How to Build Martial Arts Training Equipment Out of Wood
Training at home can be the perfect supplement for both the beginner and the advanced martial artist. Whether your practice involves elements of Korean, Japanese or Chinese martial arts, the basic stances, strikes and blocks of all schools can be practiced with this backyard training set.
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Things You'll Need
- Tree at least 24 feet in height and two feet in diameter
- Three pre-cut lengths of 12-foot two-by-four
- Four pre-cut lengths of 1 1/2-foot two-by-four
- Four pre-cut lengths of 1 1/2-foot four-by-four
- 12 six-inch spike nails
- Hammer
- Rope or thick corded hemp
- Miter-box or table saw
- Ladder
- Drill gun with pilot head
Instructions
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Select a tree of sufficient height and thickness for construction. Make sure there is a clear path at least 12 feet out in one given angle from the tree where you will begin construction.
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Set the ladder at the base of the tree and place the first 12-foot length of two-by-four at the desired height. Rest the weight of the plank on a ladder rung and press the wide portion of the plank flush with the tree at the plank's end. Decide on a satisfactory height (usually 12 to 16 feet) and nail the plank to the tree using four six-inch spike nails.
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Repeat the step on the other side of the tree, making certain to set at the same height. As you decide your placement, make sure to angle the plank so as to widen the opposite end and keep the planks from being exactly parallel. When finished, you will have two 12-foot lengths of two-by-four suspended horizontally at your desired height at a 10- to 20-degree angle.
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Move the ladder to the opposite side of the lumber and measure the distance between the two planks. Using a miter-box or table saw, cut your last length of 12-foot two-by-four to fill this gap and hammer it between the two exposed ends with two six-inch spike nails at each end (piloting a hole with the drill gun when necessary).
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Go along each of the two 12-foot planks and drill eight holes at staggered three-foot intervals. Do this by drilling a hole at the far end of one plank and drilling three additional holes every three feet. Measure 18 inches in on the opposite plank and do the same, drilling every three feet until you reach the tree. You will be left with a total of eight holes, each one occurring 18 inches from the next, with no two holes matching up. Next, drill similar holes in the top portion of each of your eight pre-cut 1½-foot lengths.
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Run rope or durable hemp cord from each 1½-foot length to its corresponding hole in the overhead 12-foot planks, being sure to switch up the order of the thinner two-by-four from the thicker four-by-four.
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Test the durability of the structure by gently pulling on each 1½-foot practice target and begin punching and dodging each one. You now have an outdoor training studio for both weapons and open-handed martial arts practice: just hit one target and prepare a block or dodge as it comes swinging back toward you. Hit and dodge all eight at the same time and you will truly be an impressive opponent.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful when applying strong force with the different practice targets. A speeding plank of wood, particularly the four-by-four, can cause some muscle soreness on impact.
