Martial arts training equipment is expensive, but you can make your own version of some training aids and weapons, using some creativity and easily accessible materials. Browse through catalogs and websites to get a feel for what kind of equipment you need and how it is made. Examine the equipment in person at your martial arts training school. The better you understand the equipment, the easier it will be for you to build it yourself at home.
Making a Large Kick Shield
Step 1
Cut two layers of closed-cell foam to fit the inside bottom of the canvas duffel bag.
Step 2
Place the cut pieces of closed-cell foam in the bottom of the duffel bag.
Step 3
Fill the remaining space with the dense pillows, such as those from an old couch.
Making a Paddle Target
Step 1
Cut two layers of closed-cell foam into the paddle's shape, and glue them together.
Step 2
Cut two pieces of ¼-inch leather into the paddle's shape, and glue one over each side of the foam.
Step 3
Wrap the handle in sports tape.
Step 4
Wrap the paddle in duct tape for added longevity.
Making a Meteor Hammer
Step 1
Cut a piece of ¼-inch-thick cotton rope so that it stretches from your left outstretched hand to your right outstretched hand and from there to the ground, plus 4 inches.
Step 2
Using 4 to 6 inches at one end of the rope, securely tie on a strong keyring.
Step 3
Attach a 16-ounce lead sinker to the keyring.
Making a Rope Dart
Step 1
Cut a piece of ¼-inch-thick cotton rope so that it stretches from your left outstretched hand to your right outstretched hand and from there to the ground, plus 4 inches.
Step 2
Drill a hole in the top of a plumb bob.
Step 3
Secure a strong keyring through the hole in the plumb bob, and secure a second strong keyring to the first.
Step 4
Using 4 to 6 inches at one end of the rope, secure the second keyring to the rope.
Making a Series of Graduated Makiwara Boards
Step 1
Using the 6-inch screws, attach the 40-inch 4x4 into the studs at the base of a wall.
Step 2
Using the 2-inch screws attach the ends of three 4-foot long, 1x4 boards 18 to 24 inches apart to the 4x4. The top 6 inches of these vertical boards will be your striking surface.
Step 3
Wrap the top 6 inches of one board with ½-inch-thick rope, and wrap the rope with eight to 10 layers of duct tape.
Step 4
Wrap the top 6 inches of one board with ½-inch-thick rope.
Step 5
Leave one board bare. This will give you three boards of graduated resilience for hardening training.
Making a Medicine Ball
Step 1
Cut through and around the middle of a soccer ball.
Step 2
Fill both halves of the soccer ball with material. For a very heavy ball, use gravel or sand. For a midweight ball, use gravel mixed with chunks of hardwood or porous volcanic rocks.
Step 3
Use duct tape to secure the material into the soccer ball halves.
Step 4
Tape both halves of the soccer ball back together. Continue taping until the ball is structurally sound.
Things You'll Need
- Closed-cell foam
- Canvas duffel bag
- Dense pillows
- ¼-inch leather
- Sports tape
- Duct tape
- ¼-inch cotton rope
- ½-inch rope
- Strong keyrings
- 16 ounce lead sinker
- Plumb bob
- 40-inch 4x4
- Three 4-foot 1x4 softwood boards
- 2-inch screws
- 6-inch screws
- Drill with screwdriver attachments
- Soccer ball
- Sand or gravel or rocks and/or wood chunks
References
- "Homemade Martial Arts Training Equipment: A Do-It-Yourself Guide"; Janich, Michael; 2002
- "Mook Jong Construction Manual: Building Modern and Traditional Wooden Dummies on a Budget"; Janich, Michael; 2000
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