Frequently Asked Questions: Training
in the Past
Centuries ago, everyday products and objects were
included in training, including coconuts, lemons,
and pakowma–a piece of cloth similar to a sarong
that was worn around the hips instead of trousers.
Training varied somewhat from trainer to trainer
and was usually structured so that the student was
initially shown the starting position and footwork,
which they subsequently had to train until the
movements started to look natural and entered the
subconscious mind, regardless of how long it took.
The next step was teaching the punching
technique with the help of a pakowma. Students put
it around their shoulders and took the ends in their
ɹsts. They practiced the straight punch while
stepping, holding the other hand up for protection.
Two pakowma were initially used to protect the
hands while sparring. The next steps diʃered
signiɹcantly from teacher to teacher, which is why
only a few of the traditional training methods will
be explained.
Students practiced their techniques on a banana
tree. The tree was cut at head height and set in the