Feet Conditioning

[chionardo]

Hi, I have a problem, I keep getting huge blisters on the balls of my feet and underneath of my toes from turning kicks, its bad enough that a large section of skin comes away from my foot, nearly bleeding and I can't walk let alone train Muay Thai for a couple of weeks. Is there anything I can do or is it just years of training that will condition the underneath of my feet to turning.

Thanks
Ben

[jakmak52]

They will turn into callouses. I used to get them as well :(

[Patrick Hayes]

I used to see guys experimenting wiht different methods of hardening the soles and palms, everything from ointments to slapping them with a wet rag for hours at a time. In the end though, it's best to just keep training until callouses grow, and take time in between to heal.

[chionardo]

Thanks for the replies, its just more of an annoyance than anything else because it means I can't train in the gym, Muay Thai or Aikido which I've recently started, one of the huge blisters came away from my foot at Aikido and it was very painful to move around but I'll just bear with it, thanks again.

I have another question, this time about Muay Thai, I have been taught at my club to only 'parry' jabs, but I was watching a video by Duke Roufus and he was saying not to parry all the time because you need to stay at home on defence and not be swatting away punches. He said to open the glove and turn the hand to 'cup' the jab - which at my club on monday was the perfect oppertunity to try as the instructor had us partenered up and just one side jabbing and the other 'parrying', I chose to go for the way Duke advised and it was a lot better, less movement and quicker to get the hand back up incase the opponent was to for example jab, fake and then when the hand is down for the parry, hook. I have boxer friends who are very quick and parrying there was no way I could avoid getting hit by but the other way seemed to work well as my hand was so close to my original guard I could get it back to block a quick hook.

What are your oppinions on different types of defence and blocking western boxing and thai style?


Thanks
Ben

[Jeff Burger]

"He said to open the glove and turn the hand to 'cup' the jab "
In boxing this is refered to as "catch".

Personally I say stay away from blocking and do something to gain something on your opponent.
If you must block do it in a way that it hurts your opponent or puts them in a disadvantaged position.

Defensive progression (worst to best)
Get hit
Block
Evade
Block and hit
Evade and hit
Kyushu mikiri (evade and strike before they recover)
Sabaki and or gunting (constructive and or destructive blocking)
Sectoring (simultaneous evade / block and counter)
Intercept (just beat them to it)

If you do go with the catch try feeling this...
As you catch the resitance is right back towards your opponent. Use that tension and as his punch withdraws throw your punch.

If you catch a cross shoulder roll with it.

Jeff