Evening Sensei, just read your review of the book 'The Art of Hojo Undo' on Amazon! Thought i'd stick my neck out on here to echo your views on how Hojo Undo shouldn't be restricted to Goju Ryu specifically.
The benefits from this sort of training are huge and not just in the dojo! Having studied Goju Ryu for a few years, i'm now trying to get this sort of training at my local Shotokan club and no-ones interested....shame.
Thank you for the demonstration, sensei. Just got a pair of kettlebells to substitute for actual ishi sashi (10 lb each, as I've found somewhere that traditional ishi-sashi were between 6-11 lb), so how many reps of each of those ishi sashi exercises would you recommend?
This is why Goju-Ryu is one of the few karate arts left that will really give you some good to very good fighting skills, strength, power, they train in basic Iron body, use some good basic gung-fu stepping and more. Of course that's because the art is taken almost entirely from Chinese Crane style gung-fu. This is the art that Miyagi of the Karate Kid movies knew and taught to Daniel. It's one of the few well rounded karate arts left in the world. You want to learn good stuff, take Goju-Ryu.
Osu Sensei, thank you for the fantastic video. Do you have any advice on how one could structure a hojo undo routine? I have made my own chishi and nigiri game so far.
@kyokushinjarhead - I personally do not use the hojo undo as a routine, but rather to enhance whichever parts of my practise feel weak on any given day. For example if my shoulders are rising, I'll use nigiri gami to bring them back down. If my punch lacks connection to the body, I'll use chiishi to enhance it. There is no reason why you can't create your own schedules or circuits, but this is not how I personally practise. Good luck and enjoy your training!
Thank you for the videos ,and you are one of the few who still knows ancient training methods ,and i belive you already know the deception of modern bodybuilding style training .You see i recently damaged my joints specialy knees ,doing this type of modern,advanced,non functional,machine training.So i beg you ,could you publish some info about leg training ,in ancient karate or other martial arts ,because bodyweight and hi reps is not the truth of real fighting. Thank you very much !
@MyExus - I'll see what I can do. Most of my own leg training comes as a by product of the rest of my training. For example in the hojo undo video above, most of the exercises involve performing a squat whilst you do the exercise.
There was a great training ground at a graveyard in Tomari Okinawa where ancient martial artists used the surrounding walls for static jumps (like modern day box jumps). I'm going back there in a couple of weeks so I'll try to get something on film for you.
@MyExus - Junbi undo dai ni also contains various leg strengthening exercises, if you practise this? Give me a couple of weeks and I'll see what I can do. I hope your knees are ok.
@thecontemplative2 - thank you very much. I agree, there are definately some treasures to be found amongst the small private dojo tucked away around the world. People just getting on with practise for the sake of practise, without desire for all the rubbish which seems to go hand in hand with the art nowadays.
Very impressive, Sir. How often do you recommend practising? Every day is obviously too much since the body needs rest. Once a monthe is certainly not enough. Where would you say a beginner to this kind of training should start, and what progression would you suggest?
I believe that Michael Clarke author of "The Art of Hojo Undo" consulted with Charles and they concur that is some sort of ships ballast or part of something to crush sugar cane. I grew up on a plantation and have seen many makeshift implements used for physical training. Coffee can, rebar and cement for kettle bells, ishi sashi, and weight to let the water out of veggies ready for tsukemono.
@isa4030ro - thanks for the info. I'm intrigued by the fact that Hawaian wrestlers are said to have been what impressed Miyagi sensei when he saw them using the kongoken. Interesting too that the tetsu wa appears to have been pretty much discarded one th kongoken was introduced. I wonder if Miyagi sensei found a better way of performing certain exercises in the kongoken, particularly in regard to wrist power and shaking power.
Garry, your gym and workout routine is excellent. I became interested in Hojo Undo as supplemental research several years back when I was learning Indian Clubs. I am from Hawaii and grew up on a sugar plantation and never saw the Kongoken used in it's original purpose. Martial Artists of the past certainly were resourceful and functional in their approach to supplemental training. You've done really well in bringing this form of training to a new audience. Thank you for sharing.
@isa4030ro - thank you very much for your kind comments. I've never given it much thought, but that would be great if somebody was able to track down how the original kongoken was used in Hawaii, and show what it was that inspired Miyagi sensei so much. I wonder if Mr Charles Goodin might have some idea of where to look?
I have made makiwara, chi-ishi and makiage kigu in the past and i reckon the tou will be challenging for my limited (poor) handyman skills, but i'll give it a go!
@sanchin3bat - My building skills are useless too! If I can make one, believe me, you'll definately be able to do it!
