Traditional Karate Equipment

Of course, as you immerse yourself in your martial art or self defense training, you may want to buy better training equipment. And that's fine too.

The important thing is that you must develop the latent strength in your fingers, knuckles, hands, hand edges, feet, elbow, toes, etc.

These parts of your body are your weapons, and you must forge them on the anvil of practice, training and self-discipline.

To at­tain the highest degree of proficiency in the art of Karate, you must practice diligently regularly.

As usual, check with your instructor and your doctor to see if training with any particular item is appropriate for your own circumstances.

Karate Sand and Gravel Box

You can use any old wooden box in the cellar, or even a strong plastic crate.

At the beginning, you should fill the box with rice.

The sand and gravel box will help strengthen your fingertips. This is part of your hands conditioning process.

To train with it, you must thrust your hand into the box about 20 times daily.

Use both hands.

After a while, remove the rice and fill it with dirt.

Then as your hand becomes callused, remove the dirt and fill it with gravel.

After constant training the striking points will become less and less sensitive.

Karate Cement Blocks

Set up the cement blocks in your backyard basement, or shed.

At first you should cover them with a thick blanket, or something to cushom them. You don't want to break your hands with this exercise. You want to gradually condition your hands.

They say "no pain, no gain". But it should really be "no brain, no gain". What is the point of disfiguring your hands? Do this exercise properly, and you'll be fine.

Pound away with the side of your hand, with your elbow and with your fist.

Do this about 15 times a day.

After a short period, remove a layer of the blanket; eventually, with time, you'll remove the entire blanket.

More Traditional Karate Equipment.