Finger Crushers- Pain Inoculation, Psyche and Breath Control
Originally written February 2012
Disclaimer: All techniques shown require professional supervision and are solely intended for information.
Due to the flood of interests I’ve received over the “Knuckle Crushers” video, a more in-depth explanation seems in order.
Firstly, this exercise is NOT about testing your manhood nor discovering your pain threshold. It is a quick and simple way to assess your mental acuity, mobility, function, and fortitude in sticking to the right things under duress. To help you appreciate how quickly pain and discomfort can erode your will and cause the body to abandon years of “belief”. To recognize that you might unknowingly seek relief in bad form, breath-holding, straining, struggling, fear etc. even while cognizant they’re counter-productive to your success.
In short, this exercise serves as a “lie detector” to help you face the reality of yourself and the strength of your convictions. We have a saying at KaizenTao, “Don’t talk about what you cannot do. Only talk after you can do it.”
Some have reported they don’t have Ebony Kali sticks or Dit Da Jow liniments to train. Remember as martial artists/instructors, the crisis you and your students may face in a real encounter doesn’t come in the flavor you’d prefer. Improvisation, lies at the crux of survival. Always seek alternative methods rather than snivel and grab excuses.
The Equipment:
First, you need a slippery floor. You want the sticks to roll freely which you will then control through your fists. You want the proprioceptors in the body to do the adjustment which requires an unstable surface. Then, grab any broomsticks, mops or Jo (Aikido sticks), or any cylindrical objects of approximate size which fits inside your fists. It needs to be large enough in diameter so the wrists have to adjust to maintain the proper perpendicular alignment to the bottom stick. Too narrow, and you may as well hold nothing, but too thick and your wrists will break its alignment to the forearms and risk an injury. If you can’t find anything to hold, place two permanent marker under each fist and be sure to only contact them and not the floor. The idea is to relieve the stress/contact points by aligning yourself to find the “sweet spot” in the exercise where the body may best function.
The Drill:
Warm up with a few nicely balanced and relaxed plank. Do not attempt a push up if you cannot comfortably balance on your fists. Insure the sticks are kept parallel and perfectly aligned atop one another with arms extending perpendicular from your torso. Once you’ve found your “sweet spot”, slowly lower fully and raise completely while mentally spreading the discomfort/tension from your knuckles into your body, then pulse it out by using short quick breaths. The pulse breathing acts as a pain/tension regulator and pushes out the pain/pressure out of the body the way a jack inches up a car. When correctly done, the pain/discomfort dissipates and the body can maintain its flexibility and confidence.
Applying Dit Da Jow:
When the exercise is completed, slowly lower yourself onto your knees. Do not abruptly drop down. Though the stress is gone, maintain a presence and awareness to your movement. Slowly return to normal breathing. Shake the Dit Da Jow well(good stuff is in the sediments) and liberally apply in a counter-clockwise direction over the stress points. This will soothe, promote rapid healing and remove any trace of pain which in turns creates more resilience and confidence to redo the exercise. Your hands may have a feint odor and be left with a yellowish color as it is absorbed into the skin. That is fine, do not wash it off. Continue to softly and gently rub your hands to bring the Chi to the surface and circulate the blood flow whenever you feel any tenderness. If you don’t have Dit Da Jow use the hot water method which works equally well and costs nothing.
A Dit Da Jow Alternative: Hot water soak.
Fill a wash basin 1/3 up with warm water. Submerge your hands and slowly run very hot water(Not scalding hot) onto your hands. Slowly swirl your hands in clockwise and counter-clockwise motions with palms facing down. Visualize your hands glowing and emitting Chi/energy and let it drift and float towards the surface outwards from the stress points and finger tips. Connect your mind and breath to your Chi and let it flow as one. You’re done when the basin water is the same temperature as the stream of very hot water. Take your hands out and whip your hands rapidly until it’s air dried. Do this 3X a day at the same time every day.
