Conditioning/Pressure Points

KerryM · Post by **KerryM** » Sun May 16, 2004 7:58 pm

I can't believe we keep missing the regional workouts-

*hangs head*

Question-

Is it possible to "condition" the pressure points on your body?

Kerry

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Sun May 16, 2004 9:11 pm

Kerry

That's the thinking behind Iron Shirt training from China. And that's part of what one does with Uechi body conditioning.

Part of the function of kotekitae and ashikitae is to desensitize "set-up" pressure points on the forearms and legs. We go out of our way to "ring" these points - particularly the ones on the radial bone - when doing our kotekitae. I also have my students use "rolling pin" conditioning on the points that sit over top of exposed bones.

The goal isn't to kill or damage nerves. Rather it's to develop a protective tissue layer over the nerves, and to teach the body to deal with the stimulation. In the latter regard, it's kind of like developing a taste for hot sauce. The upside of it all is a great endorphin rush.

I've also found that PNF stretching is a great form of tuite conditioning. For example, you can do a supination PNF stretch, and make yourself resistant to the pain of a kote gaeshi.

And finally, all this iron shirt training will teach you that you have good and bad days with regards to taking these hits. Search within and you learn how to keep yourself in the "good" mode.

- Bill

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sun May 16, 2004 9:14 pm

And finally, all this iron shirt training will teach you that you have good and bad days with regards to taking these hits. Search within and you learn how to keep yourself in the "good" mode.

Now this I do agree with , same with serious weight lifting , how to keep your body in a positive state .

benzocaine · Post by **benzocaine** » Sun May 16, 2004 9:41 pm

I also have my students use "rolling pin" conditioning on the points that sit over top of exposed bones.

Bill, could you elaborate on that a little? It sounds interesting, and maybee something I could adopt.

RACastanet · Post by **RACastanet** » Sun May 16, 2004 11:15 pm

Do not scan down to this picture if you are squemish. This is the result of overconditioning sensitive areas of the body. The human body can be severly stressed but after six weeks of extreme training it cannot keep up! Only one week to go for this battered person.

Rich

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 17, 2004 12:39 am

Thats one nasty bruise Rich, that must have taken a while to feel better.

Rick introduced me to something called Wop Long Kong that seems to speed recovery when I get a little bobo's like that one

The picture is displayed as a little box with an X, but Marcus showed me how to see it. Right click on the x, click properties and copy the address. Paste the address into your browser and the picture is displayed. Image station doesn't like to share on other sites but you can trick them.

Laird

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Mon May 17, 2004 2:38 am

Ben

Some of the best conditioning methods require very little investment. I got the idea from how the Muay Thai people and some of the Oki's condition the boney areas.

Take any ordinary baker's rolling pin. Then "roll" the following areas:

* the boney areas of your lower legs (the shin bone; you'll find an owie spot in the middle),

* the tops of your feet (you'll find a classic kyusho point there...it'll give you an electric buzz) and ankle bones,

* the radial bone, or bone on the inside of the forearm (definitely get electric buzzes from the radial nerve),

* the ulna, or bone on the outside of the forearm.

It's tricky doing the radius and the ulna by yourself. You have to sit down first, and position one end of the pin on one leg. Then roll the forearm bone on the pin as opposed to the pin on the forearm bone. Push down with the ulna, with one side of the pin on top of your thigh. Pull up for the radius, with one side of the pin tucked in the back of your knee.

This provides a benefit similar to arm rubbing, and is strictly for the boney as opposed to the muscular surfaces. Do it before you do any pounding, and before you do any contact work. It has both short term (that day) and long term benefits. That's why we do it before the contact work.

How hard to do this? Hard enough to "get your attention." Experience will show you what works. My students laugh at me, because I end up growling by the time I'm really in to the shins. Everybody's unique...

I require my advanced students to come to class with a rolling pin in their gym bag.

- Bill

benzocaine · Post by **benzocaine** » Mon May 17, 2004 12:14 pm

Wow Bill, That's a great idea! Have someone paint some caligraphy on a rolling pin, patent it, write abook about using it for conditioning, and sell it in Black Belt ADVERTISEMENTazine for 50 dollars as an inovative new conditioning device! You'll be rich!

And what's funny about it is that there is a huge population who would actually buy it.

But seriously, Great idea!

KerryM · Post by **KerryM** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:37 pm

ooo

thank you so very much! This is wonderful info!

That idea is being adopted right away!

I knew that kotekitae etc helps with the conditioning-

but the rolling pin idea is excellent for home study!

Thanks so much!

K-

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Mon May 17, 2004 7:55 pm

Kerry

Glad to help.

Just use common sense with the rolling pin. In general, it isn't a good idea to condition a bruise. That's where therapy (ice, heat, tincture of time) comes in.

- Bill

Michael L.E. Court · Post by **Michael L.E. Court** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:35 pm

Good thread, I usually use a stick as opposed to the rolling pin ... same conditioning benefits. You could try using a table type surface as well to condition the forearms by rolling your arms one at a time on the stick (or pin) on the table.

Just more thoughts,

Humbly,

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Mon May 17, 2004 11:58 pm

I thought i heard read ... that rolling your shins causes not only permanent nerve damage but damages the blood flow to the already poor area on the shins . Is this true or a myth ? , it might of even been on these forums .

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue May 18, 2004 12:14 am

I believe I saw someone propose that idea (with no evidence to back it up), and I challenged it.

No, no permanent nerve damage. Absolutely no nerve damage at all. I wish...

It's very much like eating hot sauce. Many similarities. You still know what you are eating is hot, but your perception of the stimulus changes. Trust me...I still feel both the hot sauce and a good hard block on the shins. Without that feeling, I would be at risk of hurting myself. No problem with the blood flow either.

The body has a wonderful ability to adapt. If you play the guitar, the fingertips become thicker and will not bleed. If you walk every day, the bottoms of the feet develop callouses.

But everything in moderation. You can overdo this.

If anything, Stryke, I say it's unhealthy NOT to do this kind of conditioning if you expect to do partner work in martial arts. It's like jumping into a football game without having spent the summer in the weight room, and the fall doing a little contact work. Expect to get seriously hurt if you haven't taken the time to do the homework.

This kind of training does not mangle your body. I have to look normal when dealing with customers. No damaged hands, no swollen forearms, etc., etc.

Still ugly though...

Nothing helps there...

- Bill

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Tue May 18, 2004 1:21 am

Good stuff , do conditioning but was undecided on the rolling , is quite a nice senesation so didnt mind it , good to know

Bone · Post by **Bone** » Sat May 22, 2004 10:03 pm

Bill Glasheen wrote:Kerry

I've also found that PNF stretching is a great form of tuite conditioning. For example, you can do a supination PNF stretch, and make yourself resistant to the pain of a kote gaeshi.
- Bill

Bill what is the PNF Stretching? I am interested in seeing this because I have not yet seen or trained with anyone that I could not put into kote gaeshi and they would not got to the ground or scream. I have seen people with very flexable wrist that can not risit kote gaeshi. I am talking about putting their palm flat on their forearm kind of flexablilty-you just have to use more of aaki-jujitsu way of applying with a little more twist.