Introduction: Martial Arts Equipment Rack & Storage

About: I really enjoy the creativity of building and problem solving. I have been learning a lot about new tools and different ways to do things. I hope to start building mobile tiny homes soon. I have a vegetable ga…

I have equipment for martial arts training so I created this rack and storage piece off the top of my head, using materials I found around the house. Now my workout area is better organized and my training equipment is consolidated in one area. Hopefully this will be of some use to others as well; especially dojos or gyms that are looking for ways to save money by building their own storage and organization furniture.

Step 1: Step 1: What You Will Need

  • Gorilla glue or some other strong adhesive
  • A wooden crate or ammo box (I used the Mosin Nagant ammunition crate pictured in this step, also keep in mind how long your training equipment is because you don't want to go to small on the box as it can fall over)
  • wood screws (length will vary depending on the thickness of your materials)
  • A saw
  • Dremmel (optional but it makes life easy if you have attachments like I do)
  • Carpenter Pencil
  • Sanding equipment
  • Tape measure or ruler
  • Cardboard
  • Tape
  • Clamps

For the wood I used 1x6 ‘s 5 feet long (the length depends on your needs, but don’t go too high as it will be unstable and not stand on its own very well) and a shorter 1x6 for the top piece that will rest on top.

For the pegs I used a 1x4 and I will cut 1in pegs out of it (the number of pegs will vary on your needs but I add a few extra for future additions to my equipment)

Set aside some materials to make it fancy when you're all done; like painting your dojo emblem on it or "Cobra Kai" or "Sweep the legs".

Step 2: Step 2: Making the Frame

Get your side planks in position. My boards are flush to the ground because they are so tall and positioned as rearward as possible within the handles. Because I used an ammo box it had handles that perfectly fit the boards I used so i was able to mark the top plank easily and make my cuts from there. You can measure width of the box and add the width of your side boards to also get the measurement: Box width + (side board width x 2) = X for those more mathematically minded.

Go ahead and make your cuts and sand down the rough parts. Do not put anything together yet.

Step 3: Step 3: Making the Pegs

Measure out your pegs. 1 inch pegs are what I used.
Remember to make a 1/8in gap between pegs to allow for saw blade width or your pegs will be shaved down thinner. but we aren't ready to cut the pegs out yet. Cut out a piece of cardboard the size of your peg. Then tape the cardboard peg to the side board of your frame at the angle you want it at and using the edge of the side board make your mark on the cardboard peg then cut it. On your peg board place the cardboard piece in your pre-drawn pegs and mark the slanted line that will give them all the same angle when you place the pegs later. To speed this process up you can mark about three or four pegs and then use the ends of the slant to draw two lines all the way down the board. Then you can use the ruler to make straight lines from one corner to the other to make your slanted lines. It didn't come out very dark in the picture but you can see some of the starter slanted lines.

Now you cut out the pegs and sand down the rough edges.


Step 4: Step 4: Placing the Pegs

Line up the slanted line with the edge of the board to get your angle. The clamps come in handy for this. The distance between pegs will depend on your equipment. I went six inches between pegs. I put the pegs on the inside of the side planks, but however you want to do it i suggest that after you place your first peg trace around it and do that for all of your peg placements.

Once you draw out where all of your pegs will go you can glue and clamp down your pegs. I let mine set overnight to be on the safe side but adhesive times differ.

Step 5: Step 5: the Training Knife Slots

I have training knives so I used an attachment on my dremmel to cut out slots to put the knives in the top board of the frame. They are pretty sloppy since i had to freehand them. Just measure your knives width and depth and cut away.

Once this is done attach your side boards to the box and the top of your frame to the side boards with the screws or paint and/or stain everything first then put it all to together.

After I made this I got a karambit training knife. This style of knife was not going to stay in the slot since it has no guard on it. I didn't want to just stick it in the box either. So I placed sticky velcro on it. Loop side or soft side on the knife and the hook side on the frame of the rack. Coincidentally the space between the sideboard in the handle of the ammo box fits training pistols perfectly like a holster.

The gorilla glue has held up well for the last 5 months and the box is stable enough that I can do squat jumps next to it and it doesn't wobble or fall over on the second floor where the floor is more prone to shaking due to vigorous activity.