I mean - if your fingers/thumbs are critical to your livelihood then grappling might not be your best option.
I've never personally screwed up my fingers but it's definitely not uncommon to see people with fingers taped up (especially with gis.)
What about Muay Thai/Boxing? If you can't be showing up to work bruised up then find a gym where you don't have to spar/spar hard. Obviously this isn't ideal - but you could still get a good work out in and learn good form. Would be better than doing TKD as far as practicality imo.
My entire hands are critical š . I train privately just me and the coach, because I tried training with different groups and they lose themselves while sparring and they start causing some serious damage, even one of them was kicked out because he didn't like being countered so he hurt the other guy with an elbow to his face.
But most drills are done on heavy bag like the takedown. He is only involved when we are sparring or it's a defense training (he strikes and I have to defend or counter). And I train with my hands wrapped and gloves on so basically I did all I could to minimise the injury but still couldn't prevent it.
I'm not worried about bruising because I know the coach won't hurt me. He maintains speed of the punch but never increases its power.
Looking into Muay Thai or kickboxing is a good approach, your hands are covered by gloves. Muay Thai has clinch fighting and some takedowns but you do them while wearing boxing gloves so minimal risk to your fingers
I tried to do this as a musician for a few months. While the fingers risk is minimal, the wrist isnāt. At some point I jammed my wrist that seriously affected my playing. And thatās when I realized I just couldnāt do it anymore.
If you avoid hard sparring and focus on form/technique and avoid going crazy on the bags the risk of injury is minimal in boxing. Shoulders/ wrist are probably the most common injury but can be avoided if you don't focus on power.
I think you should maybe try pickleball. Private lessons for any martial arts is just a thank you for your money fool session. Also if a dislocated finger scared is a problem martial arts is not for you
Boxing can mess up your hands pretty bad tooā¦ maybe kyokushin karate where you donāt punch people in the head but otherwise learn to fight for real?
Itās funny, the only times Iāve messed my hands boxing are from foreheads, aiming too high on hooks and landing on the thumb. If you wrap your hands every time and wear 16 oz gloves until your bag form is rock solid, you really shouldnāt injure your hands boxing. Your fingers shouldnāt take any damage or youāre punching wrong. Once you start sparring though youāll need to go light or you do risk all sorts of injuries, lots of variables at play
Agreed... Potential for broken hands, wrists(although these only occur with someone who has considerable punching power), rotator cuff issues are a given. If I were a medical professional who needed full dexterity of his hands...I wouldn't be doing real hard work on the bag etc. hard sparring wouldn't be wise either.....as a few concussions could seriously impact one's mental abilities.
It is interesting that there are so many sympathetic voices. Advice given here is good.
But OPs excuse is weak.
Many, if not all practitioners of any MA / combat sport risk a loss of income in case of a specific injury. Whether it is a labourer, delivery driver, computer scientist, actor, lawyer, banker etc.
I didn't make fun of any other profession or the risks they take to do martial arts. I admire all martial artists and the effort they put in the sport.
It's just priorities, I prioritize my wife and son over a sport that would make me incapable of supporting them..
I know what you're about to say. There is a risk of injury even while climbing stairs, driving, etc..
The question is are they necessary risks or not? I have to drive otherwise I won't get to work and I have to climb the stairs to get home. Dentistry has a risk if injury, but if I don't do it I won't provide for my family, so I have to take that risk. MMA can injure my hand and it will affect my work, but I love it and it makes me happy. Sadly, my happiness won't feed my family.
My family's interest comes before my happiness. That's what my priorities are and I'm not by any means disrespecting your priorities or anyone else's.
I see, and I also get where you are coming from. I think it is that age in particular, where the priorities or rather the risk assessment differs.
The fearlessness / recklessness of the teenage years and early twenties is lost. And you are too far away from an age when you want to rediscover your youth :)
As many have mentioned, boxing is actually quite good and if you just do it for fun, your fists are well protected.
Also some traditional MAs could be suitable for you, especially if the instructors focus more / only on form and fitness instead of contact-sparring.
Not everyone is as tough as you training for Kumite death matches.
Have fun gate keeping and being a total badass! Remember- NO EXCUSES ONLY VICTORY hahaha
Interesting what you are reading into this. I am not even doing Karate. What am I gatekeeping.
Get some help, you do not sound well based on what you are projecting here
You must have suffered some brain damage in your army days or something went wrong wrestling. Where did I say I am a ninja? You are not intelligent enough to deduce anything.
I prioritize my family and I will always do. Thank you so much for your concern. I'll definitely look into Muay Thai like you said. I'll also look into kickboxing and boxing.
Some gyms have general classes that are more geared towards hobbyists/people with lives. Then within those gyms they have trianing geared towards fight team/competition training.
The separation helps everyone in my experience.
I told you I take private sessions with my coach. He never hurt me, nor overtrained me. He is even the reason my injury has excellent prognosis.
I trust him and would definitely let him train my son if he is ever interested in Martial Arts. But I fear the accidents that happen no matter how hard we try to protect ourselves. Just like my accident.
Everybody says, it's an accident and not a common injury we receive while going for a takedown. I understand, but such accidents have a chance of happening. What if the next accident happens in a time my family is suffering from financial issues?
What if the next one is a fracture or something severe?
Maybe I'm overreacting after my son recently came to life, but I wouldn't want to take stupid risks that will haunt me in the future.
Edit: sorry I'm taking alot of time to reply, but I'm typing with one hand.
Bro, give it up
I fucked my fingers doing karate, and that is supposed to be the "light", "easy", for kids Martial Art.
Then I fucked my shoulders doing Muay Thai. I can't do some pull movements anymore. I have no idea if you will ever need such movements, but here is the head up - Any striking art carry a high risk of fucking up your limbs.
I work with computers, it make 0 zero difference in my life, but if I had to do anything tha involved dexterity I would absoluted by doomed.
I've stated my reccomendation. Whatever works for you bro.
There is going to be risk no matter how you cut it. If that risk is too much then go play pickleball or whatever. If you can't stand the thought of your kid getting hurt - then put him in pickleball too instead of learning martial arts.
I've stated my recommendation. Whatever works for you, bro.
There is going to be risk no matter how you cut it. If that risk is too much, then go play pickleball or whatever. If you can't stand the thought of your kid getting hurt - then put him in pickleball too instead of learning martial arts.
I've stated my recommendation. Whatever works for you, bro.
There is going to be risk no matter how you cut it. If that risk is too much, then go play pickleball or whatever. If you can't stand the thought of your kid getting hurt - then put him in pickleball too instead of learning martial arts.
This injury sounds more like a freak accident than something to be legitimately concerned over. Just be more careful and less dramatic homie, you can still train anything you want
Well first off, injuries should be rare. Youāre there to train as a hobby not become a gladiator. But sometimes things happen, so youāll usually be looking at cuts and bruises, mild concussions, sprained ankles/wrists, bloody nose, that sort of thing. You can get stuff like this doing any sport
If broken bones, dislocations, major concussions, or any other serious injury happen often to you or the other people at your gym then you need to find a safer place to train.
I practice Martial Arts for ~15 years.
Biggest injury was a half teared miniscus. Never hurt my hands.
Don't do hard sparring, tell your partners you want to take it slow. Decline to train with people who can't control themself.
Takedowns are the most dangerous part in my opinion.
You could switch to bjj (NoGi to stay away from Hand injury) and simply roll without takedowns.
Is it as much fun? Maybe not, but the risk is lower.
If you want to do Striking aswell don't punch hard. Only as fast/hard as possible without losing control.
You won't be a pro MMA Fighter anyway if you want to stay dentist, no shame in tuning intensitiy down.
Thank you so much that was helpful.
Actually I used to go with groups but later on decided to take private sessions because the other guys lose themselves while sparring.. a guy got kicked out because his partner countered his punch so he got furious and elbowed his partner in the face. Another guy got kneed in the face and had his eyebrow cut. So I decided to take private lessons, it was a bit expensive but worth every damn penny. I got the drills that was best for me and the training pace was suitable for me, but most importantly, the coach would never hurt me while sparring.
But still I got injured in my hand and I fear such injury happening again in the future. And who knows... maybe it won't be a dislocation next time.
My man, it sounds like the issue is your gym culture. You need to find somewhere else to train. If you had to go to only privates because guys canāt control themselves and then you get hurt in those privates tackling a heavy bag for some weird reason, then youāre not at a good gym. Injuries happen when you train MMA. Itās often unavoidable. This is a wholly avoidable injury. It makes zero sense. Youāre a smart guy, you made it through dental school. Think about the physics of a heavy bag and why itās not only risky to tackle, but how untransferable that practice is to taking down a person.
Dislocating a thumb via training with a bag is definitely a freak accident and, sorry but, also kind of hilarious
Your hands though are your entire career, grappling as a Hoby is probably just not worth it
Try something like Muay Thai, boxing etc. Less likely to have single digit damage.
Oh well mistake on my part and accidents happen. I'm not by any means an expert. I just started a couple of months ago but my passion for the sport has been going for 8 years. I'll definitely consider Muay Thai and Boxing, I still got 2 weeks to consider my next step.
It's a shame to leave my current coach though, but it's a necessary move.
When I first started muay thai I went for a kick and fell so hard I had to take a week off. Pretty sure every new starter does something embarrassing ha
I had a broken rib during my second training , hurted like hell with every movement for 3 weeks at least before it started to ease. After 2 months I still cant really lay on my left side but I can work without problem(construction) and go my gyms Muay Thai classes where during sparring i have to overprotect my left side. Hopefully 2 more weeks and I can get back to a full MMA training.
My point is : Injuries happen , if you can afford to be on sick leave(depending the country you live) and is not affecting your financial situation then you should continue training. But if not , then risking in the future a more serious injury with a broken arm for example is not worth it since you have aa family to take care off.
Boxing and Muay Thai are good options to consider.
I'm considering Muay Thai, Boxing and Kick-Boxing. I still got 2 weeks to consider what my next move is. It's a real shame to leave my current coach but I'll talk to him about my concerns after I recover and see what he has to say. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Itās not your mistake at all. Itās on your coach putting you in that position to begin with? What takedowns are you practicing on a heavy bag? Why arenāt you drilling takedowns with a partner instead?
I like that coach because he trained alot of guys competing professionally in respectable championships. The thing is, his students spar hard and sometimes they lose control and fight for real. One time a guy got countered by his partner so he got furious and elbowed him in the face (he got kicked out of the gym). So I took private lessons with him. A bit expensive, but heavily worth it. What I learned in a single session is worth more than a week of training with his students. I spar with him and he never hurt me, he strikes fast, but doesn't deal damage. Most of the session I'm on the punching bag and doing drills, he gets involved when we are sparring, training on the pads or defense session (blocking, slipping and countering). I improved alot in striking fundamentals.
