Bag training

[Red89]

Hey all, I train in traditional karate, Wado-Ryu style. So in our dojo we don't really do conditioning exercises but at home I train by myself most nights and recently I have bene doing alot of bag work. I make sure to wrap my hands and wear gloves when punching, as I really damaged my hand last year when training bare knuckled. As for kicking though, im always barefoot. The tops of my feet are now bruised quite badly, but its still bareable to kick, I can get around this though by simply turning my kick more into a thai kick, but this tends to send my bag flying in one direction, even though its very heavy!

My question though, kicking with the top of the foot bare footed against a bag, will this damage my foot in the long term or is it hardening/conditioning it ? I have been kicking so hard that at the moment I can sometimes feel the top of my shoes hurting my foot when im wearing them!

Any advice would be appreciated.

I make sure to drink lots of milk!

[DWx]

My question though, kicking with the top of the foot bare footed against a bag, will this damage my foot in the long term or is it hardening/conditioning it ? I have been kicking so hard that at the moment I can sometimes feel the top of my shoes hurting my foot when im wearing them!

I've never had a problem and I've been doing bag work at least once a week (usually more if I can) for a coupla years now. However, I only use the top of my foot on the bag when practising sparring techniques, if I'm gonna do anything full power I make sure I'm using the ball of my foot.

The bruising doesn't sound too good, I'd lighten up if I were you or start wearing some protective gear. Also if you've only started doing bag work lay off the heavy stuff for a bit. To go quickly from little or no impact training to a lot doesn't build up conditioning well, you're more likely to seriously injure yourself. I'd also do less reps and work another kick instead if its only the top of the foot that's hurting that way you still get the work out.

Hope your feet get better

[Red89]

Hey man, thanks for the reply.

Well im doing full power roundhouse kicks head height, which makes it worse as the bag wont move as much if you know what I mean and I have been bag training for a long time, but as I said recently I have been doing it like 4-6 nights a week.

I suppose it might be sily training my roundhouses like that full contact, because when im doing point sparring I may end up kicking someones head off their shoulders!

[DWx]

Hey man, thanks for the reply

No problem

I suppose it might be sily training my roundhouses like that full contact, because when im doing point sparring I may end up kicking someones head off their shoulders!

As long as you can stop yourself, you'll be fine . Are you training any other kicks? I recommend varying it, not only to keep it interesting but to work your other muscle groups. Plus the tops of your feet can recover too.

[learning kempo-karate]

Hello, How's the bag? does it need rest? ....just checking! ....Aloha

[Red89]

hehe, the bag is fine I think, Havn't asked him though!

Well I practice front kicks too, with the ball of my feet, and up high, to stop the bag swinging too much. I side kick occasionally too. I just do everything I guesse, I dont forget the hands and elbows too ^^ Although sitting here on the computer now Im getting pains in my elbow lol

One problem is though Im in quite a confined space so I cant practice spining kicks or anything fancy, just need to keep things simple

[baronbvp]

The small bones in the feet make them a much worse impact weapon than the shin bone. If I were you, I would change immediately to a pure Thai round kick with the lower shin bone as the weapon. It's a much harder kick - that's why your heavy bag goes flying. It also hurts your opponent way more and won't damage your foot bones. If you hit someone's head with your instep, you may very well break your foot.

Also, get some MA shoes with padding on the instep or wear shin/instep guards.

[Red89]

Thanks for the advice baron, thats the thing though, I have a great Thai roundhouse and all, but I train karate lol! I was out again tonight, I tended to try to kick with the top half of my foot/closeer to the shin, and keep away from the lower part. Its good fun doing Thai kicks though ^^

[baronbvp]

That brings up an interesting point. Just because you train karate doesn't mean you can't use a Thai round kick instead, especially if you're good at it. I still like the spinning back kick from Shorin Ryu, even in Muay Thai. But only if the opening is there and I won't pay for it.

[Red89]

Yeah well thats the thing, a thai roundhouse wouldn't really work in point sparring, as its more of a full contact kick, but in the street I would choose a thai kick over a karate kick most times, it depends on the situation though.