Shin Conditioning for Martial Artists

In this piece of intel, i will talk specifically about conditioning the shins. Alot of martial arts feature kicks that use the shin as the contact surface, although South East Asian styles are best known for shin kicks. Alot of 'experts' talk about hardening the bone or increasing calcium deposits which increases density - these are somewhat dubious, but not entirely inaccurate claims. What shin conditioning does definitely do is deaden the nerves eventually. Dont forget that your shins are hard to start with!

Assuming you can kick properly (you should not even be concerned with conditioning if you lack technique), and are fairly fit, the first step is to understand that developing 'hard shins' does not happen overnight. Taking it slow and allowing proper recovery time are your insurace policy against injury. Make sure you warm up properly and massage the shins before, during and after training.

Ok, now onto the actual training. Heavy bag is first prize. Kick in sets - as many reps as possible without loosing focus. Start by kicking softly, focusing on accuracy, until you are comfortable. Increase the power until you are kicking very hard. Dont forget to rub your shins between sets. Your shins should be a little sore, but not excruciating so. Focus pad training and sparring will also assist in the quest for iron shins!

How often you can withstand shin conditioning varies from person to person, but aim for 3 times a week and increase frequency over time. Dont be afraid to rest for a couple of days - your body is not a machine.

Dont forget that the by-product of intense shin conditioning is good, hard kicks, increased fitness and more confidence. So, why are you still sitting there? Get kicking!