Right thumb pain from frequent impacts

by Paul
(NJ)

I've been training Aiuchi-men and also similar situations occur during the Ji-keiko.

For some reasons, I have been getting some impacts on my right thumb from hitting the opponent's fist in such situations.

Am I doing something wrong, or is there a way that I can avoid getting hurt on the right thumb? It has been creating a lot of pain from the impacts.

Thanks

Paul

Answer: Thank you for your question. I will list possible issues. If you can send me a video that you are doing ai-men then it is much easier to spot an issue.

1. If you are doing a big men cut each other, you might get hit on your right thumb if your strike is delayed. So when your right thumb is still close to your men, your opponent’s strike is already coming down on you. If that is the case, your right thumb becomes the best target for that.

2. Your shinai is standing up, i.e. your kensaki is not stretched out to your opponent’s men. That means you are showing your right fist to your opponent.

3. You may be squeezing in your right hand too much so your right thumb is always facing towards your opponent. This may be the issue.

4. Your opponent is striking you funny. This is the last thing you should look into since it is not the same opponent that hurts your thumb but ai-men, right?

You said, “getting some impacts on my right thumb from hitting the opponent's fist in such situations”. Not sure what kind of situation it is. You hit your opponent’s fist when striking your opponent’s men? That means either

1. Your opponent’s strike is delayed or

2. You guys are too close so you end up with hitting each other with the moto (close to your tsuba), we call such strike as moto-uchi.

I want you to check the following:

1. Distance: You may be too close when striking men

2. Kensaki height when you and your opponent’s swords are crossing.

3. Timing of both men strikes: related to 2. Your shinai and your opponent’s must be hitting men because you are practicing AI-men.

4. The angle of your men strike: your men strike may be leaning to your right and as a result you are showing your right hand with the finger side is up. If you do that, you will get hit on your thumb.

Hope these help you to figure out the problem.

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