I need to experience a few good hits!

**flygirl** · 10-29-2006, 06:53

I am fairly new to the martial arts world and hadn't had any encounters with any violence before. Basically I have never been hit. How can I get someone to use more force, without getting my *** kicked. I don't want the first time I get punched to be when I really need to fight and not be able to perform because I am stunned.

**evvad** · 10-29-2006, 07:46

You say you're "fairly new to the martial arts world." Does this mean you are currently training in a martial art?

I assume you're not, since you say you have never been hit.

If you want to learn how to defend yourself then find a place to train. The phone book is a good place to start. Try out a few places and stay in one you like. I would recommend you try out some grappling based (examples: Judo, Jujutsu, Aikido) and some striking based (Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kung Fu, Boxing) martial arts so you can get a feel for which kind of art you would enjoy more at this stage. Ask questions and observe what the current students are doing.

Welcome to Budoeek!

**flygirl** · 10-29-2006, 08:11

Thanks, thats exactly how I got started.
I'm not that new. I am involved currantly in JuJitsu and have been hit on numerous occasions. The hits I have experienced have not caused enough pain for me to believe that I have expierieced what it feels like to be hit by someone who wants to do some harm. I know most of the guys at my dojo have had at least one run-in with being hit by someone that wants to harm them. By the way, does anyone think I'm crazy for wanting this.

**flygirl** · 10-29-2006, 08:22

I'm not that new. I am involved currantly in JuJitsu and have been hit on numerous occasions. The hits I have experienced have not caused enough pain for me to believe that I have expierieced what it feels like to be hit by someone who wants to do some harm. I know most of the guys at my dojo have had at least one run-in with being hit by someone that wants to harm them. By the way, does anyone think I'm crazy for wanting this.

**evvad** · 10-29-2006, 08:40

Sorry about that.
How long have you been training and what style of jujutsu do you do?

I don't know what your jujutsu is like so you should talk to your instructor about this. Your instructor may or may not want you to do full resistance sparring with striking yet.

I'm sure someone more experienced will come by and give you some better advice.

And no, I don't think you're crazy. I think I know how you feel, but then I think about how much work I still need to put into my technique anyways, and the feeling passes.

**R. Johnson** · 10-29-2006, 12:05

Heh, I remember the first time I *really* got hit. I was 18, an orange belt, and it happened at a tournament. I mean, you get hit all the time in Tae Kwon Do, but they're usually controlled. This guy hit me full force in the face. It shocked me more than it hurt...

**flygirl** · 10-29-2006, 13:05

You say it shocked you more than it hurt. So you can see why I want to feel what it would be like and more important be able to keep going instead of just being shocked at what happened. I am really not concerned with getting hit hard in a tournament and looking like an idiot. I'm concerned if it ever happened in a real life situation. I see you are an assistant instructor, how would you feel if a student came to you with a request to get hit. (I know this sounds a bit wierd) Anyone that has any other stories about how they reacted the first time they were hit full force I would like to hear them.

**R. Johnson** · 10-29-2006, 13:55

Originally Posted by flygirl

You say it shocked you more than it hurt. So you can see why I want to feel what it would be like and more important be able to keep going instead of just being shocked at what happened. I am really not concerned with getting hit hard in a tournament and looking like an idiot. I'm concerned if it ever happened in a real life situation. I see you are an assistant instructor, how would you feel if a student came to you with a request to get hit. (I know this sounds a bit wierd) Anyone that has any other stories about how they reacted the first time they were hit full force I would like to hear them.

Well, all of my students, with the exception of my brother, are under twelve, heh heh heh...can't really blast an eight year old full force even if they asked you to. Still, even with an adult, I couldn't ethically strike them full force, even if they asked me to. I understand your concern, and I think that's something that floats around in the back of every martial artist's mind (at least the ones that haven't been in a real encounter). The thing you've got to remember is that being struck like that on the street versus in a controlled enviroment is different because on the street you have the adrenaline pumping.
Here's an example. If you've ever played paintball you know that when you get hit it leaves a pretty good little bruise, but in the heat of the game with the excitement and the adrenaline going it doesn't really hurt when you get hit...you feel it, it just doesn't hurt. Now when you go stand down range and let someone just shoot you (yes I've done it, no I'm not ignorant) with their marker it hurts like hell.
There are just several variables that go with it.