If not taken many pic of the new dojo, but have a few more video blogs planned for the near future so I'll try to include a little look around the dojo in one of those.
@sanchin3bat - Hi Rob, the tou is made from a log I found in the woods. I stripped it of all its bark and then set it in concrete into a steel base. The arms are made from flexible pipe which you can find in most garden centres. Hope this helps.
There is all ways some one that dont get it that's why thay dont get any were in life Karate is like life,Yon never know whats round the corner.You train all as one That's what the human body is. one peace so you train it all Fool.milnus
@milnusthegnome - hahaha! you seem to spend a lot of time posting abuse onto other peoples videos. Thank you for wasting you time on mine. All the best.
@milnusthegnome The question can go both ways...why bother paying someone else for permission to use equipment that you can make yourself? Especially when half the stuff in the gym(and more) was made by hand years ago? Gyms aren't the be all and end all of conditioning.
@milnusthegnome Because the movements are much closer to the method that the body moves in a fight. The same is true of the use of the vast majority of traditional conditioning methods.
@milnusthegnome Which explains quite well why more and more martial artists and combat athletes are moving away from traditional weight lifting, and moving towards kettle bells, club bells, and medicine balls.
Very nice montage. I think this is the best video of hojo undo on youtube. Very dedicated training and good camera. You should be proud of your dojo by the way...
The concrete on the long stick is an old physical culture exercise tool I think they were called pins. I'm glad they are being rediscovered in the same way kettlebells have been
Actually, almost all of these things have a "modern" equivelant. Chi ishi would be an adjustable dumb bell with a plate on one side only or one of the cheap two piece barbells. Ishi sashi would be kettlebells. Nigiri game, would be weight plates that have a slight lip (a plate pinch,) kongoken you'd have to make with pvc pipe and a couple bags worth of sand, tan is just a barbell, and the machiwara and tou can both easily be made at home as well.
Thank you very much. I perform these exercises at various points during my personal training. I usually either devote a whole session to hojo undo, or perform exercises in between kata. I am not an advocate of the 3 K's, this is a modern method of training which relates little to the Okinawan way of practise.
impressive training, im still quite new to goju ryu but it looks like there are quite a few conditioning methods; more then my sensei has shown me so far.
Great Stuff thanks for sharing this video. Where do you purchase your equiptment? I am looking for those Ishi Sashi and I'm not sure what a good price is for them.
Anyone besides me ever notice the chi ishi look a hell of a lot like "club bells" or weighted club that are all the range among fringe fitness people and that ishi sashi are very similar to the "kettle bell"
It's funny. All this talk these days about functional training and developing a strong core, old school karateka were doing just that all along with equipment like this!
no, esto quizas no esta mal del todo peroyo una vez vi un video kinjo masanobu haciendo hojo undo y eso si que era excelente, de todos modos bien por el que subio el video...
May I ask, where did you get your ishi sashi from (or if you made them, how hard is it lol?) Where abouts do you train now, I used to train in the early 90's in Cambs an often travel down to Sensei Georges original Honbu in Camberwell (was it the Marble Factory?) Unfortunately I live in Stoke now and there is no Goju Ryu club near me. Have a great Traditional Shotokan club who have welcomed Chi Ishi into the dojo etc. I miss the dynamics Of IOGKF though. V Jealous of your dojo! Arigato.
Evening Sensei, just read your review of the book 'The Art of Hojo Undo' on Amazon! Thought i'd stick my neck out on here to echo your views on how Hojo Undo shouldn't be restricted to Goju Ryu specifically.
The benefits from this sort of training are huge and not just in the dojo! Having studied Goju Ryu for a few years, i'm now trying to get this sort of training at my local Shotokan club and no-ones interested....shame.
MrFlip5150 6 days ago
Thank you for the demonstration, sensei. Just got a pair of kettlebells to substitute for actual ishi sashi (10 lb each, as I've found somewhere that traditional ishi-sashi were between 6-11 lb), so how many reps of each of those ishi sashi exercises would you recommend?
WiiMan25 1 month ago
@WiiMan25 - I'd start with aiming for 10 reps, but it is good to push yourself occasionally and keep going until fail. Good for the spirit!
Enjoy your training!
garrylever06 1 month ago
This is why Goju-Ryu is one of the few karate arts left that will really give you some good to very good fighting skills, strength, power, they train in basic Iron body, use some good basic gung-fu stepping and more. Of course that's because the art is taken almost entirely from Chinese Crane style gung-fu. This is the art that Miyagi of the Karate Kid movies knew and taught to Daniel. It's one of the few well rounded karate arts left in the world. You want to learn good stuff, take Goju-Ryu.
