Weak Wrists...

Although I practice Judo mostly I also pracice Ju-Jitsu. Recently my wrists have been aching from punching pads (something I don't do much of) and ukemi. This mixture of the two is making it very hard to even attempt push-ups. Does anyone know of any strengthing exercises? Or has anyone else had similar experiences?

Thanks

You should do your push ups on your two largest knuckles, this is the standard way of doing it for most martial artists in striking arts.

Also, you must of course learn the correct way to punch. Punching something hard without correct alignment of the hand and without clenching it just right hurts like hell. Striking with an open hand may be a good alternative for sparring until you learn a good way to throw punches.

You can also use the kind of wrist wraps we use in kickboxing/boxing. This will offer some support for you hand and wrist. I have no idea what ukemi is, so I can't help ya on that one.

Cheers

Probably the cheapest way to strengthen the wrists would be to do your pushups on your knuckles. Alternately you can do them on your fingertips, as well. I've found the best thing to strengthen the forearms, and thus the wrist, was rock climbing. Going to an indoor rock climbing gym for a few hours a week (I go overboard, but hey) will make both your grip stronger, and the solidity of your fist as well.

Chris Sanders

No, people who throw their shoulders punch impropperly.

Apparently, that's not enough strength if the poor guy is ruining his wrists by punching pads. Furthermore, holding a tight fist for any length of time will not provide sufficient strength for dealing with shock. It's like someone saying 'I want my legs strong so that I can walk up 20 flights of stairs' and you suggesting that they simply hold their knee up in a 'stepping possition' and in no time flat they'll be able to do stairs.

The question isn't whether or not the teacher is teaching what. The premise is that punching air doesn't teach you how to use your body to punch 'something'.

You're talking two different problems. Getting a new student to relax their shoulders is always a problem. But it's totally different from teaching them what muscles to contract and to contract them simultaneously. There's no reason why that second part shouldn't start from day one.

Doubtful.

No, what I'm saying is that punching air is stupid if you are trying to strengthen your wrists. Punching air is stupid if you're trying to learn to punch with force. Heck, for the most part, punching air is just stupid.

First, focus is the most integral part of the punch and should be taught early, IMO. Secondly, the best way to learn to use body mechanics is to be able to tell when using them is effective. Punching air doesn't give you that. Punching something does.

Bad analogy. There's no rebound in your body when the arrow hits the target. Punching something is a different story. You can have great technique, but if you don't learn how to connect your body when you contact your targe, you'll just bounce off.

I've never seen anybody that spends the majority of their time punching the air actually have good technique.

Absolutely. We should blame inadequate teaching, not just punching the air.

I don't know if a tight fist 'strengthens' the wrist, but it certainly contributes to keeping the wrist straight. Try it, folks. Clench your fist loosely and watch how the wrist wobbles. Not what you want on impact. Now try my variation, known as the 'Kisaka fist' after the JKA honcho who empahsized it: clench the fingers tightly and instead of a normal thumb wrap turn the thumb sideways a little more so that it exerts more lateral pressure upon the entire chain of fingers down the line. You'll notice your fist really compacting nicely if you're doing it right. Now, the real trick is to be able to quickly assume this fist quality upon the moment of kime, but until then keep everything in the delivery with shoulder and arm nice and relaxed. It's not an easy thing to do, but it's necessary to learn. If there's tension in the arms throughout the punch, you're doing it wrong, and have what the old-timers call a 'dead' fist.

Heh Home theory vs. practical experience here, I'd say . You go, girl.

Amen. And so on.