HOJO UNDO 4/30/2012
Implements for Supplementary Exercises
These are tools for our Karate training, brought from China. There are a number of implements that have been passed on to us by the forefathers of Karate.
The list:
CHISHI– a stone lever weight, gripped and moved with the wrist to enhance joint strength
NIGIRI GAME– weighted gripping jars, for grip strength
TETSU GETA– Iron sandals, used like ankle weights
ISASHI ISHI– stones
UKI KAGO– a cane basket used to walk on to teach you to tread lightly,
TOU– a bundle of bamboo to train your spear hand strike,
SUNABAKO– a box or bowl filled with sand, rice, or small rocks that you would jab your hand or fingers into, to toughen them up
KONGO KEN– a large iron ring use for lifting and moving around to practice throws, and to develop all around body strength
TEKKAN– Iron rings you would put on your wrist.
Most of these are not used by modern day Karate-ka, they have been replaced by today’s weights, and our approach to weight training has greatly improved. When karate was being introduced to the modern world, a lot was left behind. The emphasis was on the perfection of the character, not so much as a self-defense or warrior art. Also, when “sport” Karate came around, there was not much reason to train the hands and body to be weapons.
Still, there is a lot to be said about the old way of training. These tools were meant to work a certain area of the body, to target the part of the body that would be use for punching, or striking, or grabbing. True power does not reside in the muscle but in the joints, which is what these tools would work on.
Man has always used whatever was around to enhance himself for hunting or fighting or to attract a mate. Early man learned he needed an edge to survive against the elements, wild animals, or other men. They took from nature whatever they could find (or make) to help in everyday life.
HOJO UNDO can come in a lot of different ways, not just in tools but in the way we train. I consider, basics, flow drills, kakie, weapon training, ude tauren (arm conditioning), and warm up exercises to all be hojo undo.
When Karate went from Okinawa to Japan it was passed on by telling the people that you didn’t need any equipment, and that anyone could learn it- young, old, man, or woman, weak or strong. They made the BASICS the tools. All sports have their tools, baseball needs a bat, ball and glove. Football uses pads, helmets, a ball. But Karate had the basics: punch, kick, blocks, combos, and kata. This is the way we learned how the body worked, it was our tools, like barbells to a weightlifter. We use the basics to make us faster and stronger, to teach us when to be hard or when to relax the body.
While some of these implements of HOJO UNDO are great for us and keep that connection with the past, they are not necessary to learn and train in Karate. The “way is in training”-that is the main point, whether it’s the ancient way or in our modern gyms. The message is just keep trying, and practicing and pushing ourselves.
see you in the dojo