Gungfuman77 2 months ago
If I may ask:
Did you really acquire that amazing body just with hojo undo and karate training?
HomunculusProject 4 months ago
superb sensei. howd you think of all the fantastic training methods. what organisation are you under?
gojukarate100 4 months ago
@gojukarate100 - Thank you very much but I did not think of any of these. The exercises were handed down by Miyagi Chojun sensei.
garrylever06 4 months ago
Osu Sensei, thank you for the fantastic video. Do you have any advice on how one could structure a hojo undo routine? I have made my own chishi and nigiri game so far.
kyokushinjarhead 7 months ago
@kyokushinjarhead - I personally do not use the hojo undo as a routine, but rather to enhance whichever parts of my practise feel weak on any given day. For example if my shoulders are rising, I'll use nigiri gami to bring them back down. If my punch lacks connection to the body, I'll use chiishi to enhance it. There is no reason why you can't create your own schedules or circuits, but this is not how I personally practise. Good luck and enjoy your training!
garrylever06 7 months ago
Great stuff!
talon115 10 months ago
Where do you buy all this equipment? I am learning shorin ryu karate but my dojo doesn't that everything you were using, except the makiwara.
GhostGrind 10 months ago
Thank you for the videos ,and you are one of the few who still knows ancient training methods ,and i belive you already know the deception of modern bodybuilding style training .You see i recently damaged my joints specialy knees ,doing this type of modern,advanced,non functional,machine training.So i beg you ,could you publish some info about leg training ,in ancient karate or other martial arts ,because bodyweight and hi reps is not the truth of real fighting. Thank you very much !
MyExus 1 year ago
@MyExus - I'll see what I can do. Most of my own leg training comes as a by product of the rest of my training. For example in the hojo undo video above, most of the exercises involve performing a squat whilst you do the exercise.
There was a great training ground at a graveyard in Tomari Okinawa where ancient martial artists used the surrounding walls for static jumps (like modern day box jumps). I'm going back there in a couple of weeks so I'll try to get something on film for you.
garrylever06 1 year ago
@MyExus - Junbi undo dai ni also contains various leg strengthening exercises, if you practise this? Give me a couple of weeks and I'll see what I can do. I hope your knees are ok.
garrylever06 1 year ago
Nice video. It confirms my conviction that "hole in the wall" dojos are where you will find real martial arts done by serious practitioners.
thecontemplative2 1 year ago
@thecontemplative2 - thank you very much. I agree, there are definately some treasures to be found amongst the small private dojo tucked away around the world. People just getting on with practise for the sake of practise, without desire for all the rubbish which seems to go hand in hand with the art nowadays.
garrylever06 1 year ago
muy buen entrenamiento, si señor!!
good training.. jeje..
jkun666 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Very impressive, Sir. How often do you recommend practising? Every day is obviously too much since the body needs rest. Once a monthe is certainly not enough. Where would you say a beginner to this kind of training should start, and what progression would you suggest?
Best regards
silk
blacksilkblacksilk 1 year ago
Found your blogspot. Will be look at that for your updates. Use this site for base reference. Great Job!
isa4030ro 1 year ago
I believe that Michael Clarke author of "The Art of Hojo Undo" consulted with Charles and they concur that is some sort of ships ballast or part of something to crush sugar cane. I grew up on a plantation and have seen many makeshift implements used for physical training. Coffee can, rebar and cement for kettle bells, ishi sashi, and weight to let the water out of veggies ready for tsukemono.
isa4030ro 1 year ago
@isa4030ro - thanks for the info. I'm intrigued by the fact that Hawaian wrestlers are said to have been what impressed Miyagi sensei when he saw them using the kongoken. Interesting too that the tetsu wa appears to have been pretty much discarded one th kongoken was introduced. I wonder if Miyagi sensei found a better way of performing certain exercises in the kongoken, particularly in regard to wrist power and shaking power.
garrylever06 1 year ago
Garry, your gym and workout routine is excellent. I became interested in Hojo Undo as supplemental research several years back when I was learning Indian Clubs. I am from Hawaii and grew up on a sugar plantation and never saw the Kongoken used in it's original purpose. Martial Artists of the past certainly were resourceful and functional in their approach to supplemental training. You've done really well in bringing this form of training to a new audience. Thank you for sharing.
isa4030ro 1 year ago
@isa4030ro - thank you very much for your kind comments. I've never given it much thought, but that would be great if somebody was able to track down how the original kongoken was used in Hawaii, and show what it was that inspired Miyagi sensei so much. I wonder if Mr Charles Goodin might have some idea of where to look?
