My Slant on Makiwara Training.

Having trained on the makiwara for the last 9 years or so I am well acquainted with both the benefit an dangers associated with it. The advice from the traditional "gurus" is to hit the thing with anywhere between 200 and 1000 times each day. Oh and your not supposed to do it to condition your hand (big callouses). I have always had a problem with this approach because

1. with the number of reps being that high you can't help but pace yourself. Less speed = less impact power.
2. You are developing endurance strength rather than speed strength or balistic power which is what is required for powerful technique. 
3. Hitting every day = nil recovery time = zero progress. This can also lead on to injury through overuse.
4. Precious time could be put to more productive use.
5. And yes you will develop Neanderthal like callouses on your knuckles.

With this in mind I changed my routine to 2 or 3 times per week and changing hands every 50 strikes up to a maximum of 200. Even with this I was finding that after about 25 strikes the power starts to wane. Oh but that is when your spirit should kick in say the gurus. Performing 200 full power strikes in sets of 8,7,6,5............................will test your spirit more than 200 one set marathons with the added benefit of improving both your power and technique.

Striking with low reps per set allows me to perform each strike at full power without the associated muscle fatigue that you get after 25 or so in the traditional method. Moreover striking around 200 full power punches will have greater strength advantages over striking 200+ half asses "spirit building" strikes.

When selecting exercise for my 'Power trip' I could have easily stuck with the kettlebells however as mentioned earlier my goal is better karate not better kettlebell. My makiwara is great I built it myself, it's not so stiff as to damage my hand and not too flexible as to provide no resistance. The harder I hit it the more resistance it throws back at me.

When you hit a makiwara it's not just your arm the gets a work out it is your core and legs as well. By tensing everything on(and through) impact you get the 'ripple' effect as described by Rob Beauchamp in the kettlebell Bible.