Katana-makiwara - The Perfect Pell

or "Fritz" - The One-Armed Samurai

by Sir Ogami Akira
This is the best pell I have ever seen for katana practice. It combines all of the benefits of a normal pell, but also helps you with your timing and adds a bit of realism because it can be a real challenge to hit it properly.

Materials-

  1. A 5” X 5” or 6” X 6” post  6’ long.
  2. One 8’ 2X 4 which is cut into four pieces- 10” long, 16” long, 20”long, and 20” long
  3. A dozen or so 4” drywall screws.
  4. A small box of 3” large-headed nails (like roofing nails).
  5. Three 4” long 3/8ths” screw eyes.
  6. 6’ of ¼” rope.
  7. Four 18” bungee cords.
  8. Two tent stakes.
  9. A 6’ long piece of bamboo.
  10. A small piece of carpet.

Tools-

  1. A drill with a Phillip’s head bit.
  2. A saw.
  3. A hammer.

Procedure-

  1. Take your 10” long piece and center it widthwise at the top of the post.  Screw it in with three 4” drywall screws.
  2. Measure 14” from the top.  Center your 16” long piece and screw it into place with three 4” drywall screws.
  3. Turn the post so the right side (your left) is facing up.
  4. Using three 4” drywall screws, fasten one end of a 20” piece to the post.
  5. Turn the post over.
  6. Take your second 20” piece and angle it down at roughly 45 degrees.  Screw it into place with three 4” drywall screws.
  7. Screw a screw-eye into the top of the post.
  8. Measure up 8” from the bottom.  Screw in the remaining screw-eyes into the sides of the post.
  9. Using your rope, hang the pell so it’s about 4” from the ground.
  10. Drive in the two tent stakes 24” from the base of the pell, and attach the bungee cords.
  11. Using your rope, lash the bamboo to the end of the ‘arm’.
  12. Cut your carpet into 2” X 2” pieces.  Nail them into your target points. (You need to be accurate, you know.)

As you strike the pell, it will swing.  Avoid striking the bamboo.  Hit the carpet pieces only.  That’s all.