Question about bruising

[Sues]

Need some help here. I'm not talking about the usual bumps and bruises. I worked on 360 with a partner, just doing blocks, and got a lot of bruises on my wrists and just above on my arms. It's pretty ugly. Any ideas on how to prevent that? I can't keep this up if I'm just going to beat myself up, literally. Thanks.

[zen4me]

Originally Posted by Sues

Need some help here. I'm not talking about the usual bumps and bruises. I worked on 360 with a partner, just doing blocks, and got a lot of bruises on my wrists and just above on my arms. It's pretty ugly. Any ideas on how to prevent that? I can't keep this up if I'm just going to beat myself up, literally. Thanks.

You could always get some of these: http://www.revgear.com/product/905/sparring_gear_cloth

Not really sure how good they are, no experience with them.

Good luck.

- Kelly

[Happyloaf]

I found that ice right after class lessened my bruising. Maybe that would help you? I did 2 sets of 20 min with nice and 10 without.

[smokelaw1]

I used to bruise really badly, too. Eventually, it just stopped. I don't know if it's "conditioning" or what...but now I only bruise if we really REALLY beat on each other for a long time, and they are more "normal" bruises not "Holy crap, honey, what happened to your arms" bruises.

[jjbklb]

I'm prone to bruising too.I stopped taking the low-dose aspirin I was on.That helped some;but I still bruise.It goes with the territory for things like 360's.

Since bruising is from braking of blood vessels,I don't know how conditioning would help that.

[leejam99]

If you don't want to bruise, i would get some forearm guards. if you want to be a little more inconspicuous, you can wear a wrist band/sweat band around your wrist....that will soften up the impact.

Just to let you know... 360 defense is the foundation for most of our knife defense so you will always be doing it as you move up levels :(

[stickfig13]

Don't take this the wrong way but....

You're learning to defend yourself against attack. You're going to get bumps and bruises.


You can't prevent bruising.

[Roningai]

my bruises stayed with me for a week it was gnarly looking. u will get used to the pain of bone vs. bone eventually. i don't know about the bruises though the last time we did 360 defense, i bought those century arm guards and they help absorb some of the blows,the bad part is that the padding is on one side of the guard and not on both sides so u have to turn the pad when it's ur turn to attack so u don't hurt ur arm.

[russell]

use the foream guards or have your attacker wear focus pads that should help some

[Nixxon]

Wise man once say this is Krav Maga not scrapbooking.

You're learning a COMBAT system. What do you expect? Suck it up and endure. It come's with the territory. We don't need to revive the injury thread, its much too long.... :)

[Nickolas Cook]

Pretty much my feeling, as well, Nixxon. Be proud of those freakin' bruises. You earned those mothers honestly. It's good conditioning to feel the pain, to have it linger for a bit- just to remind you what you're all about. Krav is not for the weak hearted.

[saruotoko]

Originally Posted by Nickolas Cook

Pretty much my feeling, as well, Nixxon. Be proud of those freakin' bruises. You earned those mothers honestly. It's good conditioning to feel the pain, to have it linger for a bit- just to remind you what you're all about. Krav is not for the weak hearted.

To quote Jeremy Stafford at Simi Valley KM: This [is] Krav....not scrapbooking. :)

[Kirk]

I love my bruises, badges of honor and great conversational pieces at work! LOL

Sorry to say comes with the territory with 360 defenses. I'm at the point that if I go home from training without at least 1 bruise I didn't train hard enough!!

Currently I have bruises around my Knees from, well doing knees, bruises around my elbows from elbowing tombstones and heavy bags, Bruises on my shins from kicks, small bruises on my feet from the knots on my shoe laces from doing kicks, oh and then the ones on my forearms from 360's.

Dit Dow Jow works well for clearing up brusies too. Usually you can find it at your local Kung Fu shop

[Nickolas Cook]

Tiger Balm is pretty good, too.

[Jesse]

I like using Tiger Balm, but I also try to alternate hot and cold on the area to flush the blood out and get things circulating again. There's all kinds of flexible pads you can get at walmart or any pharmacy that can either be frozen or microwaved in order to do just that.

I know I've gotten a lot more bruises with Krav than I ever did with more traditional martial arts. Frankly, I've appreciate that. The realism of Krav requires you to get used to being hit. When I was doing tradiational martial arts, we normally got hit very rarely if ever. I know for myself it ended up that when I would get hit I would freeze up a good bit. Now, due to the contact from 360's, holding a tombstone, or the various drills, I really feel that I'm a lot more used to the idea of getting hit and it wouldn't psychologically or physiologically shake me the way it would before. If that realism were taken away from KM, you would lose the bruises I'm sure. The problem is that you also would lose the ability to react accurately in a real situation. It all comes down to what you're in KM for. I'm in it because I want to be able to defend myself, my family and loved ones. If you just want fitness or the sports side of things, then honestly take a look at what else is out there. Everyone has to make their own personal decisions. Best of luck to you.