**AndrewSimonsen** · 10-29-2006, 14:16

I would suggest full contact sparring with pads. You will getused to getting hit hard, but with some protection, and you will get used to swinging at full contact. This of course should be done only with your instructor's approval and supervision.

**aplonis** · 10-29-2006, 16:38

You'll want to be careful not to overdo jujutsu. I took Hakko Ryu for a bit over a year and had to give it up due to cumulative damage to both my wrists. There was only one other student, an ex-Green Beret in the class besides myself. We had a nidan instructor who was impervious to pain. So we tried to be oh-so-stoic to impress...or at least not too much disappoint...him.

But my partner had half a head in height and quite a few pounds on me. My being overstoic...partly to impress my girlfriend who came to watch some of those classes...meant that I allowed the damage to accumulate until I could not lift a cup of coffee except two-handed. And even that hurt. It was my own fault for letting things go that far and not tapping out when I should have.

I figured to just take a little break away from it and then get back when I was okay again. But it took a year for the stabbing jolts to stop shooting up my arms whenever I tried to lift something heavy. By then the instructor had moved away to I don't know where.

Later on in a Tang Soo Do class I took a punch in the ribs that made me real sore, enough that I had to sit out the next two classes. I just figured they were brused. When the ache had dulled down to be almost forgotten I made the mistake of getting on a carnival ride. They went pop half way through. And that put an end to my TSD training training too.

What I'm saying here is...be careful what you wish for. Go for it. But don't overdo. And if something feels broken, see a doc to find out for sure. Don't be too stoic.

**coralreefer** · 10-29-2006, 17:49

If you are unfortunate enough to have to be in a real-life encounter, then I think you are more likely to be punched or slapped than kicked. In that case, I would suggest getting a pair of boxing gloves, and perhaps some headgear, and going at it with a partner. After some time, take the headgear off, but keep the gloves. Of course, a fist is alot harder than the glove, but the power and force of a punch can be felt even with the gloves. With this, you can get some good shots to your chin without cutting up your face. This can help to learn not to "close your eyes and pull away" from a punch, and at the same time, learning to take a hit and recover, To see a punch coming, and calmly parry or evade.

Just a thought

Todd

**GodofGamblers** · 10-29-2006, 21:01

I used to have a boxing instructor who told me, "You always learn something from being punched".

That's very true... just don't 'learn' too much !

**3 Crows** · 10-30-2006, 01:01

Sure,learning how to take a hit and analising your reaction is fine after a while.However I wouldn't really seek it out all too much.In time those experiences will just happen.But on a slightly contrary note,one technique that I employ is hitting myself with either an open or closed hands.Start with five minutes a day just smacking yourself all over your body;legs,arms,back torso,et cetera.Just hit to the point where it Could hurt,but doesn't.This conditioning exercise will better enable you to maintain a neutrality to being struck a blow.Everyday as I drive to my 'vanpool' I ridgehand myself in the solar plexus fifty times.Later on ,if it's a class night,if somebody doesn't use proper control,or as is usually the case,my instructor is demonstrating a technique,then the blows struck are more bearable....usually.If you want to be gung ho about it you can always pay a friend or fellow trainee five bucks to just whack you a few times throughout the day sans warning.As far as getting pummeled for the sake of the 'what if' factor...just remember our freind Mohammed Ali...how well is his nogin treating him lately??? If you practice getting hit then you will teach yourself to BE hit.But if you practice not being hit without compromising your effectiveness against your opponent then...when/if you ever have a real opponent you will be more apt to maintain positive control without getting hit.
I hope I've been helpful.

**tcomea2** · 10-30-2006, 10:04

Originally Posted by aplonis

You'll want to be careful not to overdo jujutsu. I took Hakko Ryu for a bit over a year and had to give it up due to cumulative damage to both my wrists. There was only one other student, an ex-Green Beret in the class besides myself. We had a nidan instructor who was impervious to pain. So we tried to be oh-so-stoic to impress...or at least not too much disappoint...him.

