Makko Ho

The Makko Ho course

This online Makko Ho course has optional captions (English, French & Spanish).

Who created the Makko Ho?

Our Makko Ho online course teaches this self healing technique. Makko Ho means “the practice of facing things” and the exercises originally developed from temple prostration practice by the Japanese teacher, Nagai Wataru, in the 1930s. They were then further developed by Shizuto Masunaga, the founder of the Shiatsu massage system that I practice.

How do the Makko Ho work?

The Makko Ho exercises work by allowing the practitioner to both sedate and tonify the meridians through specific stretches that were developed to improve the flow of Qi. There is a stretch for each pair of meridians and the course teaches these along with any alternative methods. The six compensation exercises are also taught.

At the end of this course you will be able to practice these exercises. Exercises that, when practiced properly, will help enliven your life energy (Qi). The course is structured to in exactly the same way that I teach my students in a live class. You need to adhere to that structure to gain the benefits.

The, free preview, Introduction lesson explains the course in more depth. The Makko Ho exercises are used as a self healing technique by allowing the practitioner both sedate and tonify the meridians through specific stretches that were developed to improve the flow of Qi. There is a stretch for each pair of meridians and, as they are based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine, they should be done in the sequence shown (i.e. Metal, Earth, Primary Fire, Water, Secondary Fire, and Wood).

You begin the Makko Ho exercises by grounding yourself through relaxed, regulated breathing, while you focus on centring the Qi within the Dantien. As with Qigong exercises, the emphasis with the Makko Ho is not so much on the physical stretch but on opening up and moving the Qi (Ki). It is therefore vital that you focus on the breathing and that you are aware of the changes going on within you during each stretch – this includes physical, emotional, and consciousness (Body, Mind, Spirit).

Reviews from our online Makko Ho course: –

• “Having Studied both Japanese Kempo and Budo Taijutsu, I found it great to find a structured Makko Ho course, that was easy to understand and easy to follow.” D.D.
• “Yes, I appreciated learning your adaptation of Makko Ho. It was a great experience for me.” A.L.H.
• “This is an excellent course. I have taught Ashtanga Yoga for more than 10 years and have always struggled with introducing beginners, who inherently feel the need to rush, get injured, and then quit. Makko Ho is the perfect remedy for this and I’m excited to teach, and really enjoy practicing it. Highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in becoming a better version of themselves.” S.H.
• “This is my second course with Master Des Lawton and I am still amazed at the amount of information and detailed explanations. At first , I was a bit lost at not having any cueing for the follow-me portions of the course and my neck was getting sore trying to follow.. But then I realized that if I followed the rhythm of my own breath .. it was a whole lot easier to internalize the instructions . A few times I just was not sure I was doing it right. .. So I went back to the instruction video and paid closer attention .. It is really helpful to have a short instruction video for each of the movements. So much better than trying to find the right spot on a 20 or 30 minutes lecture. Thank you for your knowledge and a well constructed course Cordially, 🙂 Lorraine” L.R.
• “Very clear, detailed, and thorough. And good for my health.”  K.L.

What are the benefits of the Makko Ho?

Practicing the Makko Ho can have a big impact on your health and wellbeing in just the same way as Qigong. Over time, they can bring the Qi flow into harmony and this affects body, mind and spirit. That is to say they have a physiological, psychological and spiritual (consciousness) effect. In his Shiatsu Practice, Des often prescribes Qigong that will aid in rediscovering health and vitality. Here are a couple of examples of them: Qigong for Chronic Back Pain and Qigong for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Bonus Lesson

The Makko Ho is only one of the systems that works with the Qi in each of the meridians. This bonus lesson gives you the opportunity to try one of them. In this case it is Broadening the Chest, from the Taiji Shibashi, and it is a Metal Qigong that stimulates the Lung Meridian and its partner, Large Intestine Meridian.