Sand Bags- Traditional Training Part One- An Article By Mr Russell Suthern, Chief Instructor WCMA

Although I enjoy my modern training methods, I have a special affinity with the traditional training methods of the Old Masters. Performing these exercises gives me a real feeling of connection with the Old Masters, who sweated blood to create these styles that we enjoy training in today.

Many of the old methods cannot be bettered, even with today’s technology and innovations. The Sand bag is one such training device that has stood the test of time.

Sand bags can be used for striking, grabbing or weight training exercises. It takes up hardly any room and you don’t need much space to do the exercises in.

You can make the exercises progressive by adding more training days, exercises and repetitions, but you can also slowly increase the size of the bag and the filling. Start with fine sand, then coarse sand, fine gravel, coarse gravel, then maybe add some pebbles or metal ball bearings. It all depends on how far you want to take this type of training. As with all forms of training there are risks if you do not train correctly. Always ask your Instructor so that they can give you a safe, progressive routine and show you how to perform these exercises correctly.

A new gallery featuring Sand bag training can be found in the gallery section. There are photographs of some of my dedicated students sweating it out, just as Martial Artists have been doing across the world for hundreds of years!

Russell Suthern

Chief Instructor WCMA