But my partner had half a head in height and quite a few pounds on me. My being overstoic...partly to impress my girlfriend who came to watch some of those classes...meant that I allowed the damage to accumulate until I could not lift a cup of coffee except two-handed. And even that hurt. It was my own fault for letting things go that far and not tapping out when I should have.

I figured to just take a little break away from it and then get back when I was okay again. But it took a year for the stabbing jolts to stop shooting up my arms whenever I tried to lift something heavy. By then the instructor had moved away to I don't know where.

Later on in a Tang Soo Do class I took a punch in the ribs that made me real sore, enough that I had to sit out the next two classes. I just figured they were brused. When the ache had dulled down to be almost forgotten I made the mistake of getting on a carnival ride. They went pop half way through. And that put an end to my TSD training training too.

What I'm saying here is...be careful what you wish for. Go for it. But don't overdo. And if something feels broken, see a doc to find out for sure. Don't be too stoic.

Dude you got to stretch that stuff out man!! Yeah it hurts in class but it shouldnt hurt much if any when yuo walk out the door. As dave always tells me you have to condition your body for jujitsu and that means taking pain and getting stronger from it.

as for getting hit: here is your plan, go to you local watering hole, find the bigest meanest looking biker in the place. Tap him on the sholder and ask him how he likes his honda. Then when he gets mad, make a momma joke, follwed by a fat joke on him. That should do the trick.

Have you tried a local boxing gym, or kickboxing? thats an art where you know your going to get hit.

**Musubi Dojo** · 10-30-2006, 10:15

I'm thinking a supervized environment, like a boxing gym or a dojo that spars with contact is the best place to experience a semi or full contact shot to the head. Use head gear and gloves.

**TEA** · 10-30-2006, 10:56

Ryan, Andrew, Todd and Chris pretty much covered what I'd suggest as to how to go about training for getting hit. Ryan also touched on one of the biggest results from getting hit in the head, especially if you're not expecting it or not conditioned for it - SURPRISE.

I think this is one area where most guys have a bit of an advantage over most gals when first starting in MA, since most boys have been punched in the face at least once when they were kids. Albeit, kids don't punch nearly as hard as adults, but it gets them over the initial shock of being hit in the face for the first time. I've seen a couple of gals literally sit down and cry the first time they get tagged in the head during sparring. These same gals later became quite good at sparring once they got used to being hit and overcame their own reluctance to hit their partner with force (a whole other kettle of fish).

From my experience with being hit, it usually doesn't hurt that much until later. In addition to overcoming the initial shock, or conditioning to not experience it, there are two other potential results/reactions to getting hit in the head. First, the concussive factor of your brain being rattled inside your skull, other wise known as getting your bell rung. This can vary in intensity from just a little ring a ding (brief "flash of light" and only a few "cobwebs" that quickly fade) to actually being KOed. Asside from being KOed, which isn't going to teach you alot other than the fact that no-one bounces back from a KO like they do in the movies and that concussions really suck, getting your bell rung a few times (WARNING: doing so on a regular basis will likely result in brain damage) will teach you how to keep your cool and keep your guard up while you evade until you can shake the cobwebs off.

The other potential result/reaction of getting hit in the head is what happens if you get hit square on the nose. This will usually result in a tear response

that if you're not used to will stun you a bit, may cause some shock, which will make it worse, and will distract you. Getting smacked on the nose is never pleasant, but once you get used to it you'll learn to fight through the tear response.

Getting hit in the gut does not have the some shock/surprise factor or concussive value, but can knock the wind out of you if you're not used to it and/or don't have conditioned abs. Its also a lot easier to train to take a gut shot than a head shot and doesn't have the same risk of brain damage. With or without hogu (I prefer with for the added protection to one's ribs in case of a misdirected blow to the ribs instead of the gut), you can train with a partner exchanging progressively harder blows (I like to use front punches and round house kicks) until you have reached your threshold, signal your partner that thats your limit, then keep exchanging blows at that level. You'd be surprised at how quickly you can train yourself to take a pretty solid gut shot.

