I've been developing pains in my knuckles (the smaller ones, nearer the fingernail. I also have what appears to be light bruising on them (strange marks, that look yellowy like a bruise does when it's starting to recover).

Is this the kind of thing that will go away with more experience, or that i should just suck up, and get on with.

Or is this the kind of thing I should try and prevent from happening in the future?

And if it's the latter, what's the solution? Just taking a less tight grip?

Ironmind - Captains of Crush

Brookfield - Mastery of hand strength.

I have had one Judo class so far in my life (with one of MTripp's cousins) and my fingertips were killing me after it. The last knuckle on each was red, like a thin uneven stripe on the back of each hand. They felt bruised too.

I couldn't figure it out either, as I didn't even do too much gripwork.

Seriously is this even a problem can you not figure this out all on your own?

Look at the gi. Rub your hand over the chest area of the gi. Do you feel that rough surface? That's what your knuckles are rubbing on. Until your metrosexually conditioned hands become manly they will hurt and you will weep.

When you develop better grip strength and some callouses it will be better.

Can you describe in detail how you grip?, making a fist and hooking your partner gi or are you grabbing with the palm and keeping your fingers more or less straight?

Seriously is this even a problem can you not figure this out all on your own?

Look at the gi. Rub your hand over the chest area of the gi. Do you feel that rough surface? That's what your knuckles are rubbing on. Until your metrosexually conditioned hands become manly they will hurt and you will weep.

When you develop better grip strength and some callouses it will be better.

if we weren't certain already, this^lets us know that Coach Josh is a proper Judo coach.

I always apply some linament to my tired-ass hands after a good training. Tiger balm is good, I get some really good Thai stuff from the gym, but you get the idea.

Ice packs for the bruising, heat to keep circulation up. Grip strength training-have a look at the Phys Training forums for more info.

You can get one of those spring handles that you squeeze, that'll help a little. Otherwise start doing pushups either on the basement floor or out on the sidewalk. Switch between putting your hands flat and doing them on your knuckles. Those are the first things that come to mind.

Edit: Inboard pullups help your grip strength a bit as well.

He needs callouses not grip strength. Besides as a beginner grip strength training will more likely than not just make his hands tired in practice which will lead to a weaker grip and possible injury. Save the grip strength training for after you have the basics down and have some callouses.

It goes away after awhile. Of course after twenty years I can now crack my knuckles just by making a fist! Later life arthritis here I come!

He needs callouses not grip strength. Besides as a beginner grip strength training will more likely than not just make his hands tired in practice which will lead to a weaker grip and possible injury. Save the grip strength training for after you have the basics down and have some callouses.

Ah, ok. Is there some way to help callouses develop outside of training?

Just tough it out. Don't be a wuss.

Just tough it out. Don't be a wuss.

true dat^but, especially early on, you want to be careful of tendon injuries. Building hand strength is your best preventative step.

Just musing. I wonder how much it also has to do with peoples tendency to grip for dear life when they start.

Ah, ok. Is there some way to help callouses develop outside of training?If you're really desperate you could rub your fingers with sandpap.... No wait, that's retarded.

Tough it out. After a few months you'll have developed knarly judo fingers, and the pain will barely even register.

true dat^but, especially early on, you want to be careful of tendon injuries. Building hand strength is your best preventative step.

You're a coach of a Gi based grappling art so I really want to make sure I understand what you are saying. Do you think that someone in their first few classes say under 10 classes should be supplementing with grip training?

I personally think it is a bad idea because they will likely already be working to exhaustion in class. If they are going 3 times a week the micro tears are going to be barely healed by the next class. Grip training in between seems like it would only increase hand fatigue in the hold-on for dear life stage.

....friction burns.

Happened to me my FIRST mma class. We were in a boxing ring, doing shoots. I was barefoot. I still have the scars from those gnarly burns.

Same thing on my finger tips (and toes), you can see callouses/scars from gi-burns. Its not a big deal, you'll get over it. Just tough it out.

Your fingertips hurt because you're not used to using them. After 3 classes you'll hopefully get over it. I did.

Also, I'd be willing to bet you're that whitebelt who grabs on for dear life and never lets go. Don't do that. Be loosey goosey, you know? That'll help, too.