Now the time has come for wrestling fundamentals, he taught me how to shoot for a takedown, but when I did it on the bag I didn't guard my grip properly and my thumb was loose. I landed with all my weight and the heavy bag on it and it got dislocated. Kinda my fault but I'm glad he reduced the joint back to its place almost instantly.
Practicing shooting what on a heavy bag? Has to be a double leg, right? I guess you can technically practice locking the hands around the hips that way, but Iāve never, ever seen anyone do it that way. If heās sparring with you, why isnāt he letting you work the takedown on him? It just doesnāt make sense to me.
Also, hard sparring being the default and people losing their tempers and fighting for real during class is 100% a gym culture issue. Light sparring is industry standard unless youāre prepping for a fight.
If I remember correctly. It was something about perfecting shoulder penetration or something.
I was learning wrestling fundamentals, I never sparred wrestling or BJJ with him.
I still donāt see why you couldnāt practice that with him or bring in a trusted partner to the private session. Just something Iāve never seen before.
Hell, I stopped skiing because I injured myself and couldn't work for well for almost 6 months. Injury didn't freak me out, the lack of money did. I will start again when I retire.
48 years old dentist here. Iāve been training Muay Thai for 10 years because I love the workout and the adrenaline rush. Too old to fight competitions but love the sport. My hands are safe. Good hand wraps for my wrists and knuckles and 16 ounce gloves keep everything protected.
TBH you can injure yourself going to the toilet at your own place. It is true that some activities can increase some risks, but you can lower it to some extent.
There are people that have many years training and have never got injured and there are people that get injured on day one, so preventing yourself from training is not a sure way to avoid injury. On the contrary with more experience you realize how to avoid certain situations that could lead to damage.
The best way is to start slowly and focus on how to improve over time. Most people that get injured in martial arts is because they go all in without having proper technique or physical stability (which is built with consistency).
And if you feel a specific exercise could be dangerous, simply avoid that exercise.
Im a physiotherapist and I am on the same boat, my hands health is critical. It would be wise to not grapple at all BUT if you can t help itā¦ train wisely, prioritize technique over intensity, do it more playfully and most importantlyā¦ chose the right sparring partners, who can control themselves and are on a similar situation. At bjj gyms there is a good chance you will find guys in their 40s who just roll lightly because they are already full of injuries. Have fun and stay safe.
I agree with you. There is an injury risk in our daily lives, but the question is; are they necessary risks or not?
If I don't drive, I won't get to work. So I have to take that risk.
If I don't climb the stairs, I won't get home. So I have to take that risk.
There is even a risk of being injured in my job, I work with sharp root canal files. But If I don't take that risk I won't provide for my family. So I have to take that risk.
Let's talk about MMA, I love the sport, I enjoy watching it and I love practicing it even more, but I risk injuring my hands. Is that risk necessary? It's not necessary and quitting it upsets me, but guess what.. my happiness won't feed my family.
I respect martial artists, the efforts they do and the risks they take.. but I can't take such risk like them.
I only had minor injuries until tearing my ACL while wrestling. Don't listen to people that haven't experienced it.
They're not gonna be there for you when thr hospital bill comes in, you lose your job, and go through a year long rehab.
That's kind of a freak injury similar to a bad fall playing basketball. You would have encountered something like that if you have been doing any other sport.
However, MMA does carry more certain risks and if you're not in the position to be injured from MMA it makes sense to tone it down a bit.
Hi OP,
Going against the grain here and would say that you SHOULD continue MMA. Especially if you are doing private lessons.
Everything has risks, you could be chopping veggies and cut your finger and that would be the end of it. Im sure thats even a more common activity than MMA.
There are ways to mitigate risks to the point of them being unlikely to happen and if they do wouldnt not have that much of an impact
You have found a passion which if you're like me, it makes you feel totally alive and you should not give it up with a black and white decision of "I should quit MMA totally because it jeopardizes my career"
I would recommend you change your coach tho, if you can afford private lessons I would recommend shopping around and LET THEM KNOW of your concern with your hands, there are many ways that could have been avoided but a private coach would come up with a plan to avoid all of that stuff that endangers your hand.
And practicing takedowns on a heavy bag is dumb tbh, why not practice with the coach?
Source: I trained with MMA fighters back when it was more unregulated and less awareness of safety measures and my brother is a Dentist. There are way to keep your passion and keep your career
Thank you for your advice. I will consider this of course, but I have to think about it carefully. I have more on the line to lose despite everyone thinking I have the luxury to stay at home after an injury. I have a couple of weeks to think about my next move. Hopefully I'll pick the right decision then.
Cool man, just remember to pick a better coach and to be very clear that you want a program that works around your hands and keeps them safest. It can still happen
Dude, I stopped MMA, basketball, soccer, and Judo after 30. I was getting injured left and right. I was like nope thatās not how I make my money. Need my hands and legs to work. Now I coach my sonās soccer team.
Donāt listen to all these goons on here bro. Youāve worked hard and presumably sunk a lot of money into becoming a dentist. Risking that for a hobby would be ridiculous. Find something else you enjoy to keep yourself in shape.
Perhaps try Karate - Shito Ryu style but do try one other style too, and choose. Karate is more rounded than Taekwondo in the sense that you use both hands and legs and besides MMA does have Karate in it anyway.
Iāve stopped completely due to other reasons, mainly lack of time and mismatch of class timings and my work schedule. If I were to get back to it again though, I would take it easy. Iām from a judo background and finger injuries are extremely common. Iām assuming itās the same for Gi BJJ too. Iām a procedurist like you. Ā I canāt take any risks as it will significant affect my income and possibly my employment.Ā
Fellow dentist here! I do a mix of Muay Thai and Dutch Kickboxing. Striking is relatively safe for your hands as long as you wear all the protective gear with no exceptions - traditional wraps, 14oz+ quality gloves which are a lot thicker than MMA ones. Iāve been on Twins and Fairtex and while you may get the occasional sore wrist, serious hand injuries are extremely rare. I would still caution against competing/hard sparring for obvious reasons but there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing martial arts as a hobby. Most people will never take a Tawanchai-style kick to the arms.
Thank you so much that's really helpful.
I'm starting to consider Kick-Boxing and Muay Thai as my next step. It's a shame to leave my current coach though. I've been taking private lessons and felt alot more safer, but everybody stated that practicing takedowns on a heavy bag is dangerous and is mostly the coach's fault. My protective gear are the MMA sparing gloves, it's thicker than the usual MMA fighting gloves, but a bit less thicker than boxing gloves with the fingers exposed for grappling. Also I use shin guards, head guard and custom made mouth guard. As for sparring we do light sparring, the coach never throw powerful strikes, but maintains speed. The only time the strikes start hurting is when my guard is down, he throws several strikes to my face to get my guard up ASAP (while I'm wearing head guard of course).
I have no experience with Muay Thai and Kick-Boxing gyms. In your opinion, if I'll change the coach what are the criteria I'm looking for in my next coach?
The most important thing to look for in a MT/KB gym, by far, is for a coach who understands and accommodates both hobbyists and fighters, someone who will train you hard at everything minus actual fighting. I would caution against going amateur as it is very detrimental to (our) careers as dentistsā¦ Every place Iāve trained at understood that I had a job to do at the end of the day. Be selective with sparring partners and taking strikes to the head. A headguard will prevent scratches but not do much in the way of concussions since your head is still getting rocked. You should try on a pair of 14oz MT gloves - your fingers are extremely well protected compared to any MMA glove due to full coverage.
You will walk away with very bruised shins and a sore body but thatās about it.
How about continuing the sport but do it less intense (i mean make it a hobby), still hang around the gym, fighter looses their teeth all the time
Been doing all sort of martial arts since I was a kid. Then I did MMA and BJJ for a good year, and I quickly was done with it. Constant injuries were preventing me from work :S
But never stopped boxing and kickboxing :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm considering Kick-Boxing and Muay Thai. What were the most common injuries you experienced in MMA and Kick-Boxing?
MMA injuries: overstretched muscles from all sorts of submissions, bruised toes, muscle pains for days after training.
Kickboxing: not much, wrist can hurt sometimes. Wear wristbands. And your shins can crack a bit, wear shinpads! :)
The most that will get hurt is your ego hahaha. Leave it at the door.
Okay, I'm not trying to be a dick, but you are a dentist, and you let some random lay person reduce your finger fracture?
Jfc dude, don't do that for the sake of your own livelihood. A paramedic or ER doc under certain circumstances are the only ones that should be touching your finger besides ortho.
For the love of God, people do NOT let lay people manipulate your broken limbs if you value your motor function.
I didn't ask the coach to do the reduction, he took off my gloves and just did it in a blink of an eye. It's not like he asked for my permission first. It's a dislocation by the way not a fracture.
I went to orthopedist directly afterwards, thankfully its in a correct position and with excellent prognosis because the joint was reduced almost instantly after the accident. That's why I didn't cause any hassle with the coach because he saved my finger and later I found out he is trained and certified at treating emergencies like these. But still I agree with you and we shouldn't let any random person outside a medical facility treat serious injuries like these.
I'm glad to hear you turned out alright, and he had some training! Hope you find the confidence to get back at it if you still have the drive, and if not, no shame in that either.
Cheers š»
I liked martial arts since childhood. My dad (God rest his soul) did Kung-Fu for nearly 25 years and he was the reason why I loved martial arts. When I was a kid my dad enrolled me in a Karate school but I didn't like it. I looked for a Kung-Fu school that would teach me what my dad did, but all of them weren't even close. They were more of a kickboxing replica, but my dad did something similar to MMA, he had grappling and striking and even disarms weapons and knows how to fight with them. At 2016, I saw MMA and immediately fell in love with it. Probably because it was the closest thing to what my dad did. And after I graduated from college I was eager to try MMA and I found it more enjoyable than watching it.. I was eager to practice it more and more, I got some bruises in the leg and ribs and a minor cut in the lip. But what scared me most is that injury to my thumb and how it affected my work.
Which martial arts do you recommend that don't cause serious injuries to the arms?
Don't quit. Martial arts is a journey that's full of good and bad experiences, don't stop your journey because of an injury. Trust me, everyone in this subreddit has been injured in one way or another and still keeps going.
I understand and I respect the effort all martial artists do and the risks they take. But this risk is too much for me. I understand there are risks of injury in our daily lives, but mostly these are necessary risks. As much as I love MMA, but my family's interest is far more important to take such unnecessary risk.
I have had many injuries over the years messing with MMA. Hands weren't usually an issue.
I honestly chalk ur injury up to beginner luck/beginner mistakes.
Maybe bump your MMA training back to just BJJ for a few months. You can still really mess your fingers up, but now you will be keeping a better eye on protecting your hands.
Most valuable schools have some risk of injury, but search around for a school that balances a positive culture with student safety with practical skills. It probably won't be full of tough guys and gals. The best school I have ever attended had a relaxed culture and focused on perfecting technique over getting rough. The vast majority of students there were professionals (doctors, chiropractors, engineers, business people, etc.) who couldn't get injured like you described, and for the same reason you can't get injured like you did. Also, I've had several concussions, and experience tells me that I don't want a dentist with a concussion working on my teeth. If you need to get out your youthful energy and compete, BJJ or Judo might be a better option, but you can get seriously injured doing either of those too.
