Recently while training my hands on the makiwara board, I injured the knuckle of my third finger (between middle and pinkie). It swelled up and then when the swelling was gone I had full movement, but the it looks 'flatter'. It appears that the tendon of the knuckle has moved to the side. A friend who takes karate told me that all the guys who have been practicing on the makiwara for a long time eventually get these kind of knuckles? Is this true or should I go see a docter?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

I've been doing Striking Martial Arts for over 2 years now. So far...no none of my knuckles have moved to the side. Considering you should not hit with the knuckle you are talking about and the pinky one, I think it may be best to get it checked out. It probably won't cause any immidiate problems (unless fractured, inwhich case it's been healing) though in years to come you may experiance arthritis (at a much quicker rate).

Basicly get it checked out if it's bothering you, no harm in being safe.

My questions are, what kind of Makiwara are you training on? What do you use to pad the surface? How often do you train it?

Sorry about your injury. The knuckle of the finger you injured shouldn’t be taking the brunt of the force... So if that knuckle is getting impacted regularly, you might want to check your form and make sure only your two big knuckles are doing the striking.

I would get the ligament checked out... It’s possible the doc might be able to massage it back to avoid surgery. Just because you have your range of motion and no pain now doesn’t mean it won’t develop into an arthiritic joint due to the altered mechanics of the displaced ligament.

The Makiwara should be feared and respected, or it will bite back.

My makiwara (http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showpost.php?p=504732&postcount=107)
my fist after around six months of light Makiwara conditioning:

Thanks guys. I should be more clear. The knuckle isnt 'moved over to the side'; but rather it IS flatter than the others--to be honest it looks like that picture. It did swell up though....so that's probably bad. I have to leave the country for two weeks, but I suppose when I get back I'll stop being dumb and go get it looked at.

Anatomically speaking, what happens to the knuckles during makiwara condiotioning.

Displacing that tendon is pretty easy. Get ready for some tasty arthritis when you are old(er).

If I were you I'd get it checked out. If I were me, I'd probably take some pills and try to ignore it.

Well...I ain't looking forward to arithritis man....how the hell can you punch someone! So with this type of injury I'm guranteed arithritis? Is there any thing you guys know of that might help the joint recover that a docter might not know(sometimes fighters know tricks)?

What do you guys think are the chances of someone who trains for a few decades not running into problems (hip replacement, arithritis etc.) down the line if you train smart(er than I did)?

I did strike with bad form. My mind wasnt on what I was doing for one strike and I messed up. I learned my lesson though cause I've had to take two months off and have just been working the ground.

That's silly. You won't ever have a 100% chance of getting arthritis from a bruised knuckle. Don't believe everything people write on martial arts message boards.

lol. You're right, I was just getting paronoid.

Apostle: You’re a fucking idiot... Nobody said anything about a 100% chance, and he has a displaced tendon not a mere bruise. Don’t make **** up.

Ames, You should be paranoid. You only get one body, and its ability to repair injuries on its own only goes so far. You are not indestructible.


Anatomically speaking, what happens to the knuckles during makiwara condiotioning.
Depends how you do it....
If you do it the right way, the applied force will increase the density and strength throughout your bones. But if the Makiwara lacks proper spring or cushion, your strikes will break down the sponge-like latticework of the bone on the surface of your knuckles and calcify into a hard yet brittle mutation.

Allow me to point out that AkiraMusashi is a weight lifter, not a martial artist.

His metacarpals would shatter like twigs if he ever actually punched something properly.

Reading **** like that makes my knuckles spontaneously burst into pain.

Allow me to point out that AkiraMusashi is a weight lifter, not a martial artist.

His metacarpals would shatter like twigs if he ever actually punched something properly.

Despite the fact I have done roughly 13 years of MA. Let me hit you and we'll see if my MC's shatter. Your face'll give before my hand does. Your hand looks it's been conditioned through Oil of Olay and hand holding by your mother.

And what does smashing the **** out of rocks and seriously injuring yourself in the process acomplish other than showing us all how mentally unstable you are?

Whether or not you were a martial artist in the past it's clear you have abandoned it now. What you have shown us here is not self improvement, but self destruction.

You also punch with the wrong knuckles. What martial art did you study?

That's just sick!

Ames, what has your sensei/sifu/instructor said about your injuries? Something as dangerous as hand conditioning/seasoning needs expert attention or else you'll suffer harm and irreperable damage.

My questions are, what kind of Makiwara are you training on? What do you use to pad the surface? How often do you train it?
Also please answer these questions.