Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Conditioning

ABOUT:

Some of the stuff we do in our dojo. This clip mainly shows some of the conditioning aspects in our karate training. These methods are really quite common in most Okinawan karate. The nigiri-game (pots) train grip and wrist power, also trains stability when shifting rapidly from one position to the next. Wrist, waist, forearm and grip power is important in close-quarter fighting, grappling and throws and these make-up the majority of Goju-ryu techniques. The nigiri-game can be made heavier by adding stuff within the pots. The ones in this clip were about 9~10 kilos. The Chiishi (Stone hammer) also trains grip, wrist and forearm power. Throwing it in the air and grabbing it trains grabbing reflexes. There are several other ways of training with the Chiishi which isn't shown here. The "tan" is the barbell with the thick wooden pole in the middle. Used as it was used in this clip and the thick pole having the thickness of a man's forearm, trains grabbing power and reflexes. The Kongoken looks like a giant paper clip and weighs 30kg or more. In this clip, thrusting it in the air and sinking down to Shikodachi trains stability, balance, grip, waist, arm and shoulder power. Randori is like sparring, but the idea is not to hurt or KO the opponent, but to practise your techniques whilst toughening up your training partner. The last section showed various ways of toughening hand and foot for striking, by jabbing into a bucket of small pebbles, or by striking the makiwara (wooden post).