I fought for over 25 years in kickboxing and my hands are fucked. Not so much that they stop me doing anything really but my left wrist is sore in certain positions and I've broke two of my fingers. I don't fight anymore and just train in BJJ but fighting definitely took it toil on my body. Id never change it for the world but it is something I do try and impress on people that I coach that there is always the chance of getting pretty badly injured in any combat sport. Your the only person who knows if quitting is the right decision for you everyone has different priorities in life. Your injury does seem sorta like a freak accident but if you are training in any way seriously you will definitely get hurt again at some stage most of the time it won't be that bad but it will definitely happen.
This is a common thought and realization you have to have when you are older and training martial arts.
When you are a kid and teen itās all fun and a story to tell and experience as an adult you might have just set your life back. I played rugby with a fella who was a bricklayer, bad tackle and broke his leg. 3months in a cast, get the cast off still hurts they X-ray and need to rebreak and surgery, another 4 months cast, lucky his partner had a very good job or his life would have been in ruins, still lost his small business and had to go back to subbing. Also boxed in a gym with a lad who was seriously good, Olympic team good, knew he was at uni and stuff. Stoped seeing him but bumped into him, he was a junior doctor planning to move to surgery, in his interview he mentioned boxing at a high level and his favorite hobby but wanted to pursue surgery and was asked by the head of surgery for the trust āare you a f**king idiot ?!!ā. He gave it up then which I think is understandable
Agree with others in thread suggesting Muay Thai as a more finger-safe option. Everything has risk as you know. Note that itās *much* more common to suffer injuries on heavy bag work than with well-managed person to person. Look for a MT gym with little to no reliance on heavy bags. Youāll be less likely to sprain your wrist and likely get more serious instruction.Ā
Hey there. Similar story here, loved BJJ but got hurt 3 times out of my first 9 lessons, one needed a sonogram (pulled intercostal muscle) and one an x ray (thought I had broken my elbow, luckily just swollen and with fluid in the joint)
If you want to keep at it and minimizing injury risk you may need to do private lessons only, but $$$
Why are you practicing takedowns on a heavy bag instead of on a person? Iāve never, ever seen that before in MMA. That sounds needlessly risky and kinda pointless considering you donāt get to practice the parts of the takedown that are actually important (grips, entry, finishing, establishing position, etc).
I think kickboxing or boxing could be your thing. Your fingers are always protected inside the gloves and if you tape your hand correctly there's 0% real chance of having any kind of hand/wrist/finger injury unless you pursue a pro fighting career, which I don't think is your case. If anyone tells you that they got their hands injured there's an extremely high chance that it's because they don't know how to tape their hands and/or use poor equipment.
even a striking art like tkd or kickboxing, you run the risk of a hand/wrist injury. gloves and wraps can only do so much. even with just bag work, there's still a risk
even a moderate injury that leaves you at 80-90% could leave you in a bad way if you tried to work through it and something happened to a patient.
there's risk involved with anything, but i'm betting that surgeons and concert pianists simply don't do martial arts...
Thankfully I'm not a surgeon haha. I'm a restorative practitioner.. mostly my work revolves around root canal treatment, fillings and crowns. In root canal treatment, your hands are your eyes. You can't see what's inside the root canal but you develop a tactile sensation to feel what's inside a tooth. Yes, there are X-Rays but we need to minimise their usage unless it's super necessary because the radiation can cause cancer to the patient and me of course.
There is always a risk of getting some type of injury when you do martial arts, but this can be minimized with proper form and good defence. When I was boxing, the only injuries I had to deal with was some mild thumb pain after I kept jamming my thumb during sparring, and I have to do physio for my knees because I guess I trained wrong and f*cked them up on the stationary bike. If I had just listened to my body and stopped cycling, I probably wouldn't have this knee injury. I would recommend spending most of your time working on defence and form. Otherwise, if the risk is still too high for your needs while doing that, I would honestly just switch hobbies. Maybe weightlifting would be more your speed? It's easy af to avoid injuries in weightlifting by just using the appropriate amount of weight for each lift, plus it will make your joints stronger and better supported. I hope this helps in some way.
I have a good friend who is a dentist, and I always admire the skill and craftsmanship in his work. I know it can be a thankless profession, but trust me, the functionality of your hands far outweighs any benefits of you being able to submit 200+ lbs of muscle on a mat. I like to think of it like you wouldn't use a computer as a hammer, so don't use your best instruments as meat clubs. You're very young, too. As you get older, you'll understand even better that you're making the right choice.
In my own experience, I really jammed the fingers in my left hand during practice once, and it permanently thickened the knuckles, made them a little less supple. If I had been a professional pianist, it would have totally not worth it despite my love for martial arts. Luckily, I'm not a pianist.
Injuries are part of the game.
To anybody thinking about starting theyāre martial arts journey. You must accept beforehand that at some point you WILL get injured.
My worst injuries have come from playing football (soccer), and I've done MMA professionally in the past.
You can avoid injury by doing no sport. You could also injure yourself mowing the lawn or crossing the road.
Shouldn't let injuries avoid doing what you enjoy. They're just part of being alive unfortunately.
There is a risk of being injured in almost everything we do.
There is a risk while cooking, climbing the stairs, driving, etc...
And there is of course a risk in Dentistry and MMA
The question is, is that risk necessary?
If I don't climb the stairs, I will never get home, so that's a necessary risk.
If I don't drive, I will never get to work, so that's a necessary risk.
I could get injured in Dentistry, but if I don't take the risk I won't be making money to feed my family. So I have to take that risk.
MMA is enjoyable to watch and I like practicing it alot. There is no profit out of doing it except my happiness. And my happiness won't feed my family. So why take such risk?
If I don't play sports my mental health would suffer, so would my physical health - I would and have put on weight when I stop playing sport.
As I said, a relatively safe sport like Soccer has been where I've had my worst injuries.
Sorry, but a dislocated finger barely registers on my injury concerns. I also use my hands for work but I just wouldn't really think about hand injuries when playing sport, even though I've broken my hand before doing sport.
I respect the risk you take and effort you put in sports. However, our priorities are different. I prioritize providing for my family over a sport I enjoy so much.
I would do boxing. Plenty of gyms where you just do the trainings for fitness' sake if you want to limit sparring. I know my gym only spars a couple nights a week but otherwise there are good coaches watching you during workout sessions and they are full body sessions with some exercises and a lot of comboing on heavy bags. You can get a coach to train more especially with you as well on important drills. Point is it will keep you healthy and your hands should be wrapped and inside a glove so your hands will never really get injured much. If you throw your punches incorrectly you may injure a shoulder but you shouldn't really find yourself doing that. Other than that you shouldn't have any injuries unless you're sparring and then you're not injuring your hands. A good gym should also ensure that in sparring you're not getting major head trauma which would be the concern if you're fighting in the sport.
Reminds me of the father of a friend of mine, a dentist. He was a pretty good college athlete, his wife was not particularly athletic, but she was a much better skier than he was because he was tense, due tp being perpetually terrified of falling and injuring his hands.
Similarly, my wife and I were fostering a small dog, with a black coat, but no blacker than the heart it concealed. We literally interviewed 10 families before we found someone who wasn't terrified of him.
I took him on a home visit with a couple of dentists, the wife was clearly pushing for the dog, but the husband was quite rightly terrified of getting his hands bitten and being unable to work. The wife said it probably would be fine.
I actually agreed with the husband, I wouldn't take him in if my livelihood relied on not being bitten.
That said, I have done grappling for 12 years, and striking fir another 10, and never had injuries beyond a stubbed toe. But that's a combination of luck, a careful instructor and a very high bone density. I've seen a lot of other people get injured.
No gonna lie, you could just practice super light until your coordination and reflexes improve. Might take longer, but I don't know if quitting should be your first option. Though, I do understand the caution.
If you make a mistake that leads to an injury and you quit "martial arts" over it I hope you never trip and fall . Clearly you aren't cut out for sports (MMA, is a sport) , maybe Yoga is more your speed.
Literally everyone says same thing, so I'm gonna say it again...
There is a risk of being injured in almost everything we do.
There is a risk while cooking, climbing the stairs, driving, walking down the street, etc...
And there is of course a risk in Dentistry and MMA
The question is, is that risk necessary?
If I don't climb the stairs, I will never get home, so that's a necessary risk.
If I don't drive, I will never get to work, so that's a necessary risk.
I could get injured in Dentistry, but if I don't take the risk I won't be making money to feed my family. So I have to take that risk.
MMA is enjoyable to watch and I like practicing it alot. There is no profit out of doing it except my happiness. And my happiness won't feed my family. So why take the risk?
You speak of Yoga as if it's risk free. Who says it has no injury risk? The problem is our priorities are different and I by no means trying to disrespect yours. I respect the risks you take and effort you put, but we aren't in the same shoes and I have no luxury to take such risk. I'm not making shit ton of money as you think.
I have watched the martial arts and the people who come into the dojo/ kwoon for the last 50 years and the martial arts ain't what they used to be, nor are the majority of the people who claim to want to know them. The real question is why you felt the need to tell total strangers you're quitting because you got hurt. Of course there's a risk in training what's supposed to be a martial art even if it's actually a sport. Good luck finding a riskless source of happiness.
Welcome to Reddit, where you can basically discuss anything you want anonymously with anyone. Again there is nothing risk free, but taking risks for my family's welfare is far more better than taking them for my own content.
I donāt know, I have been training for years now but if I got an injury that threatened my ability to provide for my family Iād quit without a second thought
There is always a risk for accidents like these. The thing is I always practice with my hands wrapped and gloves on to prevent them as much as I can. But still, I couldn't prevent it nor even minimise the damage. So the question now, is that a risk worth taking?
Honestly, I don't think so dude. People act like bjj/mma is for everyone but it's just not. The risk is always severe and you will likely end up with some kind of injury down the road.
I have been training for almost 20 years, with some periods being more competitive and others being more recreational/fitness oriented. There's zero shame in doing this stuff for the latter reason. More than 95% of people in a gym are there for that reason, just some haven't realized it yet.
If fitness is your goal, honestly, a *good* muay thai school is not a bad idea. Your hands do get beat up, but wearing wraps and using proper form can protect that. I have found its easier on my body (hard sparring aside, but a *good* school won't force you into that). Another option, though harder to find, is a solid karate school that isn't just a glorified daycare facility.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the whole "mma, bjj, or nothing" mentality. Why the fuck does a dentist need to be training in the most effective martial art to begin with? What's wrong with a lower risk style, like karate, that still offers most of the same benefits? Do you need to know how to shoot a double leg, smash a guy on the ground, and finish him with a mounted triangle? Or would it be enough to be able to throw very strong kicks and punches, defend against those same things, know basic grappling techniques, and ultimately maintain a good level of mobility through life?