Thanks for writing!
garrylever06 1 year ago
Domo arigato gozai mashita Garry.
I have made makiwara, chi-ishi and makiage kigu in the past and i reckon the tou will be challenging for my limited (poor) handyman skills, but i'll give it a go!
Do you have any pics of your new dojo?
Best wishes,
Rob
sanchin3bat 1 year ago
@sanchin3bat - My building skills are useless too! If I can make one, believe me, you'll definately be able to do it!
If not taken many pic of the new dojo, but have a few more video blogs planned for the near future so I'll try to include a little look around the dojo in one of those.
All the best,
Garry
garrylever06 1 year ago
Hi
Thank you for sharing your love of Hojo undo.
May i please ask, what type of wood and type of material is your 'Tou made' of?
I am looking to start one from scratch.
Many thanks,
Rob
sanchin3bat 1 year ago
@sanchin3bat - Hi Rob, the tou is made from a log I found in the woods. I stripped it of all its bark and then set it in concrete into a steel base. The arms are made from flexible pipe which you can find in most garden centres. Hope this helps.
Good luck!
garrylever06 1 year ago
There is all ways some one that dont get it that's why thay dont get any were in life Karate is like life,Yon never know whats round the corner.You train all as one That's what the human body is. one peace so you train it all Fool.milnus
HELLO2YOU3 1 year ago
Ths is great workout! Can you please inform the aprox weight of your Chi Ishi?
Nice post
aconchon 1 year ago
@aconchon - The smaller chiishi weighs about 10 pound, the larger about 15 I think.
garrylever06 1 year ago
Greate training...
OSU //Michael
ICA32 1 year ago
This is actually stupid, in my honest opinion, why does he need Okinawa's version of weight training to develop muscularity? Go down the gym, poser.
milnusthegnome 1 year ago
@milnusthegnome - hahaha! you seem to spend a lot of time posting abuse onto other peoples videos. Thank you for wasting you time on mine. All the best.
garrylever06 1 year ago
@milnusthegnome The question can go both ways...why bother paying someone else for permission to use equipment that you can make yourself? Especially when half the stuff in the gym(and more) was made by hand years ago? Gyms aren't the be all and end all of conditioning.
deek77 1 year ago
@milnusthegnome Because the movements are much closer to the method that the body moves in a fight. The same is true of the use of the vast majority of traditional conditioning methods.
Wolfenman08 1 year ago
@Wolfenman08 excuses
milnusthegnome 1 year ago
@milnusthegnome Which explains quite well why more and more martial artists and combat athletes are moving away from traditional weight lifting, and moving towards kettle bells, club bells, and medicine balls.
Wolfenman08 1 year ago
Very nice montage. I think this is the best video of hojo undo on youtube. Very dedicated training and good camera. You should be proud of your dojo by the way...
maleleader 1 year ago
@maleleader - thank you very much for your kind words. The dojo is no more I'm afraid, I have built a new one. All the best.
garrylever06 1 year ago
Awesome vid, I agree with the last post very nice Dojo.
karatedude4 1 year ago
OSS
MasOyama10dan 2 years ago
The concrete on the long stick is an old physical culture exercise tool I think they were called pins. I'm glad they are being rediscovered in the same way kettlebells have been
Rick
KirkhamsEbooks 2 years ago
Sensei, can I ask where you buy your equipment? It's hard to find this stuff in the States. Arigato.
deek77 2 years ago
Actually, almost all of these things have a "modern" equivelant. Chi ishi would be an adjustable dumb bell with a plate on one side only or one of the cheap two piece barbells. Ishi sashi would be kettlebells. Nigiri game, would be weight plates that have a slight lip (a plate pinch,) kongoken you'd have to make with pvc pipe and a couple bags worth of sand, tan is just a barbell, and the machiwara and tou can both easily be made at home as well.
sigmacombatsystems 2 years ago
@deek77 - most of the equipment was made myself from easy to find materials.
garrylever06 1 year ago
Hiya, can I ask you where did you get saashi? Is in the UK some shop or something? It looks really good. Thanks for reply. Tom from Czech republic
83Gino 2 years ago
@83Gino - the sashi are from shureido in okinawa
garrylever06 1 year ago
Amazing!! Thats so cool that you train this way. Do you do these exercises before or after to do your kihon and katas, kumite.
saracen83 2 years ago
Thank you very much. I perform these exercises at various points during my personal training. I usually either devote a whole session to hojo undo, or perform exercises in between kata. I am not an advocate of the 3 K's, this is a modern method of training which relates little to the Okinawan way of practise.
garrylever06 2 years ago
You have a VERY NICE Dojo. I would gladly trade my living room with ur dojo.
pelepone 2 years ago
Ha ha! Thank you very much! Maybe we could work out a deal?
garrylever06 2 years ago
impressive training, im still quite new to goju ryu but it looks like there are quite a few conditioning methods; more then my sensei has shown me so far.
slapnut892 2 years ago
very cool video!
zatoichi12345 2 years ago
Great Stuff thanks for sharing this video. Where do you purchase your equiptment? I am looking for those Ishi Sashi and I'm not sure what a good price is for them.
