Nigiri Game or Sanchin Game are gripping jars and are traditionally ceramic and filled with sand or stone. The jars have an edge
at the top, to grip around. The jars are lifted and moved into
positions that are used in the Kata. Nigiri Game is primarily for
training the grip , fingers , shoulders, back and legs, and in
particular to exercise Goju-ryu movements.
All tools used within Okinawa Goju- ryu karate have their
starting point in Chinese and Okinawan culture, the only exception is Konkoken which originally is from Hawaii. Miyagi
Sensei visited Hawaii just before the Second World War and
stayed in Hawaii for 2 months. During his stay he saw the local wrestlers training with a large round iron ring. He took
the piece of equipment back to Okinawa, where he introduced it as a tool in line with the other Hojo Undo tools and
changed it a bit so it was oval and became closer to the form
of a human body. Konkoken is a unique training tool that is
only used today in Okinawa Goju -ryu karate.
Ishi sashi are handheld weights shaped like traditional stone padlocks. Ishi sashi can be used like
ordinary dumbbells but also to perform the Kata
techniques in order to develop the full strength of
each technique.
Tetsu geta are iron sandals and are worn as common
Japanese clogs. However weight is added and you
have to grab hold of the clogs with your toes. There
are numerous kicking drills that can be performed
while worn. Training with tetsu geta incorporates the
same muscles used in kicking training, but with an
extra load.