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[Chrispayneable]

Ossu!

I just joined Kyokushin and have been loving it. I love the rough full-contact style and will surely be continuing this for as long as I live. However, I'm having trouble adjusting to the knees and hook punches to the ribs. The shin kicks to my ribs are easy to handle, but the quick hooks and knees really hurt, specifically right above the floating ribs.

I can get hit in the stomach all day (literally) and would be okay. I can even take a nice hit to the head and get chugging. And with my Soccer (football) background, my legs are rock solid and those kicks to the thighs do little to nothing to me. But MAN! The ribs, it just really hurts.

I'm assuming it's because I've been hit in the above mentioned areas WAY MORE than my ribs. What do I do to toughen them up? In our school, we do partnered drills where we do a at speed combo on a non-guarding opponent and then switch. This sometimes goes on for 20 minutes.

For example: Chest punch/chest punch/come to the leading side and grab the shoulder/knee to closest rib, etc.

There are a ton of examples and they've already toughened me up in just a few weeks, but I find myself squinting in pain for every knee.

Is there something I can do when I'm not in the dojo to strengthen my ribs?

[Karate4Life]

OSU!
Good question, and while I have no advice to offer, I am really very much looking forward to the replies of the other members.
Good luck on your Karate way!

[ashiharakaicho]

Osu,

What is your fighting stance like? Where do you please your hands? If your elbows are higher then it is more easier for your ribs to be vulnerable.

See http://www.ashiharakarate.org/html/kamae.html - and let's take it from there.

[Chrispayneable]

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

Osu,

What is your fighting stance like? Where do you please your hands? If your elbows are higher then it is more easier for your ribs to be vulnerable.

Ossu! Thanks for the response. My stance/guard isn't the problem as I keep my elbows parallel to my sides as to keep the ribs safe as well as quick access to a Joudan block. However, it's in training where we HAVE to take the blows that I'm running into trouble. When we train we aren't allowed to block, and 20 or so minutes or knees to the ribs have really worn me out.

I think what I'm saying is, is there a way to toughen up the ribs? Or are they just one of those areas that can't really be toughened up and instead need to be defended constantly? Bas Rutten made the liver shot famous, and when asked how to toughen that area up, he said, "You can't, you just have to make sure you block." (paraphrasing)

Thanks for the link!

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by Chrispayneable

Ossu! Thanks for the response. My stance/guard isn't the problem as I keep my elbows parallel to my sides as to keep the ribs safe as well as quick access to a Joudan block. However, it's in training where we HAVE to take the blows that I'm running into trouble. When we train we aren't allowed to block, and 20 or so minutes or knees to the ribs have really worn me out.
Thanks for the link!

You welcome. That can be problematic in not being allowed to block. As to conditioning, there is not much muscle around the ribcage to get that to help absorb - perhaps gradual conditioning would help - but if you suddenly thrown into the deep end to accept punishment, it is not prudent. Getting used to it slowly and using a partner to "lightly" hit/kick that area and using a medicine ball, etc. should help.

[Tay]

This is the issue I've been facing, I don't mind taking hits to my legs, I'll be limping in the evening but I'm fine again the next day or the one after, same with punches to the stomach or plexus or arms, it's all ok the next day. But every time I take a good hit to the ribs I can have a pain at that place for sometimes up to 3 weeks. I've been trying to work on my side abdominals to protect my ribs a bit more, but if someone has some other advices I'll gladly take them just like Chrispayneable.

[Chrispayneable]

Ossu!

It's surprising to see how many people have this problem. Obviously I've learned that the best method is to block, but in the situations where we don't have our guard up and get hit with a clean shot, it's better to know that I have some 'insurance' in my ability to get hit.

I'm guessing the only thing to do is, as Ashihara says, gradually take more and more hits. I guess at some point in time wolff's law will come into effect and I won't have to worry about too much damage?

[JamesD25]

I think your instructor is having you do exactly what you need to do to toughen up your ribs. Keep practicing getting hit until it is no longer a "shock" to your system. It will probably always hurt, but you will be able to mentally ignore it.

[sandman]

Osu! Impact conditioning, when done right, is a great training tool. When done incorrectly it is counter productive and dangerous. If it takes 3 weeks to heal up afterwards, it is being done incorrectly

For improving my ability to take shots to the mid-section, I like gradually increasing impact training with a partner best. When solo training at home I like the medicine ball and my trusty pugile stick. It's also great to get the kids in on the action:

http://www.sandmantraining.com/2011/...with-kids.html


Here's a short tutorial on the pugile stick:

http://www.sandmantraining.com/2011/...ile-stick.html

Osu!

[FredInChina]

Originally Posted by sandman

(...) When solo training at home (...)

What Sandman doesn't tell you is that he regularly and frequently hurls himself crashing down the stairs for unhealthy sets and reps!


Osu!

[Chrispayneable]

Originally Posted by FredInChina

What Sandman doesn't tell you is that he regularly and frequently hurls himself crashing down the stairs for unhealthy sets and reps!


Osu!

The secret to Kyokushin! The Ultimate Truth!

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'll be sure to check out that pugile stick. My training partner is a newbie at Kyokushin (like me) but one of my best friends. He's 6'5" and almost 300 lbs and has sledgehammers for fists so I often have him tear my ribs/legs/head up (in moderation).

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by sandman

Osu! Impact conditioning, when done right, is a great training tool. When done incorrectly it is counter productive and dangerous. If it takes 3 weeks to heal up afterwards, it is being done incorrectly

Amen, and that is often what is forgotten because of the mantra 'The Strongest Karate" or "No Pain-No Gain!"

[meguro]

What you may be looking for is abdominal bracing. It's what you do when you are supporting a vertical load on your spine, and similar to what you might do if you were expecting a blow to your gut. Now, a shot to your floating ribs, indeed many shots, will likely lead to a fracture. Bracing will support the ribs, and by contracting your core muscles you are better able to stand the pain of impact.