Are fighters allowed to harden their knuckles?

[!! Shawn]

I remember watching this show on ancient Martial Arts on the history channel about 5-6 years ago. They did a segment on some dude who worked as a Police Enforcer in the 50's and 60's either China or Japan. I dont remember which one but guns were banned and even Police weren't allowed to carry them. He was a 1289128190890380 degree black belt in Kung Fu and practiced the Iron Body discipline. He would slightly punch small metal slabs for at least 1000x's a day to harden his knuckles and hands. Calcium started building over his knuckles and started to grow bony points on them. He said that he would knock out all the perps with just one punch. Dude arrested over 1000 organized crime violators apparently.

Would a boxer be allowed to do the same? If they started developing calcium deposits that hardened the hands a knuckles, would they be allowed to fight on?

I cant remember that guys name but the only thing I can find close to what resembles what he had on his knuckles were like this dude's

Hardening your knuckles is bull****, and calcium deposits are bad news. The whole point of padding on the knuckles is to prevent that.

[-Hyperion-]

I've never heard of boxers using this technique but I don't see a reason why they wouldn't be able to. It would really only prevent injury for the hand since the gloves are so thick.

lol, you clerly havent been hit with 8 ounces......

[1g5a22]

Hardening your knuckles is bull****, and calcium deposits are bad news. The whole point of padding on the knuckles is to prevent that.

it came natural to hopkins he spent a lot of time on all fours in his cell..............

so if its by default then yes i guess.

[LOLORSKATES]

Hitting the punching bag naturally hardens your knuckles.

At my old gym we would do knuckle pushups and strike a wood post to harden our knuckles. They build up the natural calcium deposits in your knuckles.

[!! Shawn]

lol, you clerly havent been hit with 8 ounces......

Doesn't help to protect hands... when a fighter breaks his "hand" 90% of the time it is the scaphoid bone. A bone in the wrist.

All developing calcium deposits on your knuckles will do is cause arthritis.

[2501]

ha, im not the only one who remembers that show. i tried googling that dude..

I heard of a fighter (I believe he is a kung fu master) who has really hard knuckles due to him toughening them up on steel a thousand times every day. He started out by just lightly tapping them, then over the years, his fists steadily became harder until now anything less than steel will shatter. A guy at work told me that he has to be very careful not to punch too hard when sparring or in a fight, otherwise he will kill his opponent.

(I saw him on TV a while back, but I've tried googleing him but can't find any info. I don't know his name and if anyone knows anything about him, please tell. Thanks. )

[LOLORSKATES]

Doesn't help to protect hands... when a fighter breaks his "hand" 90% of the time it is the scaphoid bone. A bone in the wrist.

All developing calcium deposits on your knuckles will do is cause arthritis.

Then how do you explain Ravelo's knuckles in this picture?

[img]//www.***********.com/boxing_images2/_Butler_%20Ravelo_Ward_Chambers.jpg[/img]

[!! Shawn]

ha, im not the only one who remembers that show. i tried googling that dude..

I have a bridge I want to sell you.

[Degsy]

I remember watching this show on ancient Martial Arts on the history channel about 5-6 years ago. They did a segment on some dude who worked as a Police Enforcer in the 50's and 60's either China or Japan. I dont remember which one but guns were banned and even Police weren't allowed to carry them. He was a 1289128190890380 degree black belt in Kung Fu and practiced the Iron Body discipline. He would slightly punch small metal slabs for at least 1000x's a day to harden his knuckles and hands. Calcium started building over his knuckles and started to grow bony points on them. He said that he would knock out all the perps with just one punch. Dude arrested over 1000 organized crime violators apparently.

Would a boxer be allowed to do the same? If they started developing calcium deposits that hardened the hands a knuckles, would they be allowed to fight on?

I cant remember that guys name but the only thing I can find close to what resembles what he had on his knuckles were like this dude's

You'll develop calluses through punching, even with gloves on, if the power is there. A lot of martial arts concentrate on building up the first two knuckles, via press ups, makiwara etc. There is a minority school of thought that vindicates going back to bare knuckle fighting, as although it is more bloody, you cannot deliver the same level of power for as long as with a glove, so theoretically there will be less brain damage. Personally, I am not sold on this.

Going back to your point on the legality, as long as you don't have little lead balls stitched into your knuckles, I can't see it being illegal - Enzo Macarinelli swears by soaking his hands in olive oil (each to their own!). If you are thinking of doing it yourself, I would exercise caution - over calcified joints will cause big problems in later life.

[abadger]

You'll develop calluses through punching, even with gloves on, if the power is there. A lot of martial arts concentrate on building up the first two knuckles, via press ups, makiwara etc. There is a minority school of thought that vindicates going back to bare knuckle fighting, as although it is more bloody, you cannot deliver the same level of power for as long as with a glove, so theoretically there will be less brain damage. Personally, I am not sold on this.

Going back to your point on the legality, as long as you don't have little lead balls stitched into your knuckles, I can't see it being illegal - Enzo Macarinelli swears by soaking his hands in olive oil (each to their own!). If you are thinking of doing it yourself, I would exercise caution - over calcified joints will cause big problems in later life.

If they went back to bareknuckle, boxing would remain legal for not very long. The modern era would have a fit. Maybe less brain damage but a lot more to eyes, noses, ears and teeth I reckon.