Needing some after care advice!

[Anon coward]

Yesterday I started a self protection class, which pretty much was awesome, but involved me punching for hours in various different positions (sitting, on my knees and on my back) and then straight after whipping leads from these positions as well. The pain in my body I can cope with, having to punch etc from these different stand points will play merry hell on muscles I have not used in that way, my problem is my hands! For the majority of the work I was not wearing gloves, (working on the idea that in a street situation I would not have gloves!) this has meant that one of my hands my knuckles are really bruised, which is ok, but my right hand is really swollen and I can’t stop it shaking! I have tried ice, but nothing seems to work, any advice would be really appreciated..

[Happy Cat]

I hope you have had some good advice by now. All I can offer is that you should use some wrist wraps the bext time to prevent wrist inury. True what you are doing is more realistic, and more power to you for that. But as you have learned you need to balance that with the risk of training injury. After a bad incident, I am a big blliever in wrist wraps. You can get them in the form of padded gloves that are much lighter than bocing gloves and that will give some cushion to your hands as well.

[Red Rum]

Happy Cat you are dead right - wraps should be worn for any kind of fist to pad training

Anon - you sound like you had a bit of an ordeal. Bear in mind that you should always check the teachers/schools background beofre joining as there are a lot of idiots out there with minimal training preaching about 'self defense' or 'self protection'

At the end of the day, if you come home hurt, you are in a lot of trouble

[Hardball]

Most instructors start woman out with palm strikes thus you won't hurt your hands. I agree with the wrist wraps and I'll add, you probably should see a doctor for an xray or MRI. Continue with the ice for another day then switch to heat in the form of epson salt. Take a trip to walmart and pick up some "Tiger Balm". Then see the Doc.

[DickHardman]

you shouldnt be hitting pads like that, for that long, without wraps and gloves if you are new. you risk injury to your hands and wrists. you need to wear the protection till your hands and wrists get conditioned enough to the point that you wont need to wear them anymore.

[Little Apple]

RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

And take an anti-inflammatory, swelling can cause just as much damage and an injury.

[Hardball]

Advil will do just fine.

[Michael Wright]

All good advice here, and I agree with all the guys that a session of maintained impact without wraps or gloves is very questionable teaching. The notion of "you wouldn't wear gloves in the street" is one of the nonsense lines always pushed by bad SP guys. How come you don't get to wear wraps or gloves, but the other guy gets to hold a focus mitt? There's no focus mitts in the street. Surely, being consistent to the "street" rationale, the guy should stand there and get punched full-on in the face. Right?

No, of course not. You're just training, so if the guy gets to hold a focus mitt, then you should get to wrap your hands and wear gloves. Its just common sense and good training practise.

[Knuckles&Knees]

Anon,

I agree with everyone here about wrapping your hands, and like you I have learned this the hard way. Something struck me (mentally I mean) with my hand so injured. I couldn't really defend myself. I live in an area where violence at any given time can be expected to be served up. So, this had a special effect on me. In fact on another side of town coming out of a store I remember a stud coming up to me and asking me for money, but he came with line about his car and being from out of town. I knew he was going to approach me before he did. On top of that when I told him I couldn't help him out (and I really couldn't), that didn't sit to well with him seeing me with a bag of beer in my hand. I saw the look in in his eyes and I knew he was thinking - tempted - to try and rob me. He didn't ultimately but I know he came very close to actually going with his idea. The side walk totally covered with lumpy, packed, hard and slippery snow. And I was thinking "damn, this is a perfect time for my hand to be f*cked up."

You really can't protect yourself when you are badly injured. My grappling skills aren't good enough to really use on the streets so I count on being able to strike with my hands (and legs).

Pamper your hands, so they aren't injured, when you have to take someones teeth out of their mouth.

[Anon coward]

Many thanks to you all, I really appreciate your time and advice. I am off to buy some decent hand wraps! :-) . It was very much my own fault..rushing in and pushing too hard to achieve, my wrists have always been an issue for me and in the end it was my own fault for not protecting them as they need. The lesson has been well and truly learnt! (believe me!) and from this point on I will take the time to ensure they are protected not rush in to start training.

Again many thanks for your great guidance.

[SmallThought]

May i just reiterate the point made by Hardball: if your wrists are a known weakness, punching is a bad idea. In fact, it is commonly said that punching is a bad idea for women, or indeed, full stop. Palm strikes performed with the heel of the palm are a more powerful, natural movement with less damaging effects to the striker. Not to jump to conclusions, but if your defense course is so focused on punching perhaps you should find another one.

Good luck and i hope you never have to use it anyway!!!