hojo-undo

[Dana Sheets]

Hojo-undo basically means supplemental drills. In Uechi we have a codified set of 13 hojo-udno. The structure is nice for preserving the system - but also a little limiting in that there are countless supplemental exercises that can benefit a karate practitioner.

I recently received the gift of a pair of very nice kamae jars - called Nigiri - Game (Gripping Jars) by the maker - and a CD by the maker on how to use them. He is a Shorin-ryu guy - but the point of using these items is the same.

http://www.bushifitness.com/equipment.htm

He also sells three other items - Chi - Ishi (Power Stones) a stone at the end of the stick, (of various lengths and weights) Tetsu - Geta (Weighted Sandals) heavy sandals, and Ishi - Sashi (Stone Padlocks) - which are basically weights that look like a classic cow-bell - but with a larger handle at the top.

What was nice about the execises he showed in his CD for the other items was how much they could benefit the overal core strength of the karate practitioner during movement. He did allow for the fact that anyone with shoulder problems could have trouble doing many of the exercises - but in all I found them to be good training as shown.

We talk about cross training often as if it were a new idea - but sometimes it's nice to look at the old ways and see if there are some very effective methods that may have fallen by the wayside simply because they look "old fasioned".

Dana

[Deep Sea]

Nigiri - Game (Gripping Jars)
10 pounds each
$75.00 per Pair

If one cannot afford the pair or doesn't want to [not two], and function comes before form, another item which works well are plastic jars of about the same size. One place I worked purchased pretzels from Costco or BJ's or one of those giant discount warehouses, and I would collect the empty jars.

For martial arts usage, each jar-pair contained a different weighting of rice. They work very well for my students and myself.

[Dana Sheets]

We have salad dressing jars at our dojo. And since we now workout at a gym we often use the hand weights (rubber coated) in the room. I've also enjoyed the profileration of the large inflatable exercise balls in the gym. These are great to do situps and pushups on - build core strength and balance.

I tried doing kicking drills on one of those half-moon inflatable balls the other day...WHEW! Big balance challege.

illustration:
http://www.africana.com/columns/lenard/ ... 08bosu.asp

Dana

[Halford]

In some respects this relates to the mat topic in this forum, in that, some mats are expensive, others inexpensive(?),of various materials and in some countries, they are woven in various ways, and used for a variety of tasks, from drying rice and other things in the sunshine. So it is, in countries where the martial arts industry is not up and running, with highly commercialized items, practitioners have to 'exercise' their ingenuity. Weight resistance and gripping exercises in remote, rural areas rely on indigenous materials and everyday objects. I do not have time to delve into this right now to give better examples but it is an area that has interested me for years. Yes, to answer the question, if any, about using the old methods, there is validity in so doing but each person has to find his own devices(no pun intended) to satisfy his urge to exercise and train. Wooden dummies are another training device used by various kungfu groups and these can range from crude to sophisticated.

[jorvik]

http://www.cbass.com/Furey.htm

[Dana Sheets]

Anyone here trained using the metal rings on the forearms? Something you always see a kungfu schools...and since Uechi is basically kungfu viewed through a Okinawan filter I thought this practice might have crossed over.

Dana

[Halford]

only a few schools use them. There are copper rings, steel rings, iron rings, brass rings, and bamboo rings and rattan rings and all have various ways of use. One is to squeeze the smaller rings in the hands for the grip,usually claw, and then to to larger ones until you reach the limit of your finger spans. The weight of the rings on the forearms and wrists can be duplicated somewhat by wrist weights,etc. except that the feel is apt to be different and the movement of the rings on the forearms have something a strapped-on weight does not have. You have to work with such to know what is meant by this. Tossing the rings, catching the rings,etc. are other exercises that can be done. Holding the arms out to the sides,extended at parallel to the ground and twirling the rings around the arms in circles is another thing that can be done. Also the rings can be used as weapons, as you probably know. That is why a woman's bracelet can be very handy for such a self-defense weapon.

[f.Channell]

I know there is a certain romantic flavor to using these old ancient Okinawan training tools, but can't modern weightlifting equipment such as dumbbells etc... easily replace these items?
During the post war period the Okinwawans had to use what items they could gather. Axles from jeeps, stone locks from destroyed village gates are ingenious tools they modified for their own use. They are well outlined in Allan Dollars book.
I agree with Allen M. that the spirit of invention developing or reusing materials as the Okinawans did is an interesting way to go.
It also pleases my Yankee upbringing $$$.

The methods of using these items and how to train them is something I would love to hear more about.
F.

[cxt]

Folks

There is a company that focuses on tools and equipment for the serious stength training set.

www.ironmind.com

They sell a more modern chiishi (you can add weights)

Interesting to note the effectiveness of the "old school' methods.

[gmattson]

Check out this equipment. They are an advertiser and an excellent company.

http://uechi-ryu.com/oldsite/martial_tr ... ipment.htm

[Deep Sea]

Anyone here trained using the metal rings on the forearms?

When searching for a place to practice while living in the Northwest I encountered a school that used them. They looked cool and sounded so rhythmical. Their forms using the rings was so hypnotic. Must be a good school I thought. I watched them spar. Well, I then thought, at least they have the rings.