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12/27/18
Karate was originally brutal no holds barred combat, in the truest sense of the word.
The original karateka was a peasant farmer. Under penalty of death he could not possess a sword. His weapons were his hands, and his tools. It was a matter of survival.
Now an original karateka was not a large man. He probably wasn’t able to lift very much weight (at least in the modern gym sense). Though it’s well known the strength and conditioning of a karetekas hands.
Originally this would’ve been a byproduct of labour in the fields. They being primarily unarmed specialized here.
Hands, wrist, a hard to define strength in the back and shoulders. This was their forte. This is the strength a labourer builds.
Moving odd objects, being on their feet all day. Shoveling, swinging a hammer.
Give the latter two a try. These can be done anywhere with any size sledgehammer, short or long handled.
Steve Justa loved his shovel lifts. Somewhere on the internet an office worker type testified about having duct taped a pillow around a sledgehammer and having got fit through old school shovel and hammering (simulated) inside his apartment.
(Update : Ahh, it’s called shovelglove.)
I love this. I do this from time to time. The long handle 8 lb sledge outside as a shovel, that or my old barbell with only one side loaded, and simulating shoveling​ and pick axe work inside with a short handled 4lb sledge. I also do kata like moves, simulate axe fighting,and the labour like movement focusing on really feeling those small “weird strength” muscles.
Not all of us work labour. We could easily get some of its benefits by investing the $25 or so into a sledge and giving it roughly 10 minutes a day shoveling, swinging, whatever.
Once you’ll start you’ll really see how old time boxers had cardio and power. You’ll get why karate hojo undo is similar to labour. It’s not much of a leap for your imagination to see yourself in a mine, or cleaving limb with a battle axe.
You may look strange, and even feel strange doing this, though trust me, it’s worthwhile.