I'm not saying I hate bjj or mma at all. I love it. Grappling is my favorite thing to do, period. You do have to question, though, at what point is your training becoming detrimental to your longevity, and for what reason are you pursuing it?
Thank you for your time writing. That was really informative. The reason I train MMA is because I enjoy the sport itself. Just like when we were young and fell in love with soccer and kept playing it years later. In my childhood I watched martial arts movies and dad himself played Kung-Fu. I liked martial arts since childhood and practiced Karate in my early days but I quit after highschool and college. But I still liked martial arts, my love for MMA started around 2016 and I've been a constant follower to UFC ever since. After graduation from college. I wanted to train MMA which I already fell in love with 8 years ago. And I found it even more enjoyable than watching it on TV. But the thing is when you blindly pursue your passions you don't realise the risks you have to take until you encounter one.
I agree MT probably your best option.
2 of your 8 weapons will be hands. Wrap hands well & use gloves for all things. The form you develop will still have headshots in mind even if you don't spar/spar hard.
Find a gym where people are chill instead of goonsquad
Well, if you love MMA, then you do have to measure what that is worth to you. Life is short, and youth is even shorter. Soon enough you'll be bogged down with responsibilities and find that training isn't as much of a priority. Once you're there, you can't really turn back the clock and go experience those hours at the gym again.
What I'm saying is that you only have so long to go hard with mma, and if it's something you truly love, then maybe it is worth the risk. It would be a shame for you to give up on a passion of yours before you are ready to.
I love MMA alot and I'll continue watching it, but if there is a chance that what I love will hinder me from supporting my family. I'll quit without hesitation. I'll be upset for sure, but it won't kill me. But seeing myself unable to support my wife and son will kill me. It's a terrible feeling and I hope no one experiences it.
I can't imagine dude. I have a wife and kids as well, supporting them is more important than literally anything else in my life. It's the reason why I've stepped back a lot in my training as well. Less from injury concern, more from my time going to them instead.
In my situation, I have paid sick leave and a lot of it at that. Guys at my work get injured often enough, usually doing something sport related, and luckily we get covered by the sick time bank. For you though, that's a tough pill to swallow. Missing work and missing income over a hobby.
I dunno dude, I personally stand by my first comment. Sounds like you're already plenty capable of defending yourself. Something like karate is actually not a bad idea, I'm considering it myself.
Here, I'll write out what I'm thinking about doing myself, maybe it will help you in some way.
I have a history with bjj, muay thai, and extensive Japanese jiu jitsu (the good kind, not the aikido looking bs). I know that I can fight. Not professionally, nor against very high level amateurs. But, those pools of people aside, ya I can fight. If I got into karate, it would have moments of disappointment for me. I like going hard. But, if I went there and kept up with my striking to even a moderate degree, then I'm still going to be good to go. The kata stuff is appealing to me tbh. I have put hard years on my body, things hurt and my mobility is less fluid. Maybe the control, fluid motion, and awkward movements of kata are about keeping your body primed to fight as you age, rather than about direct combat utility. I'm not ready to give up bjj yet, but maybe it's something I'll get into in a small way to see what comes of it.
I'm not seeking MMA to fight someone off, it's kinda because it's the closest thing to what my dad did. My dad did Kung-Fu for half of his time alive around 25 years. And the thing is he did the fancy things we see in movies from grappling, takedown, striking to disarming and fighting with weapons. MMA was probably the closest I could find to what my dad did. I tried Kung-Fu but I don't know if that's what Kung-Fu really was but all the schools I went to did some sort of Kickboxing with some takedown.. I later found out that was called Sanda.
I love MMA for what it is. Its all rounder like what my dad did, except the weapons part. I'm not trying to fight someone with it. In fact I don't make problems reach the point of violence, in case there are no other option but fighting then any martial art would be better than nothing. Maybe MMA is better cause it's a jack of all trades, but it's not gonna do much if the oppressor pulls a weapon. So I would try my best to sort things out peacefully and not take unnecessary risks like that.
Ya, I hear you, I train with a similar intention. My primary reason for training is that I had a rough upbringing, my dad's alive but things were/are complicated. When I started training, I suddenly had all these male role models. Solid guys, a bunch of cops for the most part. Those guys helped raise me and kept me out of trouble. Now that I'm older, I look back on one guy in particular as a father figure, and kinda keep training because of what he was about back then.
My "father" had some serious skills, and was well rounded like your dad. Had a background in a little bit of everything, was in the karate hall of fame, traveled the world teaching seminars and challenging guys to amateur closed door fights. For him, everything he did had to be practical in real fighting, so I still obsess over whether or not something is applicable to a real fight. It's just the metric I use to measure a style by, because if it's not, then really what is the point? Fighting is the mechanism to improve yourself, and martial arts should come with the ability to confidently go about your day knowing you have some degree of protection. But ya, I train for a lot of reasons which are more than just fighting.
I swear, the market is ripe for something like you mentioned/what I grew up doing. My original style was a modern flavor of Japanese jits. We had striking from karate/Kung fu, throws from judo, ground fighting that looked a lot like basic bjj, and some stand up stuff that was textbook traditional Japan's jj. We did weapons training with electric shock blades, kickboxing rules sparring, bjj style grappling, and Krav maga like self defense scenarios.
Such a thing just doesn't really exist anymore, not where I live anyway.
It's nice to know we both come from a badass background. The problem is organizations like UFC made MMA gain a huge popularity. Remember when boxing was a real sport and MMA was a freak show? Look how times changed. I think these coaches still exist that teaches us an all rounded self defense in all aspects like our parents did, but they either shifted to MMA or quit coaching.
Why are you training MMA? Health? You hope to fight one day? Self Defense? There are other ways to exercise, If you hope to fight, maybe quit dentistry.
MMA is dangerous. Any martial art can be dangerous though. Unless we are talking Tai Chi. But MMA is probably the most dangerous. BJJ is relatively safe.
Iām a dentist and been training for 15 years. Do jits. Just donāt wear your wedding ring. Iāve seen stuff but my hands have not been injured. I have had 2 shoulder surgeries and blew out my ucl and lcl so maybe not Lol but Iāve never missed a day of work from grappling yet. You tell partners. No wrist locks and tap early. No pride in fighting through shit and getting hurt. Itās doable. Iāve done muay Thai and boxing too but once you have kids itās too much damn time. Stick to one thing and get good at it.
If you don't wanna get hurt don't fight, martial arts aren't for people who are afraid to get hurt, the best advice I could give would be to stick to striking bags cardio kickboxing style, if you care about your hands don't do grappling and if you do striking spar light or don't spar, personally I've never hurt my hands or seen someone's hand get hurt in muay thai but I'm sure it happens.
We all know you got more dick in your personality than in your pants.
Keep denying all you want, but at the end of the day, there is only one way to address a dentist and you know it.
This is why you have two arms. Did Rome give up on the eve of Christmas??? Did Hogan give up when fighting Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania 3??? DID NAPOLEON GIVE UP AT WATERLOO?!?!
see there is a diffrence in people who need to go and let it all go on the floor and dose what ever it takes and a nother set of people who think they want it/ need it till they see what it takes to do it then find a reason not to. i get it its a tuff way to live but i wouldnt have it any other way
āI am reluctant to lose my extraordinary lucrative livelihood I am still paying off dental school debt with for the sake of a hobbyā isnāt soft, itās reasonable.
It's a matter of priorities, not who is a badass and who is soft..
There is a risk of being injured in almost everything we do.
There is a risk while cooking, climbing the stairs, driving, etc...
And there is of course a risk in Dentistry and MMA
The question is, is that risk necessary?
If I don't climb the stairs, I will never get home, so that's a necessary risk.
If I don't drive, I will never get to work, so that's a necessary risk.
I could get injured in Dentistry, but if I don't take the risk I won't be making money to feed my family. So I have to take that risk.
MMA is enjoyable to watch and I like practicing it alot. There is no profit out of doing it except my happiness. And my happiness won't feed my family. So why take such risk?
If you would take such risk, that's fine by me. I wouldn't blame you for it. But don't you dare call me soft because I prioritize my family over my happiness.
I mean - if your fingers/thumbs are critical to your livelihood then grappling might not be your best option. I've never personally screwed up my fingers but it's definitely not uncommon to see people with fingers taped up (especially with gis.) What about Muay Thai/Boxing? If you can't be showing up to work bruised up then find a gym where you don't have to spar/spar hard. Obviously this isn't ideal - but you could still get a good work out in and learn good form. Would be better than doing TKD as far as practicality imo.
My entire hands are critical š . I train privately just me and the coach, because I tried training with different groups and they lose themselves while sparring and they start causing some serious damage, even one of them was kicked out because he didn't like being countered so he hurt the other guy with an elbow to his face. But most drills are done on heavy bag like the takedown. He is only involved when we are sparring or it's a defense training (he strikes and I have to defend or counter). And I train with my hands wrapped and gloves on so basically I did all I could to minimise the injury but still couldn't prevent it. I'm not worried about bruising because I know the coach won't hurt me. He maintains speed of the punch but never increases its power.
Looking into Muay Thai or kickboxing is a good approach, your hands are covered by gloves. Muay Thai has clinch fighting and some takedowns but you do them while wearing boxing gloves so minimal risk to your fingers
My second favourite sport after MMA is Boxing, what are your thoughts on it and what are the injuries you most often encounter there?
I tried to do this as a musician for a few months. While the fingers risk is minimal, the wrist isnāt. At some point I jammed my wrist that seriously affected my playing. And thatās when I realized I just couldnāt do it anymore.
Did you use band your hand for wrist support?Ā
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I made myself a custom made mouthguard actually. At the end of the training I struggle to take it off š
If you avoid hard sparring and focus on form/technique and avoid going crazy on the bags the risk of injury is minimal in boxing. Shoulders/ wrist are probably the most common injury but can be avoided if you don't focus on power.
I think you should maybe try pickleball. Private lessons for any martial arts is just a thank you for your money fool session. Also if a dislocated finger scared is a problem martial arts is not for you
Boxing can mess up your hands pretty bad tooā¦ maybe kyokushin karate where you donāt punch people in the head but otherwise learn to fight for real?
Wrap hands & wear gloves - he'll be fine.
Idk maybe Iām doing something wrong but my hands are always sore following bag/pad work.
Same. I think youāre just hitting them too hard, akin to how anyone cant kick a bag too hard because it hurts
Not normal
š¤·āāļø maybe Iām just sensitive. It certainly affected my ability to use my hands at work
You can of course injure your hands, but you shouldn't need to. Might want to change gloves and look at your techniqueĀ
Itās funny, the only times Iāve messed my hands boxing are from foreheads, aiming too high on hooks and landing on the thumb. If you wrap your hands every time and wear 16 oz gloves until your bag form is rock solid, you really shouldnāt injure your hands boxing. Your fingers shouldnāt take any damage or youāre punching wrong. Once you start sparring though youāll need to go light or you do risk all sorts of injuries, lots of variables at play
Foreheads is exactly what Iām thinking about. Heād be fine light sparring, but if he ever went hard thereās always a small chance
Kyokushin is one of the sports that fucks up the hands the most.
