Alternative Training Aids

[makiwara]

I was wondering how many of you used unorthodox training aids and what they were. I've never heard of Martial Artists using what I do as an aid, and I was extremely surprised as I think it's great. What I do is play Hacky Sack before I work out. Hacky Sack is a small sewn sack filled with beans or beads. There are very few rules to hacky sack as a game; no hands, don't serve to yourself (unless you're playing alone), and never apologize; but these rules can be altered for training purposes. The reason I use this is it gets me stretched out and limber, it gets my blood flowing and used to moving around changing direction suddenly, but most of all it gets me used to putting my feet at precise point in a precise position from any where while moving. I have found this to be a great training aid and encourage all to try it, and I wanna hear if yall might have anything to add.

[BoarSpear]

I was wondering how many of you used unorthodox training aids and what they were. I've never heard of Martial Artists using what I do as an aid, and I was extremely surprised as I think it's great. What I do is play Hacky Sack before I work out. Hacky Sack is a small sewn sack filled with beans or beads. There are very few rules to hacky sack as a game; no hands, don't serve to yourself (unless you're playing alone), and never apologize; but these rules can be altered for training purposes. The reason I use this is it gets me stretched out and limber, it gets my blood flowing and used to moving around changing direction suddenly, but most of all it gets me used to putting my feet at precise point in a precise position from any where while moving. I have found this to be a great training aid and encourage all to try it, and I wanna hear if yall might have anything to add.

Seipa (hacky sack) is an awesome warmup/training tool! we play over a net like volleyball sometimes, other times its just normal...although combat seipa is out favorite...you attack your fellow players while keeping the ball in play..miss the ball and you do pushups let someone score on you (kicking between your legs) and you do pushups

[makiwara]

Seipa (hacky sack) is an awesome warmup/training tool! we play over a net like volleyball sometimes, other times its just normal...although combat seipa is out favorite...you attack your fellow players while keeping the ball in play..miss the ball and you do pushups let someone score on you (kicking between your legs) and you do pushups

Great, I was begining to think from the lack of posts that I must be crazy, glad to know I'm not the only one who does this. How exactly does the combat version work, do you attack while you have control or while the other person has control, or someone who is not in play at the moment. In school we used to play redspot, where if you mess up you stand with your hands on the wall while everyone takes turns throwing it at you, or you stand with your hands behind your head while everyone lines up to bow you in the chest, stomach, or ribs. I thought that was rough, but we never took groinshots on purpose (though I did get bowed in the kidney once, and another time I broke both my arms playing).

[Art of Soccer]

Yeah, I use it. It's much harder then juggling a soccer ball.

Getting used to the weight difference when jumping from hackey sack to a soccer ball is pretty interesting.

Ever use a medicine ball instead of a soccer ball or bag?

It's like getting a massage, just be careful not to kick on the toe or you might sprain something.