Is it possible to build muscle around the knee/its joints?

[Kante]

Is it possible to build muscle around the knee and its joints? Because while in karate practice if i ever get a hit on the knee it hurts alot and takes a while for me to recover.

Also, is it supposed to keep hurting for as long as 4+ days after getting an elbow to leg hit?

Thanks.

[Sohan]

Depends on where exactly you're being struck. If you are taking blows to the patella (kneecap), you can incur a bone bruise or worse, you could fracture your knee. Not much you can do to prevent that outside of wearing knee protection in training. If you are taking strikes to the quadriceps or anterior tibialis muscles, you may simply need to weight train to improve muscle strength and size in those muscles to provide a better cushion. But you cannot build muscle over your knee joint.

Do you train knee strikes on the pads or heavy bag? You should do so on a regular basis to condition your knees for blows. Also, you may want to discuss with your instructor better strategies for blocking and evading strikes to your knee.

With respect,

Sohan

[baronbvp]

If you see contact coming to your knee, trying using it as an offensive weapon. It is much easier to sustain a hit when you strike with the knee than to take one. Simple momentum. Also, try lifting your leg higher to do a shin block.