Stone Target – Martial Arts Hand Conditioning Exercises
In ancient times, martial art students would attempt to strengthen the bones in their hands by striking hard objects (such as stones or bricks). Nevertheless, these traditional conditioning drills are controversial because some martial artists think that they are effective for strengthening your bones via microfractures which heal & make potential thicker bones. Other martial artists think this type of training is dangerous because it can potentially damage blood vessels, weaken the overall bone structure via major fractures, cause nerve damage, etc.
To modestly reduce the chance of student injury, Kung Fu iron palm training sometimes uses bags that are filled with “softer” sand or beans. In addition, traditional Karate hand conditioning drills will use a Makiwara (padded striking board).
Do not try this exercise at home because it is easy to break a bone if done incorrectly. If you are interested in this type of training, please discuss the pros and cons with your martial arts instructor. All stretches and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. For additional conditioning exercises, please visit the main Conditioning and Strength Training sections.
Shudokan Karate – Hand Conditioning Exercises with Stone Target