The secret to hitting hard…
Is to HIT SOMETHING AS HARD AS YOU CAN.
We’re always looking for shortcuts. Fitness, sports… we LOVE when we get a little “secret” that gives us an edge over the competition. And when it comes to training to hit hard — there are a TON of expert opinions.
But after all is said and done and you’ve wasted your time hitting X-ray paper and flimsy pine boards, sparring with your booties on and practicing your forms… NOTHING — and I mean NOTHING — replaces HITTING SOMETHING AS HARD AS YOU CAN.
This is why the makiwara was used so extensively in classical karate.
This is why kenjutsu experts would cut bamboo.
Because nothing develops the EXACT skill you want more than doing that EXACT SKILL (and punching and kicking air isn’t going to do it).
This means you can be 100% certain that you’re developing the exact muscles, tendons, striking surfaces and motor skills to accomplish the task.
It’s not that complicated… If you want to get better at something, PRACTICE IT LIKE YOU WANT TO DO IT.
But there is a catch….
- First, you need to practice on something that resembles your target, like a training dummy — or you can get away with a heavy bag. Anything more elaborate is going to take too much time to build for most people. Before dummies, we used to build our own with black pipe, foam, springs and duct tape.
- Second, you need to take your time. And you can’t use wraps, gloves or hand protection. This is self-defense, and unless you wear that stuff all day, it’s not going to help you.You need to be patient. Start off slow and let pain be your guide. If you’re injured, you can’t train. Let your hands develop the toughness needed to deliver full power. Most people are shocked at how quickly this happens. Especially if you’re using techniques that use the stronger and meatier parts of your hand and body.
- Third (and most importantly), you can’t do this every day… and you won’t have to. Your hands and body will get sore and you need to rest because this type of training is a bit uncomfortable (and no one likes doing it).
Now, think about this. If your hands are too sore from hitting hard, you’re not going to come to class three or four times a week and the instructor doesn’t collect the tuition they need. Instead, it’s easier to line you up in rows, have you strike the air and pull your punches when you spar.
No one gets hurt, no one gets discouraged and EVERYONE comes to class!
Unfortunately, this is doing NOTHING for your power and your ability to turn your cupcake hands into granite.
Instead, it’s giving you a false sense of confidence that will probably get you out of most situations, but when someone calls your bluff, your punch is going to be about as effective as a pie in the face.
It’s no wonder that makiwaras are few and far between and most of the time, covered in dust.
This type of training is hard — but NECESSARY if you ever think you’re going to strike someone outside the dojo, dojang, gym, studio or school.
The same can (and should) be said for weapons training.
How the hell can you become an expert in the bō staff if you’ve never hit anything with it? In fact, you should do most of your training HITTING SOMETHING.
I love the knife and stick fighting experts who never practice stabbing or striking something with full force. Again, this is not a once-in-a-while thing… THIS SHOULD BE ALL OF YOUR TRAINING.
Actually hitting, striking and stabbing develops REAL “ikken hissatsu” — the ability to kill with one strike. Not the crap most instructors claim to teach.
When you stab something for real, you will immediately adjust your grip, angle of attack and power of thrust.
Now do it 100, 200, 500 times.
Apply that to every core technique.
Give yourself four–seven days of rest and do it again.
I guarantee you in a month, you’re going to hit, stab and strike harder than ever before.
One–three times a week is all you will need.
Your body will figure it out.
My business doesn’t depend on you buying yearlong memberships, testing fees or making sure you bring a friend.
My business depends on giving you the truth — all of the information you need for self-defense and the tools to develop your skills just like people have been doing for decades.
Whether or not you choose to do it is up to you… but at least I’m not going to be calling, emailing or making you feel bad for missing class.
Look, if you want to win competitions and trophies, go join a martial arts school. But if you want to know exactly how to protect yourself and your loved ones without the crouching contract or hidden promotion test fee, you’ve come to the right place.
[Editor’s note: Visit The Self Defense Company website for more information on Damian’s brutally effective training system.]