Jesse

[Nickolas Cook]

I routinely ask my partners to make sure they hit me harder (with the exception of kidney, throat and nose smacks). I get them to up the force of the hits until I get to the level where it really may leave me breathless or stunned. I've found by doing so I can sort of acclimate myself to getting socked. The one that I still have issues with are accidental hits to the temple. I still see stars. HA!
Oh, and I don't let anyone kick me too hard in the knees. That could cripple me, especially with some of the MT and MMA guys.

[Sues]

Thank you for all of your replies!

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

I used to bruise really badly, too. Eventually, it just stopped. I don't know if it's "conditioning" or what...but now I only bruise if we really REALLY beat on each other for a long time, and they are more "normal" bruises not "Holy crap, honey, what happened to your arms" bruises.

... LOL, the "Holy crap" is exactly what I got this time. I thought about it last night, and I hit my partners wrist a couple of times (missed the focus pads) and that's what probably gave me the "Holy crap" bruises.

I'm here to learn to defend myself and I have no problem with getting hurt while doing it.

Thanks again everyone.

[CTKravist]

I have to agree with Smokelaw's theory in that they tend to stop occuring after time*



























*reminds self to hit smokelaw extra hard on the forearms and shins next time I can get a Wednesday night babysitter - just to retest this theory

[smokelaw1]

Originally Posted by CTKravist

I have to agree with Smokelaw's theory in that they tend to stop occuring after time*

*reminds self to hit smokelaw extra hard on the forearms and shins next time I can get a Wednesday night babysitter - just to retest this theory

I do think that it i spartially learnig how to give/take shots properly...otherwise I don't knwo why they would stop...I just know that they seem to have for me.

Hey, Andy...anytime baby. Will we see you saturday morning?

[CTKravist]

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

I do think that it i spartially learnig how to give/take shots properly...otherwise I don't knwo why they would stop...I just know that they seem to have for me.

Hey, Andy...anytime baby. Will we see you saturday morning?

Hi Josh,

I really hope so. The wife is home so maybe I can pursuade her to let me come out to play for an hour or so. I gotta admit (in a manly way of course) that I do miss you night guys!

Andy

[CLFMak]

I sometimes use dit da jow, but I have also found that I don't really bruise as much and I'm not sure why. Anyway, various liniments are used for bruising in martial arts. Muay thai has its own liniment. Kung fu has dit da jow. In the Phillipines, they have a liniment called monkey guts liniment (named so because the herbs suspended in the alcohol look like monkey guts). I've read about liniments used in bareknuckle boxing, using such things as alcohol and brine. Its worth noting that at least part of the positive effects come from massaging in the liquid. In hilot (filipino healing method), massage is at least as important as the liniments. Also, an iron palm guy I talk to who can break all kinds of crazy stuff was telling me the jow he uses is wine based, while most others use a much harder alcohol. As I suspected, the higher water content makes it so it doesn't evaporate as fast, forcing you to take extra time to massage it in.

[Susie]

360 defenses causes bruising, its gonna happen. Good news is it will clue you in to if you are doing them right :) If they are too high, if you arm is too far rolled over, etc. Your bruises are a road map to training. Look at them carefully, they will let you know how you are doing.

A short story - just to let you know you are not alone - I get it I really do.

I went to the ER after my level one test to find out I had fractured two ribs during a drill.
When The Dr came in to examine me I had 2 fractured ribs, by elbows were a mess from elbow defenses, my forearms resembled aged steaks more than human skin tone. My shins and knees were a mess and a caught a few knees to my thigh so I had a few pretty changes in color there as well.

The Dr. Looked at me and as calmly as she could said "Can I get you a counselor?" I said "No, I need a Doctor, my ribs hurt a lot." She then said, I'll help you, I am a doctor, but I can get you more help, I can send a counselor in, we can get phone numbers for you if thats better."

I was completely perplexed. I said I didn't want to call a counselor, I needed a doctor, my ribs hurt. Then I realized, the Doctor thought I was a victim. I had to clarify that I had taken Krav.

I joked that I took a self defense class - evidently I wasn't too good LOL. I ended up in the ER. I don't know if the Doctor ever believed me, she told me to take time of from class, but said it sarcastically and handed me a note and a Rx for vicadin.

I went on my merry way, knowing that if I made it through my level one test with 2 fractured ribs, I could face an attacker and keep fighting. It doesn't matter what the Doctor or anyone in that ER thought. It was good for me to go through. I am stronger for it. (And I passed my level one test despite the ribs!)


Hang tough and enjoy the learning process.