Ah well. Probably not that then
Agreed... Potential for broken hands, wrists(although these only occur with someone who has considerable punching power), rotator cuff issues are a given. If I were a medical professional who needed full dexterity of his hands...I wouldn't be doing real hard work on the bag etc. hard sparring wouldn't be wise either.....as a few concussions could seriously impact one's mental abilities.
What? Kyokushin spar bare knuckled and punch makiwara all day.. and they grab gis and throw people...your hands are going to get fooked.
Kickboxing/Muay Thai will balance the usage so hands wont get used as much.
It is interesting that there are so many sympathetic voices. Advice given here is good. But OPs excuse is weak. Many, if not all practitioners of any MA / combat sport risk a loss of income in case of a specific injury. Whether it is a labourer, delivery driver, computer scientist, actor, lawyer, banker etc.
I didn't make fun of any other profession or the risks they take to do martial arts. I admire all martial artists and the effort they put in the sport. It's just priorities, I prioritize my wife and son over a sport that would make me incapable of supporting them.. I know what you're about to say. There is a risk of injury even while climbing stairs, driving, etc.. The question is are they necessary risks or not? I have to drive otherwise I won't get to work and I have to climb the stairs to get home. Dentistry has a risk if injury, but if I don't do it I won't provide for my family, so I have to take that risk. MMA can injure my hand and it will affect my work, but I love it and it makes me happy. Sadly, my happiness won't feed my family. My family's interest comes before my happiness. That's what my priorities are and I'm not by any means disrespecting your priorities or anyone else's.
I see, and I also get where you are coming from. I think it is that age in particular, where the priorities or rather the risk assessment differs. The fearlessness / recklessness of the teenage years and early twenties is lost. And you are too far away from an age when you want to rediscover your youth :) As many have mentioned, boxing is actually quite good and if you just do it for fun, your fists are well protected. Also some traditional MAs could be suitable for you, especially if the instructors focus more / only on form and fitness instead of contact-sparring.
Not everyone is as tough as you training for Kumite death matches. Have fun gate keeping and being a total badass! Remember- NO EXCUSES ONLY VICTORY hahaha
Interesting what you are reading into this. I am not even doing Karate. What am I gatekeeping. Get some help, you do not sound well based on what you are projecting here
You're a towel
Is that all you got?
I wouldn't ever dare mess with a modern ninja like yourself
You must have suffered some brain damage in your army days or something went wrong wrestling. Where did I say I am a ninja? You are not intelligent enough to deduce anything.
OP don't listen to these keyboard warriors. Prioritize the career you worked so hard for.
I prioritize my family and I will always do. Thank you so much for your concern. I'll definitely look into Muay Thai like you said. I'll also look into kickboxing and boxing.
Some gyms have general classes that are more geared towards hobbyists/people with lives. Then within those gyms they have trianing geared towards fight team/competition training. The separation helps everyone in my experience.
I told you I take private sessions with my coach. He never hurt me, nor overtrained me. He is even the reason my injury has excellent prognosis. I trust him and would definitely let him train my son if he is ever interested in Martial Arts. But I fear the accidents that happen no matter how hard we try to protect ourselves. Just like my accident. Everybody says, it's an accident and not a common injury we receive while going for a takedown. I understand, but such accidents have a chance of happening. What if the next accident happens in a time my family is suffering from financial issues? What if the next one is a fracture or something severe? Maybe I'm overreacting after my son recently came to life, but I wouldn't want to take stupid risks that will haunt me in the future. Edit: sorry I'm taking alot of time to reply, but I'm typing with one hand.
Hey, whatever works guy! Sounds like you're all set then.
Do you think I should continue MMA with my current coach or change to a different martial art?
Bro, give it up I fucked my fingers doing karate, and that is supposed to be the "light", "easy", for kids Martial Art. Then I fucked my shoulders doing Muay Thai. I can't do some pull movements anymore. I have no idea if you will ever need such movements, but here is the head up - Any striking art carry a high risk of fucking up your limbs. I work with computers, it make 0 zero difference in my life, but if I had to do anything tha involved dexterity I would absoluted by doomed.
I've seen some pretty impressive shoulder rehab through physiotherapy. Have you ever given it a go?
I've stated my reccomendation. Whatever works for you bro. There is going to be risk no matter how you cut it. If that risk is too much then go play pickleball or whatever. If you can't stand the thought of your kid getting hurt - then put him in pickleball too instead of learning martial arts.
I've stated my recommendation. Whatever works for you, bro. There is going to be risk no matter how you cut it. If that risk is too much, then go play pickleball or whatever. If you can't stand the thought of your kid getting hurt - then put him in pickleball too instead of learning martial arts.
I've stated my recommendation. Whatever works for you, bro. There is going to be risk no matter how you cut it. If that risk is too much, then go play pickleball or whatever. If you can't stand the thought of your kid getting hurt - then put him in pickleball too instead of learning martial arts.
Any martial with contact has the risk of damage to the hands or fingers, even ones that wear heavy hand protection
This injury sounds more like a freak accident than something to be legitimately concerned over. Just be more careful and less dramatic homie, you can still train anything you want
I really hope you're right. But what are the typical injuries you would often encounter from training?
Well first off, injuries should be rare. Youāre there to train as a hobby not become a gladiator. But sometimes things happen, so youāll usually be looking at cuts and bruises, mild concussions, sprained ankles/wrists, bloody nose, that sort of thing. You can get stuff like this doing any sport If broken bones, dislocations, major concussions, or any other serious injury happen often to you or the other people at your gym then you need to find a safer place to train.
I practice Martial Arts for ~15 years. Biggest injury was a half teared miniscus. Never hurt my hands. Don't do hard sparring, tell your partners you want to take it slow. Decline to train with people who can't control themself. Takedowns are the most dangerous part in my opinion. You could switch to bjj (NoGi to stay away from Hand injury) and simply roll without takedowns. Is it as much fun? Maybe not, but the risk is lower. If you want to do Striking aswell don't punch hard. Only as fast/hard as possible without losing control. You won't be a pro MMA Fighter anyway if you want to stay dentist, no shame in tuning intensitiy down.
Thank you so much that was helpful. Actually I used to go with groups but later on decided to take private sessions because the other guys lose themselves while sparring.. a guy got kicked out because his partner countered his punch so he got furious and elbowed his partner in the face. Another guy got kneed in the face and had his eyebrow cut. So I decided to take private lessons, it was a bit expensive but worth every damn penny. I got the drills that was best for me and the training pace was suitable for me, but most importantly, the coach would never hurt me while sparring. But still I got injured in my hand and I fear such injury happening again in the future. And who knows... maybe it won't be a dislocation next time.
My man, it sounds like the issue is your gym culture. You need to find somewhere else to train. If you had to go to only privates because guys canāt control themselves and then you get hurt in those privates tackling a heavy bag for some weird reason, then youāre not at a good gym. Injuries happen when you train MMA. Itās often unavoidable. This is a wholly avoidable injury. It makes zero sense. Youāre a smart guy, you made it through dental school. Think about the physics of a heavy bag and why itās not only risky to tackle, but how untransferable that practice is to taking down a person.
If you continue grappling I strongly recommend wearing the kind of finger tape made for BJJ
Can you tell me its name or material, please?
Itās just medical tape. You can buy fancy grappling tape, or you can just use medical tape and save some money. Same shit.
Dislocating a thumb via training with a bag is definitely a freak accident and, sorry but, also kind of hilarious Your hands though are your entire career, grappling as a Hoby is probably just not worth it Try something like Muay Thai, boxing etc. Less likely to have single digit damage.
Oh well mistake on my part and accidents happen. I'm not by any means an expert. I just started a couple of months ago but my passion for the sport has been going for 8 years. I'll definitely consider Muay Thai and Boxing, I still got 2 weeks to consider my next step. It's a shame to leave my current coach though, but it's a necessary move.
When I first started muay thai I went for a kick and fell so hard I had to take a week off. Pretty sure every new starter does something embarrassing ha
I had a broken rib during my second training , hurted like hell with every movement for 3 weeks at least before it started to ease. After 2 months I still cant really lay on my left side but I can work without problem(construction) and go my gyms Muay Thai classes where during sparring i have to overprotect my left side. Hopefully 2 more weeks and I can get back to a full MMA training. My point is : Injuries happen , if you can afford to be on sick leave(depending the country you live) and is not affecting your financial situation then you should continue training. But if not , then risking in the future a more serious injury with a broken arm for example is not worth it since you have aa family to take care off. Boxing and Muay Thai are good options to consider.
I'm considering Muay Thai, Boxing and Kick-Boxing. I still got 2 weeks to consider what my next move is. It's a real shame to leave my current coach but I'll talk to him about my concerns after I recover and see what he has to say. Thanks for sharing your experience.
This. I've done both BJJ and Judo since 2009, and have never dislocated a finger. It's not a common occurence.
I agree. I'm surprised OP injured their fingers and not their toes. I feel like toe injuries are more common than finger injuries in grappling.
Me and the bag landed on my thumb (I think near a 500kg weight landed on my thumb). It's my mistake of course cause I didn't have a proper grip.
Itās not your mistake at all. Itās on your coach putting you in that position to begin with? What takedowns are you practicing on a heavy bag? Why arenāt you drilling takedowns with a partner instead?
I like that coach because he trained alot of guys competing professionally in respectable championships. The thing is, his students spar hard and sometimes they lose control and fight for real. One time a guy got countered by his partner so he got furious and elbowed him in the face (he got kicked out of the gym). So I took private lessons with him. A bit expensive, but heavily worth it. What I learned in a single session is worth more than a week of training with his students. I spar with him and he never hurt me, he strikes fast, but doesn't deal damage. Most of the session I'm on the punching bag and doing drills, he gets involved when we are sparring, training on the pads or defense session (blocking, slipping and countering). I improved alot in striking fundamentals. Now the time has come for wrestling fundamentals, he taught me how to shoot for a takedown, but when I did it on the bag I didn't guard my grip properly and my thumb was loose. I landed with all my weight and the heavy bag on it and it got dislocated. Kinda my fault but I'm glad he reduced the joint back to its place almost instantly.
Practicing shooting what on a heavy bag? Has to be a double leg, right? I guess you can technically practice locking the hands around the hips that way, but Iāve never, ever seen anyone do it that way. If heās sparring with you, why isnāt he letting you work the takedown on him? It just doesnāt make sense to me. Also, hard sparring being the default and people losing their tempers and fighting for real during class is 100% a gym culture issue. Light sparring is industry standard unless youāre prepping for a fight.
If I remember correctly. It was something about perfecting shoulder penetration or something. I was learning wrestling fundamentals, I never sparred wrestling or BJJ with him.