HapkidoJosh 2 years ago
This reminds me of sledge hammer training that old Time Strong men used to do in the 1800's
RoyalDragonusa 2 years ago
Anyone besides me ever notice the chi ishi look a hell of a lot like "club bells" or weighted club that are all the range among fringe fitness people and that ishi sashi are very similar to the "kettle bell"
zdoshi6969 3 years ago
yeah and the kongoken is similiar to that 'torsonator' thing the kettlebell sites sell also.....
seems to do the same thing
polarbearswrath 3 years ago
Great stuff, Garry-san! :)
tokyo333 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this,i think we in Kyokushinkai could benefit from resurecting some of these methods .
iroscoe 3 years ago
Great post!!!
ronin752 3 years ago 2
Kongoken is 5 foot by one foot, and weighs about 70kg.
garrylever06 3 years ago
What dimensions did you give when you had the Kongoken made?
crowncliff 3 years ago
I love all the equipment. In some ways all the old training gear is much better than alot of the new stuff around. Thanks for posting.
BlackDice572 3 years ago
It's funny. All this talk these days about functional training and developing a strong core, old school karateka were doing just that all along with equipment like this!
deek77 3 years ago
it goes right of mate!!!!
wedyxs 3 years ago
Very nice video.What is the weight of the kongoken ?
karatefreak24 3 years ago
Yes I had the kongoken made by a friend of my fathers. I'm sure any local blacksmiths would be able to assist you.
garrylever06 3 years ago
thanks :)
polarbearswrath 3 years ago
hi,
How did you come by your kongoken? Did you have it made?
polarbearswrath 3 years ago
Great to see the real old way of training.. also, great blog Domo!!
mkdios122 3 years ago
Nice..!
Exelentes ejercicios! ^^
rasec93 3 years ago
Hi Garry, first of all i wanted to compliment for the blog, it really rocks, very inspiring ;)
said this, can you please give me some tips to making the ishi sashi?
thank you ;)
Davide
tokageroh1988 3 years ago
realy enjoyed videos, educational and inspiring,
stevej29 3 years ago
excelente muy muy buenas demostraciones sobre el entrenamiento goju ryu ;)
JOSE5030 3 years ago
no, esto quizas no esta mal del todo peroyo una vez vi un video kinjo masanobu haciendo hojo undo y eso si que era excelente, de todos modos bien por el que subio el video...
esta buenisimo
locoyogui 3 years ago
To be honest I'm not exactly sure of the weight of the Tan. I used two buckets and filled them with concrete. I'd guess the weight to be about 30kg?
I only use Jow if I pick up any aches or bruises as a result of conditioning.
garrylever06 3 years ago
Excellent vid, what is the weight on each side of the Tan? Do you guys use jow for your strike conditioning?
RevolMaster 3 years ago
you're great man.
how do you built the chi ishi?
wood, long screws and tiny stones and sand mixex eith concrete? ;)
tokageroh1988 3 years ago
May I ask, where did you get your ishi sashi from (or if you made them, how hard is it lol?) Where abouts do you train now, I used to train in the early 90's in Cambs an often travel down to Sensei Georges original Honbu in Camberwell (was it the Marble Factory?) Unfortunately I live in Stoke now and there is no Goju Ryu club near me. Have a great Traditional Shotokan club who have welcomed Chi Ishi into the dojo etc. I miss the dynamics Of IOGKF though. V Jealous of your dojo! Arigato.
flipchigly 3 years ago
Hi. The guy is me, and it was filmed at my dojo in the UK.
Thank you all so much for your positive comments!
garrylever06 3 years ago
Very interesting. Who is the guy and where is this filmed?
Colemandina 3 years ago
The best martial arts video on You Tube, full stop. No bullsh*t, just good hard training. Thank you very, very much.
flipchigly 3 years ago
Solid. Nice to see a karate-ka put the tools to use and really work it. Thanks.
NMCK69 3 years ago
Very interesting and nice Dojo, nice post Thanks, OSU
risingsunintl 3 years ago