Stiff Fingers From Judo?

**FourT6and2** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 8:07am

Been training about 4-5 nights a week for the past two months. My fingers are really stiff in the mornings now. It's hard to make a fist. After 5-10 minutes of stretching the stiffness goes away. No problems during the day. Only in the morning after (obviously) not using my hands for an extended period of time.

I'm a musician and been playing the guitar and drums for 15 years and I've never had any issue with arthritis or Carpel Tunnel.

I've also been training Aikido, Jujutsu and some other arts for at least 8-10 years and never had this type of problem, either.

However, it seems that Judo does have a great deal more emphasis on grip, especially wrestling around with the gi. So maybe this is the cause? Incorrect grip? Not used to it?

Has anyone else gone through this?

**Zapruder** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 8:29am

hahahaha, I have gone up 2 ring sizes since I started training. If you tape your fingers in between each knuckle it takes some of the stress off your fingers. It is possible that you are over gripping, but most likely you are just getting used to training that much.

**FourT6and2** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 8:57am

Originally Posted by Zapruder

hahahaha, I have gone up 2 ring sizes since I started training. If you tape your fingers in between each knuckle it takes some of the stress off your fingers. It is possible that you are over gripping, but most likely you are just getting used to training that much.

How does tape between the knuckles help? I'll try it, but I'm just curious if you know the how's/why's.

I'm not too concerned with the stiff fingers, but I woke up this morning and I was like... damn! this is getting weird.

**Vorpal** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 9:41am

If you modify your grip so that the index finger is loose and most of your grip is done with the remaining three fingers pressing into the palm you will have a much stronger grip with less effort.

**daishi** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 10:06am

you could try doing grip strength exercises..I'm sure you can google some. Not sure if this would help or just make it worse b/c you would be getting less recovery time. The big difference between aikido and judo griping is in Judo you are tugging and pulling in quick bursts to off balance your training partner...this is probably something your just not used to compared to the more static grabbing in aikido.

Maybe its somewhat unrelated and you are clenching your fists at night. Every once in a while I'll wake up with clenched fists and my fingers will feel fatigued and a bit stiff for 10 minutes or so.

**surferdude** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 11:47am

I get it from BJJ. The ring size comment made me chuckle, because my experience is the same.

I have good grip strength, and have trained it through weight lifting for decades. I think it is part lack of better technique, combined with, being 44 now.

**Coach Josh** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 11:58am

Originally Posted by daishi

you could try doing grip strength exercises..I'm sure you can google some.

Bad advice. As with any new activity your body needs to adjust to the change BEFORE you try to reach new levels. Once you are able to withstand the rigors of training at that level then you should move onto increasing strength levels. Rest is the most over looked part of training everyone forgets about it.

After practice you should spend time stretching out your hands so when they heal they will heal in a stretched state not in a cramped state. After about 6 months it will get better. So HTFU.

Learning to grip just comes with time as Vorpal said you need to learn to grip with your three bottom fingers and then tighten your thumb and forefinger when needed.

Personally my knuckles have been dislocated so many times that I can't wear a ring anymore. My last wedding band I had to cut off with a dremel tool.

**judoka_uk** · Posted On: 8/20/2010 11:58am

Originally Posted by Vorpal

If you modify your grip so that the index finger is loose and most of your grip is done with the remaining three fingers pressing into the palm you will have a much stronger grip with less effort.

This /\ first and foremost!

This should be taught on day one at the same moment you're shown how to grip the Judogi properly.

Now you didn't say how long you've been training Judo for, however, if you've only started training Judo recently and thrown yourself into 4-5 sessions a week especially in a randori where the gripping is competitive. Then you're going to be struggling with a big shock to the system as regards your fingers.

Tape your fingers as instructed in this thread, but don't start grip training drills unless you're going to cut down on the Judo, because at the moment it seems that your fingers are already struggling to cope with the strain on them so adding even more strain through grip strength drills is going to be damaging.