Shin Conditioning In Muay Thai

So we've all seen the youtube clip of a Thai Boxer kicking down a Banana Tree and as practitioners of Muay Thai we wish we could achieve the same level of Shin Conditioning - Agreed?

Shin Conditioning for Muay Thai is surrounded by myth and the topic always generates a lot of scepticism but the truth is there is no magic formula, its not witchcraft it is, along with all fight training hard work and requires determination and commitment.

I've seen many methods over the years and most are barbaric and I would suggest detrimental to the long term health of the boxer. I was taught to roll my shins with eskrima sticks or when they are not available any long smooth pole. I personally don't like this option, the pain is intense and I believe too much pressure by the inexperienced can cause long term damage - I've even seen the skin covering the tibia split.

A common misconception is that you are killing the nerve endings in your legs but the reality is that your pain threshold is gradually getting higher. 

I teach shin conditioning in the context of caring for your shins, as you train you will enevitiby clash shins with a partner or catch the edge of the pads while kicking. This will cause bruising to the shin and may be seen or felt as a lump or indentation. As with all bruising and trauma to the body you have to allow time for the body to heal. The difference with injuries to your shin is that the time it takes is considerably longer - lumps and bumps sometimes remain tender to the touch months.

The easiest and most sensible way to build up resistance in your shins is simply to kick the heavy bags, you have to be methodical in your approach ensuring that you adjust your distance so that the whole of your shin makes contact with he bag.

Initially any bag will be ok, the filling in the bag will settle at the bottom becoming slightly harder - start kicking this part of the bag increasing your kicking power whilst encouraging a low level of pain tolerance. Lighter and fasters is better than belting the bag until your shins bleed. 

Once your tolerance is getting higher and your feeling less of a sensation on your shins your ready to upgrade your bag. A heavy bag filled with silver sand (avail from any builders merchant) is brilliant for topping up your conditioning. As you kick the bag the sand moves absorbing some of the momentum of the kick but as the sand compresses the bag will become very hard.

Repeat your training at least a few times a week, gradually building up the power of your kicks, you will notice a difference in around 2-4wks and the beauty of this method is that all the 'dinks' you've recieved whilst sparring are ironed out leaving nice flat shins..

You can use Namman Muay Oil to assist in the healing process before and after a heavy session of conditioning, liberally applied to the shins it will help to bring out any bruising and numb any residual pain.. Treating your shins with an ice pack along side the oil is also a very good idea!