CORRECT USE OF YOUR STRIKING POST

 by Yang Shuangxing

Okay...you've got your striking post in place and you're all set to start using it. But just how is it to be used correctly? Over the years, I've numerous karate devotees go to the trouble of constructing a good striking post, only to use it incorrectly.

*PRACTICE MUST BE REGULAR. Daily is preferable. Practicing only twice a week will get you nowhere; all you'll have are sore hands and you'll probably quit altogether. You also can't practice regularly for a month or two and then slack off for a month. It's better not to even start than to practice irregularly.

*REMEMBER WHY YOU'RE DOING IT. Training with the striking post is NOT DONE TO BUILD CALLOUSES. First and foremost, it is done to teach you to strike THROUGH your target. Additionally, it aims at improving your structure and toughening the striking surfaces to some degree (but it should not result in the formation of large callouses). Over time, it will cause the bones (involved in the blows that you practice every day) to become extremely hard and strong.

*DON'T GET SLOPPY. Don't just lackadaisically throw various punches and strikes. That will get you nowhere at all. Set up in a proper stance (usually and Forward Stance or Horse-Riding Stance) so you can feel the reaction force of each blow all the way to the soles of your feet. Make full, deliberate, and complete strikes and punches. Do a given number of repetitions with each hand before switching to doing a different technique.

*MAKE SURE PRACTICE IS ADEQUATE. Don't just perform a half-dozen reps of one technique and expect to see results, even over time. If you're going to do 100 reps of a given technique, you can break it up into sets of 25 (interspersed with other techniques). They don't have to be done all in one set, but they do have to be done.

*IF YOU INJURE YOURSELF, STOP...until the injury is completely healed. Never try to “tough it out”; that only results in prolonging the healing process and/or you may end up with a permanent injury. Practice smart!

*TAKE YOUR TIME: To see any results from this training is going to take some time. Don't hurry! Within 6 mos., your bodily weapons will become signififcantly stronger. After one year of daily practice your blows will land with much greater impact and after 3 years, you will be able to drop even a very large assailant with a single strike. So, take your time. You'll get there, eventually.