Is there anyway to condition your thighs to take kicks.......

[Malcontent]

...apart from actually taking kicks over and over again?

I'm currently attempting to train BJJ and a little Muay Thai simultaneously, but I'm really struggling with the soreness in my thighs from being kicked.

This has meant that my overall training has suffered hugely as I can just about walk up the stairs, let alone face a two hour training session.

I've only had a few Muay Thai sessions so obviously my body needs more time to get used to the kicks, but is there anything I can do in the meantime to help with this?

If I had to choose, then I'd reluctantly choose to train BJJ over Muay Thai, but I don't want to have to make that choice if possible.

[John@FightersOnly]

(not meant in any way smart or sarcastically) - block or evade the kicks, dont take kick after kick

the reason people check leg kicks is because they fucking hurt , so evasion and blockage is the order of the day. Try to take as few as possible. Over time you'll get more used to dealing with them when they land but you cant really make yourself invulnerable to them any more than you can make yourself immune to being smacked on the nose; it still hurts.

[The Brazilian]

good answer

[Standupstar]

What he said essentially! ^^^^^

Stay light and quick on your feet

[John@FightersOnly]

aw thanks guys :)

i'd also add, if its in sparring that you are taking all these kicks (as opposed to drills), the straight right hand is your friend. Soon as his foot comes off the floor, let the right hand go. Scream 'KIAAYYYYYYE' loudly as you do it, this adds chi energy.

[Malcontent]

It's in sparring and drilling to be honest. I take the point about blocking the kicks in sparring, but I assume that when drilling you are obliged to take the kicks, and blocking isn't really an option unless it's part of the technique you're drilling?

I also assume that your training partner is obliged to use restraint when drilling techniques?

If so, then I appear to have rotten luck with the restraint of my training partners. I'm no pussy (well not much:o ), and I'm no stranger to being hit (albeit in the face as an ex boxer), so I think I might need to have a gentle word with some of my training partners, or at least be more selective with whom I choose to drill with.

Thanks John, you've put my mind at ease. The pain is normal, I'll just try not to get hit.

I just thought (somewhat irrationally) that if it's possible to condition shins to take pain, then perhaps it might be possible to do the same with thighs.

This Muay Thai malarki seriously hurts. Leg kicks are fucking amazing though. Naively, I had no idea that they could be so feckin painful lol :rolleyes:

[John@FightersOnly]

It's in sparring and drilling to be honest. I take the point about blocking the kicks in sparring, but I assume that when drilling you are obliged to take the kicks, and blocking isn't really an option unless it's part of the technique you're drilling?

I also assume that your training partner is obliged to use restraint when drilling techniques?





If so, then I appear to have rotten luck with the restraint of my training partners.

i think you said you are in a beginners group? There are so many beginners who think 'doing it hard' = 'doing it right/being a top fighter'.

Its up to you to tell them, or your instructor if they clock it but they might not. Your partner is just another of your training tools at the end of the day - how long would you put up with a pair of gloves that were fucking your hands up?

just say, "not so hard mate, you only need to place the kick, not bang it in". If he responds with anything other than compliance, he's an idiot and make sure you dont get stuck with him again. Dont gently stroke each other's thighs like its foreplay, but theres absolutely no need to go banging them in during a drill, or even sparring unless its fight prep

[John@FightersOnly]

This Muay Thai malarki seriously hurts. Leg kicks are fucking amazing though. Naively, I had no idea that they could be so feckin painful lol :rolleyes:

when i first started watching k-1, the constant shin-blocking made me assume that it was a painless technique for blocking kicks. how wrong i was. Still better than taking endless kicks in the thigh muscle though.

[Standupstar]

I just thought (somewhat irrationally) that if it's possible to condition shins to take pain, then perhaps it might be possible to do the same with thighs.


The contact area on the shin is mainly bone though and on the thigh mainly muscle and so whereas the shin gets sore, the thigh knots up and muscle fatigues uber quickly. Conditioning for the battering of the muscle is limited to keeping as fit as possible and keeping the amount of effective hits you recieve to a minimum. Over time you'll start to see (some but not all) kicks coming earlier and you'll find you're taking less.

As for partners going OTT, if they are new then they probably don't know so tell them. Let them know it's a drill not a dick swinging contest and the hardest hitter isn't always the best fighter. Speed and power require skill so concentrate on technique

[Malcontent]

Thanks guys, great advice there.

[coleman.sensei]

some traditional martial artists believe as i do that any kiay actually makes you lose power in a strike or punch because you are using energy to make the noise!

[IceKid]

if you dont like taking kicks to the thigh, step in and meet the kick, i dont know what the technique is called but i have seen many a MT fighter do it, as well as anderson silva a few times.

[Malcontent]

if you dont like taking kicks to the thigh, step in and meet the kick, i dont know what the technique is called but i have seen many a MT fighter do it, as well as anderson silva a few times.

That might be worth trying, cheers.

[mzb]

Im trying to rack my brains as to the full explanation my instructor gave me but essentially as IceKid says, step into the kick. Personally i wouldnt change/break my position to literally STEP into the kick, but if you're taking a right leg kick, lean your left leg into it.

This may seem counter productive but it works, if you pull away from the kick but still get it to the thigh, the kick has more time/distance to build momentum and slap you with. If you push into the kick not only does it have less distance but it sends some of the power back to the kicker as its now two opposing forces moving into eachother than than one smacking the other.

I know that was quite an airy fairy explanation but i hope it makes sense, dont quite step to the kick, but move your thigh towards it. It will still hurt, but not as much, and you'll get used to it :)

[Atlasmma]

As far as conditioning your leg goes, get a partner and take it in turns to lightly leg kick eachother. One for one. Just do it really lightly over and over. You'll have a dead leg, but your leg will get better and better and hurt less. The Thai guys can get smashed anywhere no problem, just because they're trained taking those shots for years. Sure, evading the kick is the best idea but you don't want to be someone who can't take it if needs be. You're not always going to be able to check or avoid it.

[DetoxGuru.com]

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