Kempodad

Kicking with the toes is ALWAYS bad You should be ok if you avoid instep kicks. Which association are you with by the way? Currently Z-Ultimate formerly USSD and ATA many, many moons ago. I wouldn't attribute my missteps (ha!) to instruction. More to do with age and my toes don't bend back as far as they once did. I'd love to see more information for older students (40+) on how to safely participate in the martial arts. Does that exist?

I'll second this post. The only thing I'd add is core, core, core. I push core exercises hard twice a week and make sure my core is taught during every exercise. Helps with stability, focus, breathing, and everything else in between. Form first. Of 3 strength building days a week I spend one strickly on 50% the weight focusing on form. Machines are good because they are, for the most part, safe. You'll eventually want to use free weights in your form focused routines but make sure you're confident with the machine and your own ability first... and core. Building strength exercises, you should fail or almost fail by the last rep in each set. No kidding on the 5 minute wait either. You'll get there. Try the above routine for 2 weeks. You'll see a noticeable difference and want to use it for the next 2 months.

Quick update... 3 weeks after the break I went to the doctor. The toe is indeed broken and quite well. There are in fact 3 fractures in a single bone but everything is in the right spot. Tournament this fall is out. I see side blade and heel kicks in my future.

That absolutely could have been the case. It happened late in a 1 hour session and I was tired. I'll give it two weeks off but need to get back into it for a tournament. What's a decent cardio exercise not likely to put a lot of stress on the front of my feet?

This time it was a scissor kick attempting to hit one pad in front and one in back. My left hit the pad behind me (finally!) and the right ball contacted the front pad as planned but, I believe, the person holding the pad had it angled down thus bending the toe back too far when it contacted and snap! This is the 4th toe in the past 2 years (both little and both big). I think my bones are just aging and I need a pair of steel toes sparring shoes!

Really? What brand shoe?

Broke my 4th toe (big one) this past weekend. I'm kinda tired of this routine. Any advice for prevention? I've tried shoes but none fit my feet (I need wide shoes). Thanks.