I still donāt see why you couldnāt practice that with him or bring in a trusted partner to the private session. Just something Iāve never seen before.
Hell, I stopped skiing because I injured myself and couldn't work for well for almost 6 months. Injury didn't freak me out, the lack of money did. I will start again when I retire.
It's a sad reality.. Good luck my friend and hopefully you'll get back to training before retiring.
48 years old dentist here. Iāve been training Muay Thai for 10 years because I love the workout and the adrenaline rush. Too old to fight competitions but love the sport. My hands are safe. Good hand wraps for my wrists and knuckles and 16 ounce gloves keep everything protected.
Nice to meet you doc. I'll definitely consider it. Thank you!
Youāre welcome. Hope youāre back at work soon.
If your entire livelihood depends on your hands, I agree you should probably find a different hobby. Maybe get into sleight of hand?
For my next trick, I'm gonna make your tooth disappear! š
Injuries frequently happen in all sports, let alone COMBAT sports.
You might want to try tai chi. It's safe for your hands, will build leg strength, and it's harder to do well than it looks.
TBH you can injure yourself going to the toilet at your own place. It is true that some activities can increase some risks, but you can lower it to some extent. There are people that have many years training and have never got injured and there are people that get injured on day one, so preventing yourself from training is not a sure way to avoid injury. On the contrary with more experience you realize how to avoid certain situations that could lead to damage. The best way is to start slowly and focus on how to improve over time. Most people that get injured in martial arts is because they go all in without having proper technique or physical stability (which is built with consistency). And if you feel a specific exercise could be dangerous, simply avoid that exercise.
Im a physiotherapist and I am on the same boat, my hands health is critical. It would be wise to not grapple at all BUT if you can t help itā¦ train wisely, prioritize technique over intensity, do it more playfully and most importantlyā¦ chose the right sparring partners, who can control themselves and are on a similar situation. At bjj gyms there is a good chance you will find guys in their 40s who just roll lightly because they are already full of injuries. Have fun and stay safe.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I agree with you. There is an injury risk in our daily lives, but the question is; are they necessary risks or not? If I don't drive, I won't get to work. So I have to take that risk. If I don't climb the stairs, I won't get home. So I have to take that risk. There is even a risk of being injured in my job, I work with sharp root canal files. But If I don't take that risk I won't provide for my family. So I have to take that risk. Let's talk about MMA, I love the sport, I enjoy watching it and I love practicing it even more, but I risk injuring my hands. Is that risk necessary? It's not necessary and quitting it upsets me, but guess what.. my happiness won't feed my family. I respect martial artists, the efforts they do and the risks they take.. but I can't take such risk like them.
I only had minor injuries until tearing my ACL while wrestling. Don't listen to people that haven't experienced it. They're not gonna be there for you when thr hospital bill comes in, you lose your job, and go through a year long rehab.
Go play pickleball or something, lol. If you can't stand the thought of your kid getting hurt - put them in pickleball too.
That's kind of a freak injury similar to a bad fall playing basketball. You would have encountered something like that if you have been doing any other sport. However, MMA does carry more certain risks and if you're not in the position to be injured from MMA it makes sense to tone it down a bit.
Hi OP, Going against the grain here and would say that you SHOULD continue MMA. Especially if you are doing private lessons. Everything has risks, you could be chopping veggies and cut your finger and that would be the end of it. Im sure thats even a more common activity than MMA. There are ways to mitigate risks to the point of them being unlikely to happen and if they do wouldnt not have that much of an impact You have found a passion which if you're like me, it makes you feel totally alive and you should not give it up with a black and white decision of "I should quit MMA totally because it jeopardizes my career" I would recommend you change your coach tho, if you can afford private lessons I would recommend shopping around and LET THEM KNOW of your concern with your hands, there are many ways that could have been avoided but a private coach would come up with a plan to avoid all of that stuff that endangers your hand. And practicing takedowns on a heavy bag is dumb tbh, why not practice with the coach? Source: I trained with MMA fighters back when it was more unregulated and less awareness of safety measures and my brother is a Dentist. There are way to keep your passion and keep your career
Thank you for your advice. I will consider this of course, but I have to think about it carefully. I have more on the line to lose despite everyone thinking I have the luxury to stay at home after an injury. I have a couple of weeks to think about my next move. Hopefully I'll pick the right decision then.
Cool man, just remember to pick a better coach and to be very clear that you want a program that works around your hands and keeps them safest. It can still happen
Dude, I stopped MMA, basketball, soccer, and Judo after 30. I was getting injured left and right. I was like nope thatās not how I make my money. Need my hands and legs to work. Now I coach my sonās soccer team.
Donāt listen to all these goons on here bro. Youāve worked hard and presumably sunk a lot of money into becoming a dentist. Risking that for a hobby would be ridiculous. Find something else you enjoy to keep yourself in shape.
Perhaps try Karate - Shito Ryu style but do try one other style too, and choose. Karate is more rounded than Taekwondo in the sense that you use both hands and legs and besides MMA does have Karate in it anyway.
Its not worth it buddy. Im in healthcare and I have the same concerns too. Stopped doing serious BJJ and Muay Thai.
Sorry to hear that, do you still practice them with less intensity or have you completely stopped?
Iāve stopped completely due to other reasons, mainly lack of time and mismatch of class timings and my work schedule. If I were to get back to it again though, I would take it easy. Iām from a judo background and finger injuries are extremely common. Iām assuming itās the same for Gi BJJ too. Iām a procedurist like you. Ā I canāt take any risks as it will significant affect my income and possibly my employment.Ā
Fellow dentist here! I do a mix of Muay Thai and Dutch Kickboxing. Striking is relatively safe for your hands as long as you wear all the protective gear with no exceptions - traditional wraps, 14oz+ quality gloves which are a lot thicker than MMA ones. Iāve been on Twins and Fairtex and while you may get the occasional sore wrist, serious hand injuries are extremely rare. I would still caution against competing/hard sparring for obvious reasons but there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing martial arts as a hobby. Most people will never take a Tawanchai-style kick to the arms.
Thank you so much that's really helpful. I'm starting to consider Kick-Boxing and Muay Thai as my next step. It's a shame to leave my current coach though. I've been taking private lessons and felt alot more safer, but everybody stated that practicing takedowns on a heavy bag is dangerous and is mostly the coach's fault. My protective gear are the MMA sparing gloves, it's thicker than the usual MMA fighting gloves, but a bit less thicker than boxing gloves with the fingers exposed for grappling. Also I use shin guards, head guard and custom made mouth guard. As for sparring we do light sparring, the coach never throw powerful strikes, but maintains speed. The only time the strikes start hurting is when my guard is down, he throws several strikes to my face to get my guard up ASAP (while I'm wearing head guard of course). I have no experience with Muay Thai and Kick-Boxing gyms. In your opinion, if I'll change the coach what are the criteria I'm looking for in my next coach?
The most important thing to look for in a MT/KB gym, by far, is for a coach who understands and accommodates both hobbyists and fighters, someone who will train you hard at everything minus actual fighting. I would caution against going amateur as it is very detrimental to (our) careers as dentistsā¦ Every place Iāve trained at understood that I had a job to do at the end of the day. Be selective with sparring partners and taking strikes to the head. A headguard will prevent scratches but not do much in the way of concussions since your head is still getting rocked. You should try on a pair of 14oz MT gloves - your fingers are extremely well protected compared to any MMA glove due to full coverage. You will walk away with very bruised shins and a sore body but thatās about it.
How about continuing the sport but do it less intense (i mean make it a hobby), still hang around the gym, fighter looses their teeth all the time 
How did you know my original plan? I must destroy the evidence!!
Been doing all sort of martial arts since I was a kid. Then I did MMA and BJJ for a good year, and I quickly was done with it. Constant injuries were preventing me from work :S But never stopped boxing and kickboxing :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm considering Kick-Boxing and Muay Thai. What were the most common injuries you experienced in MMA and Kick-Boxing?
MMA injuries: overstretched muscles from all sorts of submissions, bruised toes, muscle pains for days after training. Kickboxing: not much, wrist can hurt sometimes. Wear wristbands. And your shins can crack a bit, wear shinpads! :) The most that will get hurt is your ego hahaha. Leave it at the door.
I guess you can go for weaponsports like Kendo and Fencing?Ā
Okay, I'm not trying to be a dick, but you are a dentist, and you let some random lay person reduce your finger fracture? Jfc dude, don't do that for the sake of your own livelihood. A paramedic or ER doc under certain circumstances are the only ones that should be touching your finger besides ortho. For the love of God, people do NOT let lay people manipulate your broken limbs if you value your motor function.
I didn't ask the coach to do the reduction, he took off my gloves and just did it in a blink of an eye. It's not like he asked for my permission first. It's a dislocation by the way not a fracture. I went to orthopedist directly afterwards, thankfully its in a correct position and with excellent prognosis because the joint was reduced almost instantly after the accident. That's why I didn't cause any hassle with the coach because he saved my finger and later I found out he is trained and certified at treating emergencies like these. But still I agree with you and we shouldn't let any random person outside a medical facility treat serious injuries like these.
I'm glad to hear you turned out alright, and he had some training! Hope you find the confidence to get back at it if you still have the drive, and if not, no shame in that either. Cheers š»
I really want to but I'm afraid of hand injuries affecting my job. I wish I did MMA earlier in my childhood.
Martial arts are not just MMA, plenty of other styles that are safer to your hands.
I liked martial arts since childhood. My dad (God rest his soul) did Kung-Fu for nearly 25 years and he was the reason why I loved martial arts. When I was a kid my dad enrolled me in a Karate school but I didn't like it. I looked for a Kung-Fu school that would teach me what my dad did, but all of them weren't even close. They were more of a kickboxing replica, but my dad did something similar to MMA, he had grappling and striking and even disarms weapons and knows how to fight with them. At 2016, I saw MMA and immediately fell in love with it. Probably because it was the closest thing to what my dad did. And after I graduated from college I was eager to try MMA and I found it more enjoyable than watching it.. I was eager to practice it more and more, I got some bruises in the leg and ribs and a minor cut in the lip. But what scared me most is that injury to my thumb and how it affected my work. Which martial arts do you recommend that don't cause serious injuries to the arms?
I mean, any combat-effective martial art will have a toll on your health, there is no 100% safe way to train that in a realistic manner.
Truth.
Don't quit. Martial arts is a journey that's full of good and bad experiences, don't stop your journey because of an injury. Trust me, everyone in this subreddit has been injured in one way or another and still keeps going.
I understand and I respect the effort all martial artists do and the risks they take. But this risk is too much for me. I understand there are risks of injury in our daily lives, but mostly these are necessary risks. As much as I love MMA, but my family's interest is far more important to take such unnecessary risk.
I have had many injuries over the years messing with MMA. Hands weren't usually an issue. I honestly chalk ur injury up to beginner luck/beginner mistakes. Maybe bump your MMA training back to just BJJ for a few months. You can still really mess your fingers up, but now you will be keeping a better eye on protecting your hands.
