO bag/pad work is essential. Not only do you get to see/feel how weak or strong your techniques are, you also get to be on the receiving end and form an appreciation of how much it could hurt if they were hitting you instead.
You also get to practice your timing and distancing (maai) in a safe and controlled manner.

Think how dangerous it would be if the only practice you got of that sort was while sparring? Two people moving around throwing out strikes and kicks without any real appreciation of the possible injury and without the practice at judging distance?


Mick

[Aefibird]

Does anyone have a HOME wall bag?

I have a small one sectional one, but I'm thinking of selling it and buying a 3-sectional bag instead (the type that's often used in Kung Fu training). I could do with some filling-and-fixing tips if anyone's got one of those.

[random]

I have a bag on a wall bracket it is fairly heavy and secured by nice big bolts into the wall, it is important to make sure the wall can take the pressure, otherwise it is a case of saving up for a free standing frame.

Mine is filled with sand to stop it wobbling about too much, can’t always get someone daft enough to hold it.

The thing I enjoy about bag and pad work is really letting fly, more than you can do with a training partner without the pad.

Has anybody ever used body armour, not the TKD stuff, proper stuff like the ‘redman’ suit.

[Aefibird]

random said:

I have a bag on a wall bracket it is fairly heavy and secured by nice big bolts into the wall, it is important to make sure the wall can take the pressure, otherwise it is a case of saving up for a free standing frame.

Yeah, I have one of those (a heavy hanging bag).

I was thinking more about this"]http://www.boxing-accessories.co.uk/IMAGES2/AMENDS/BX0114.jpg]this sort of thing. I have a single section bag, but it's quite small. I was planning on getting the larger 3-sectional wall bag, filled with sand.

[random]

I see what you mean about the sectional bag, I have never used one, but wouldn’t it be like hitting the wall if it was filled with sand? Although I can see an immediate benefit of focusing where the punch/kick is going to land, not a lot of room for drifting…then you really would be hitting the wall!

[Aefibird]

Yeah, that's a good reason to use it!!

We have them at Wing Chun for punch targeting and conditioning as well as other reasons. Another good training aid, along with the Mook Jong (wooden dummy). Plus, they don't take up much space.

[Aefibird]

My next goal is to build my own Mook Jong - I just need a new house to get all my MA kit into!