**Pathfinder** · 10-30-2006, 22:02

Definately boxing. If you make it through your first sparring session without copping at least one good one you are either exceptionally good, or they are not trying.

And it is in a fairly safe environment as well. The first time I ever got properly smacked was Muay Thai and it was a wake up call.

**martialarm** · 10-30-2006, 22:19

Through the entire thread I was ready to give my answer but here it is.

Definately boxing. If you make it through your first sparring session without copping at least one good one you are either exceptionally good, or they are not trying.

And it is in a fairly safe environment as well. The first time I ever got properly smacked was Muay Thai and it was a wake up call.

Boxers really are experienced with being hit and so dont go blank from the "shock - supprise" of finally being struck.

I was side hit with a full bottle of beer once (not thrown but smacked) and its not just the supprise - not just the blood pouring out - and all the sounds and screams that tend to occur around this circumstance its also the who the F%&k and instant feeling of fight or flee.

So do a few boxing rounds and dont think one day is enough go back and do it for a few weeks and who knows you may take up boxing - thats where the money is.

**Uraken** · 11-01-2006, 04:20

Hi,

in my younger years, I've had the experience you're looking for, more than once. I don't think this is something you really need.

No matter how hard anyone may hit you in the dojo (even if the light goes out!), it is never the same as a real attack by someone out there who intends to rape, hurt and/ or kill you. In the dojo, it is never about survival. That's what makes the difference. In the back of your head, you will always know & rely on the sportive and experimental setting you are in, no matter how hard anyone may hit you there.

On the other hand, I do think that "almost real" attacks in the dojo can sometimes be helpful to test your defense techniques - provided you have them, there are rules, and protective gear is used. We do this sometimes as follows: The "attacker" wears protective gear including a helmet. He attacks a woman at the level of her abilities. She may then do everything she can to defend herself. Do this for half an hour and you will feel more worn out than you would after three normal training units. And sometimes, if an "attacker" simply hits a woman hard, straight in the face, more than once, the experiment will be over pretty quickly. Even if this was discussed before. This, however, is no good way to go about it, because any experience of helplessness reduces the woman's self-confidence, rather than strengthening it.

You in any case would not want to do this too often, because your boss might ask you funny questions about your husband, or about your strange activities in your free time. And a broken nose doesn't look great either.

Even if you do train like this, simply to get the experience, remember that it's still nowhere near the same as fighting with someone who *really* wants to commit a crime and doesn't give a $&%$ about you.

Finally, I don't think that it's smart to regularly get hit hard by people you know, just in order to learn how to prevent someone you don't know from *possibly* hitting you hard on the street. That's like doing crash driving in order to prevent road accidents.

Also, if you train like this, you won't be doing it for very long; latest as you get a little older, your body will say "thank you, that was it". And then it will be for good. We have only one body and it makes a lot of sense to protect its basic resources. We might still need them.

I believe that a mixture of learning courage and general self-confidence with good, demanding and sportive martial arts training will be most helpful on the long run. Also, you will profit from it even after many years, and, hopefully, on the street as well - if you ever need it. My opinion.

Best regards

**KnghtAzrael** · 11-01-2006, 09:55

I've taken a few hits back in highschool and the like. I have to say it's not much fun. The only good thing about the times I've been hit is most of the people didn't know how to really punch, liked to stand in way to close so there was no power in it and often aimed for things like the jaw, which yes it hurts to get hit in but it kills the guys knuckles too. I do have one piece of advice from my limited experience. Be more concerned with the punch you don't see coming, the worst hits mentaly I've ever taken were all sucker punches (IE guy taped me on the shoulder from behind and as i turned slamed his fist into my jaw before i could really see him). Being so unprepared for what they're doing, you have no time to react or psych yourself up to get hit, so it isn't pretty. It also doesn't seem to matter what rank you are I know a couple people who are higher ranked and still got leveled by sucker punches. Just be careful of how you go about getting hit it can do damage.