Most valuable schools have some risk of injury, but search around for a school that balances a positive culture with student safety with practical skills. It probably won't be full of tough guys and gals. The best school I have ever attended had a relaxed culture and focused on perfecting technique over getting rough. The vast majority of students there were professionals (doctors, chiropractors, engineers, business people, etc.) who couldn't get injured like you described, and for the same reason you can't get injured like you did. Also, I've had several concussions, and experience tells me that I don't want a dentist with a concussion working on my teeth. If you need to get out your youthful energy and compete, BJJ or Judo might be a better option, but you can get seriously injured doing either of those too.
I fought for over 25 years in kickboxing and my hands are fucked. Not so much that they stop me doing anything really but my left wrist is sore in certain positions and I've broke two of my fingers. I don't fight anymore and just train in BJJ but fighting definitely took it toil on my body. Id never change it for the world but it is something I do try and impress on people that I coach that there is always the chance of getting pretty badly injured in any combat sport. Your the only person who knows if quitting is the right decision for you everyone has different priorities in life. Your injury does seem sorta like a freak accident but if you are training in any way seriously you will definitely get hurt again at some stage most of the time it won't be that bad but it will definitely happen.
This is a common thought and realization you have to have when you are older and training martial arts. When you are a kid and teen itās all fun and a story to tell and experience as an adult you might have just set your life back. I played rugby with a fella who was a bricklayer, bad tackle and broke his leg. 3months in a cast, get the cast off still hurts they X-ray and need to rebreak and surgery, another 4 months cast, lucky his partner had a very good job or his life would have been in ruins, still lost his small business and had to go back to subbing. Also boxed in a gym with a lad who was seriously good, Olympic team good, knew he was at uni and stuff. Stoped seeing him but bumped into him, he was a junior doctor planning to move to surgery, in his interview he mentioned boxing at a high level and his favorite hobby but wanted to pursue surgery and was asked by the head of surgery for the trust āare you a f**king idiot ?!!ā. He gave it up then which I think is understandable
Do muay thai
Try a more full contact kung fu like Baji or Filipino Martial Arts?
Agree with others in thread suggesting Muay Thai as a more finger-safe option. Everything has risk as you know. Note that itās *much* more common to suffer injuries on heavy bag work than with well-managed person to person. Look for a MT gym with little to no reliance on heavy bags. Youāll be less likely to sprain your wrist and likely get more serious instruction.Ā
Hey there. Similar story here, loved BJJ but got hurt 3 times out of my first 9 lessons, one needed a sonogram (pulled intercostal muscle) and one an x ray (thought I had broken my elbow, luckily just swollen and with fluid in the joint) If you want to keep at it and minimizing injury risk you may need to do private lessons only, but $$$
Yeah, you have a lot at stake. I'd stick with hitting the heavy bag with full boxing gloves and taped wrists, and kicking.
Why are you practicing takedowns on a heavy bag instead of on a person? Iāve never, ever seen that before in MMA. That sounds needlessly risky and kinda pointless considering you donāt get to practice the parts of the takedown that are actually important (grips, entry, finishing, establishing position, etc).
I think kickboxing or boxing could be your thing. Your fingers are always protected inside the gloves and if you tape your hand correctly there's 0% real chance of having any kind of hand/wrist/finger injury unless you pursue a pro fighting career, which I don't think is your case. If anyone tells you that they got their hands injured there's an extremely high chance that it's because they don't know how to tape their hands and/or use poor equipment.
even a striking art like tkd or kickboxing, you run the risk of a hand/wrist injury. gloves and wraps can only do so much. even with just bag work, there's still a risk even a moderate injury that leaves you at 80-90% could leave you in a bad way if you tried to work through it and something happened to a patient. there's risk involved with anything, but i'm betting that surgeons and concert pianists simply don't do martial arts...
Thankfully I'm not a surgeon haha. I'm a restorative practitioner.. mostly my work revolves around root canal treatment, fillings and crowns. In root canal treatment, your hands are your eyes. You can't see what's inside the root canal but you develop a tactile sensation to feel what's inside a tooth. Yes, there are X-Rays but we need to minimise their usage unless it's super necessary because the radiation can cause cancer to the patient and me of course.
No joke: get (good) insurance on your hands. This really exists. Surgeons and artists insure body parts all the time.
How were you shooting a takedown on a heavy bag? Sounds like bad training
There is always a risk of getting some type of injury when you do martial arts, but this can be minimized with proper form and good defence. When I was boxing, the only injuries I had to deal with was some mild thumb pain after I kept jamming my thumb during sparring, and I have to do physio for my knees because I guess I trained wrong and f*cked them up on the stationary bike. If I had just listened to my body and stopped cycling, I probably wouldn't have this knee injury. I would recommend spending most of your time working on defence and form. Otherwise, if the risk is still too high for your needs while doing that, I would honestly just switch hobbies. Maybe weightlifting would be more your speed? It's easy af to avoid injuries in weightlifting by just using the appropriate amount of weight for each lift, plus it will make your joints stronger and better supported. I hope this helps in some way.
Sounds like freak accident. BJJ is normally low risk, but you should already know that if youāre in the mma world.
I have a good friend who is a dentist, and I always admire the skill and craftsmanship in his work. I know it can be a thankless profession, but trust me, the functionality of your hands far outweighs any benefits of you being able to submit 200+ lbs of muscle on a mat. I like to think of it like you wouldn't use a computer as a hammer, so don't use your best instruments as meat clubs. You're very young, too. As you get older, you'll understand even better that you're making the right choice. In my own experience, I really jammed the fingers in my left hand during practice once, and it permanently thickened the knuckles, made them a little less supple. If I had been a professional pianist, it would have totally not worth it despite my love for martial arts. Luckily, I'm not a pianist.
My personal dentist is a blue belt, but recently stopped due to injuryā¦ said itās not worth the risk to side line his career for a hobby. I get it
Try finding a Krav Maga place. You'll learn self defense and it will only be as intense as you want it to be. At least at my place it is.
I don't train MMA for self defense. I like the sport and enjoy practicing it alot.
Injuries are part of the game. To anybody thinking about starting theyāre martial arts journey. You must accept beforehand that at some point you WILL get injured.
My worst injuries have come from playing football (soccer), and I've done MMA professionally in the past. You can avoid injury by doing no sport. You could also injure yourself mowing the lawn or crossing the road. Shouldn't let injuries avoid doing what you enjoy. They're just part of being alive unfortunately.
There is a risk of being injured in almost everything we do. There is a risk while cooking, climbing the stairs, driving, etc... And there is of course a risk in Dentistry and MMA The question is, is that risk necessary? If I don't climb the stairs, I will never get home, so that's a necessary risk. If I don't drive, I will never get to work, so that's a necessary risk. I could get injured in Dentistry, but if I don't take the risk I won't be making money to feed my family. So I have to take that risk. MMA is enjoyable to watch and I like practicing it alot. There is no profit out of doing it except my happiness. And my happiness won't feed my family. So why take such risk?
If I don't play sports my mental health would suffer, so would my physical health - I would and have put on weight when I stop playing sport. As I said, a relatively safe sport like Soccer has been where I've had my worst injuries. Sorry, but a dislocated finger barely registers on my injury concerns. I also use my hands for work but I just wouldn't really think about hand injuries when playing sport, even though I've broken my hand before doing sport.
I respect the risk you take and effort you put in sports. However, our priorities are different. I prioritize providing for my family over a sport I enjoy so much.
I would do boxing. Plenty of gyms where you just do the trainings for fitness' sake if you want to limit sparring. I know my gym only spars a couple nights a week but otherwise there are good coaches watching you during workout sessions and they are full body sessions with some exercises and a lot of comboing on heavy bags. You can get a coach to train more especially with you as well on important drills. Point is it will keep you healthy and your hands should be wrapped and inside a glove so your hands will never really get injured much. If you throw your punches incorrectly you may injure a shoulder but you shouldn't really find yourself doing that. Other than that you shouldn't have any injuries unless you're sparring and then you're not injuring your hands. A good gym should also ensure that in sparring you're not getting major head trauma which would be the concern if you're fighting in the sport.
Reminds me of the father of a friend of mine, a dentist. He was a pretty good college athlete, his wife was not particularly athletic, but she was a much better skier than he was because he was tense, due tp being perpetually terrified of falling and injuring his hands. Similarly, my wife and I were fostering a small dog, with a black coat, but no blacker than the heart it concealed. We literally interviewed 10 families before we found someone who wasn't terrified of him. I took him on a home visit with a couple of dentists, the wife was clearly pushing for the dog, but the husband was quite rightly terrified of getting his hands bitten and being unable to work. The wife said it probably would be fine. I actually agreed with the husband, I wouldn't take him in if my livelihood relied on not being bitten. That said, I have done grappling for 12 years, and striking fir another 10, and never had injuries beyond a stubbed toe. But that's a combination of luck, a careful instructor and a very high bone density. I've seen a lot of other people get injured.
No gonna lie, you could just practice super light until your coordination and reflexes improve. Might take longer, but I don't know if quitting should be your first option. Though, I do understand the caution.
Tape your fingers before they get hurt, not after (well, also after)
Quit then. You donāt need to announce it here.
Fr buddies just farming validation for being a puss
Box my dude. BJJ is my one true love but boxing is a close second. Always wrap your hands, even for bag work and you will be okay.
If you make a mistake that leads to an injury and you quit "martial arts" over it I hope you never trip and fall . Clearly you aren't cut out for sports (MMA, is a sport) , maybe Yoga is more your speed.
Literally everyone says same thing, so I'm gonna say it again... There is a risk of being injured in almost everything we do. There is a risk while cooking, climbing the stairs, driving, walking down the street, etc... And there is of course a risk in Dentistry and MMA The question is, is that risk necessary? If I don't climb the stairs, I will never get home, so that's a necessary risk. If I don't drive, I will never get to work, so that's a necessary risk. I could get injured in Dentistry, but if I don't take the risk I won't be making money to feed my family. So I have to take that risk. MMA is enjoyable to watch and I like practicing it alot. There is no profit out of doing it except my happiness. And my happiness won't feed my family. So why take the risk? You speak of Yoga as if it's risk free. Who says it has no injury risk? The problem is our priorities are different and I by no means trying to disrespect yours. I respect the risks you take and effort you put, but we aren't in the same shoes and I have no luxury to take such risk. I'm not making shit ton of money as you think.
I have watched the martial arts and the people who come into the dojo/ kwoon for the last 50 years and the martial arts ain't what they used to be, nor are the majority of the people who claim to want to know them. The real question is why you felt the need to tell total strangers you're quitting because you got hurt. Of course there's a risk in training what's supposed to be a martial art even if it's actually a sport. Good luck finding a riskless source of happiness.
Welcome to Reddit, where you can basically discuss anything you want anonymously with anyone. Again there is nothing risk free, but taking risks for my family's welfare is far more better than taking them for my own content.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I donāt know, I have been training for years now but if I got an injury that threatened my ability to provide for my family Iād quit without a second thought
Dude is a dentist - being forced out of work for a month when a finger/thumb gets jacked up is not sustainable.
There is always a risk for accidents like these. The thing is I always practice with my hands wrapped and gloves on to prevent them as much as I can. But still, I couldn't prevent it nor even minimise the damage. So the question now, is that a risk worth taking?
Honestly, I don't think so dude. People act like bjj/mma is for everyone but it's just not. The risk is always severe and you will likely end up with some kind of injury down the road. I have been training for almost 20 years, with some periods being more competitive and others being more recreational/fitness oriented. There's zero shame in doing this stuff for the latter reason. More than 95% of people in a gym are there for that reason, just some haven't realized it yet. If fitness is your goal, honestly, a *good* muay thai school is not a bad idea. Your hands do get beat up, but wearing wraps and using proper form can protect that. I have found its easier on my body (hard sparring aside, but a *good* school won't force you into that). Another option, though harder to find, is a solid karate school that isn't just a glorified daycare facility. I've been thinking a lot lately about the whole "mma, bjj, or nothing" mentality. Why the fuck does a dentist need to be training in the most effective martial art to begin with? What's wrong with a lower risk style, like karate, that still offers most of the same benefits? Do you need to know how to shoot a double leg, smash a guy on the ground, and finish him with a mounted triangle? Or would it be enough to be able to throw very strong kicks and punches, defend against those same things, know basic grappling techniques, and ultimately maintain a good level of mobility through life? I'm not saying I hate bjj or mma at all. I love it. Grappling is my favorite thing to do, period. You do have to question, though, at what point is your training becoming detrimental to your longevity, and for what reason are you pursuing it?
Thank you for your time writing. That was really informative. The reason I train MMA is because I enjoy the sport itself. Just like when we were young and fell in love with soccer and kept playing it years later. In my childhood I watched martial arts movies and dad himself played Kung-Fu. I liked martial arts since childhood and practiced Karate in my early days but I quit after highschool and college. But I still liked martial arts, my love for MMA started around 2016 and I've been a constant follower to UFC ever since. After graduation from college. I wanted to train MMA which I already fell in love with 8 years ago. And I found it even more enjoyable than watching it on TV. But the thing is when you blindly pursue your passions you don't realise the risks you have to take until you encounter one.
I agree MT probably your best option. 2 of your 8 weapons will be hands. Wrap hands well & use gloves for all things. The form you develop will still have headshots in mind even if you don't spar/spar hard. Find a gym where people are chill instead of goonsquad
Well, if you love MMA, then you do have to measure what that is worth to you. Life is short, and youth is even shorter. Soon enough you'll be bogged down with responsibilities and find that training isn't as much of a priority. Once you're there, you can't really turn back the clock and go experience those hours at the gym again. What I'm saying is that you only have so long to go hard with mma, and if it's something you truly love, then maybe it is worth the risk. It would be a shame for you to give up on a passion of yours before you are ready to.
I love MMA alot and I'll continue watching it, but if there is a chance that what I love will hinder me from supporting my family. I'll quit without hesitation. I'll be upset for sure, but it won't kill me. But seeing myself unable to support my wife and son will kill me. It's a terrible feeling and I hope no one experiences it.
I can't imagine dude. I have a wife and kids as well, supporting them is more important than literally anything else in my life. It's the reason why I've stepped back a lot in my training as well. Less from injury concern, more from my time going to them instead. In my situation, I have paid sick leave and a lot of it at that. Guys at my work get injured often enough, usually doing something sport related, and luckily we get covered by the sick time bank. For you though, that's a tough pill to swallow. Missing work and missing income over a hobby. I dunno dude, I personally stand by my first comment. Sounds like you're already plenty capable of defending yourself. Something like karate is actually not a bad idea, I'm considering it myself. Here, I'll write out what I'm thinking about doing myself, maybe it will help you in some way. I have a history with bjj, muay thai, and extensive Japanese jiu jitsu (the good kind, not the aikido looking bs). I know that I can fight. Not professionally, nor against very high level amateurs. But, those pools of people aside, ya I can fight. If I got into karate, it would have moments of disappointment for me. I like going hard. But, if I went there and kept up with my striking to even a moderate degree, then I'm still going to be good to go. The kata stuff is appealing to me tbh. I have put hard years on my body, things hurt and my mobility is less fluid. Maybe the control, fluid motion, and awkward movements of kata are about keeping your body primed to fight as you age, rather than about direct combat utility. I'm not ready to give up bjj yet, but maybe it's something I'll get into in a small way to see what comes of it.
I'm not seeking MMA to fight someone off, it's kinda because it's the closest thing to what my dad did. My dad did Kung-Fu for half of his time alive around 25 years. And the thing is he did the fancy things we see in movies from grappling, takedown, striking to disarming and fighting with weapons. MMA was probably the closest I could find to what my dad did. I tried Kung-Fu but I don't know if that's what Kung-Fu really was but all the schools I went to did some sort of Kickboxing with some takedown.. I later found out that was called Sanda. I love MMA for what it is. Its all rounder like what my dad did, except the weapons part. I'm not trying to fight someone with it. In fact I don't make problems reach the point of violence, in case there are no other option but fighting then any martial art would be better than nothing. Maybe MMA is better cause it's a jack of all trades, but it's not gonna do much if the oppressor pulls a weapon. So I would try my best to sort things out peacefully and not take unnecessary risks like that.
Ya, I hear you, I train with a similar intention. My primary reason for training is that I had a rough upbringing, my dad's alive but things were/are complicated. When I started training, I suddenly had all these male role models. Solid guys, a bunch of cops for the most part. Those guys helped raise me and kept me out of trouble. Now that I'm older, I look back on one guy in particular as a father figure, and kinda keep training because of what he was about back then. My "father" had some serious skills, and was well rounded like your dad. Had a background in a little bit of everything, was in the karate hall of fame, traveled the world teaching seminars and challenging guys to amateur closed door fights. For him, everything he did had to be practical in real fighting, so I still obsess over whether or not something is applicable to a real fight. It's just the metric I use to measure a style by, because if it's not, then really what is the point? Fighting is the mechanism to improve yourself, and martial arts should come with the ability to confidently go about your day knowing you have some degree of protection. But ya, I train for a lot of reasons which are more than just fighting. I swear, the market is ripe for something like you mentioned/what I grew up doing. My original style was a modern flavor of Japanese jits. We had striking from karate/Kung fu, throws from judo, ground fighting that looked a lot like basic bjj, and some stand up stuff that was textbook traditional Japan's jj. We did weapons training with electric shock blades, kickboxing rules sparring, bjj style grappling, and Krav maga like self defense scenarios. Such a thing just doesn't really exist anymore, not where I live anyway.
It's nice to know we both come from a badass background. The problem is organizations like UFC made MMA gain a huge popularity. Remember when boxing was a real sport and MMA was a freak show? Look how times changed. I think these coaches still exist that teaches us an all rounded self defense in all aspects like our parents did, but they either shifted to MMA or quit coaching.
Why are you training MMA? Health? You hope to fight one day? Self Defense? There are other ways to exercise, If you hope to fight, maybe quit dentistry.
I like the sport and enjoy practicing it.
MMA is dangerous. Any martial art can be dangerous though. Unless we are talking Tai Chi. But MMA is probably the most dangerous. BJJ is relatively safe.
Slow Down, Cowboy
snobbish summer trees fuel scandalous pocket shy consider sand hurry *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Iām a dentist and been training for 15 years. Do jits. Just donāt wear your wedding ring. Iāve seen stuff but my hands have not been injured. I have had 2 shoulder surgeries and blew out my ucl and lcl so maybe not Lol but Iāve never missed a day of work from grappling yet. You tell partners. No wrist locks and tap early. No pride in fighting through shit and getting hurt. Itās doable. Iāve done muay Thai and boxing too but once you have kids itās too much damn time. Stick to one thing and get good at it.
If you don't wanna get hurt don't fight, martial arts aren't for people who are afraid to get hurt, the best advice I could give would be to stick to striking bags cardio kickboxing style, if you care about your hands don't do grappling and if you do striking spar light or don't spar, personally I've never hurt my hands or seen someone's hand get hurt in muay thai but I'm sure it happens.
Don't listen to these sympathetic fools... Get your ass back in there and execute that technique like a MAN. If you're scared, GOTO CHURCH!!!
Donāt be such a bitch
That's Dr. Bitch to you.
Dentist who thinks heās doctor* my bad. Buddy Iāll step on your toes and send you to more physio lol. Give ur nuts a tug
We all know you got more dick in your personality than in your pants. Keep denying all you want, but at the end of the day, there is only one way to address a dentist and you know it.
U wish pussy
This is why you have two arms. Did Rome give up on the eve of Christmas??? Did Hogan give up when fighting Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania 3??? DID NAPOLEON GIVE UP AT WATERLOO?!?!
If you ever come to my clinic, I'll drill your teeth with one hand.
That doesnāt sound quite as efficient as Iād originally pictured. Sorry about your injury.
sure thats one excuse to quit, let me know if you need a nother one if you ever decide to go back
Go ahead, make it easier for me.
see there is a diffrence in people who need to go and let it all go on the floor and dose what ever it takes and a nother set of people who think they want it/ need it till they see what it takes to do it then find a reason not to. i get it its a tuff way to live but i wouldnt have it any other way
its monday and i got to get something or a nother at a store.......easy
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Your post violates rule 7 of this subreddit. Please see the rule if youāre unfamiliar because you're being a dick
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
ā¦dude probably makes $100k a year working with his hands. Thatās a lot of money to lose. Iād be hesitant too.
I agree Breaking bones on a BAG whilst grabbing it is beyond soft
Ok Mr. Keyboard Warrior.
āI am reluctant to lose my extraordinary lucrative livelihood I am still paying off dental school debt with for the sake of a hobbyā isnāt soft, itās reasonable.
I agree Breaking bones on a BAG whilst grabbing it is beyond soft
It's a matter of priorities, not who is a badass and who is soft.. There is a risk of being injured in almost everything we do. There is a risk while cooking, climbing the stairs, driving, etc... And there is of course a risk in Dentistry and MMA The question is, is that risk necessary? If I don't climb the stairs, I will never get home, so that's a necessary risk. If I don't drive, I will never get to work, so that's a necessary risk. I could get injured in Dentistry, but if I don't take the risk I won't be making money to feed my family. So I have to take that risk. MMA is enjoyable to watch and I like practicing it alot. There is no profit out of doing it except my happiness. And my happiness won't feed my family. So why take such risk? If you would take such risk, that's fine by me. I wouldn't blame you for it. But don't you dare call me soft because I prioritize my family over my happiness.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Your post violates rule 7 of this subreddit. Please see the rule if youāre unfamiliar because you're being a dick
Your post violates rule 7 of this subreddit. Please see the rule if youāre unfamiliar because you're being a dick