Competitive kickboxers certainly need to kick without shinguards. As you know, they have to build up their tolerance for this sort of physical damage. But those sorts of folks are not reading this page; they already know this stuff.

Let me give you some insight into my thinking process so you know why I write this sort of article…

Here’s the thing: I think “conditioning your shins” for self defense is probably the worst use of time I can imagine. Unarmed, hand-to-hand combat is a poor “self defense” strategy; it’s fine as a last resort, but in a dangerous situation where the safety and/or property of your family and friends is at risk, it’s a joke. And I say this as someone who has practiced fighting sports for longer than most of my readers have been alive. The truth is: practical, reliable self-defense comes from knowing how to use a handgun and having a CCW license. Anything less is simply a dangerous fantasy.

Anyone who trains for a while will easily handle a mutually agreed upon fight against an untrained bully of similar size to himself: whether their shins are “conditioned” or not.

It’s my opinion that there is a “tough guy” attitude prevalent in combat sports and this attitude is the main reason it’s difficult to get these wonderful sports to break into the mainstream. Part of my mission here is to inform folks that boxing and martial arts is for just about everyone.

But to do that, I have to also convince people that the drawbacks — bruises, injuries, etc. — are preventable and avoidable. Just as you can practice fencing without skewering your opponent, I believe it’s possible for casual fitness enthusiasts to use the fighting sports as a way to keep in shape without risking injuries or bruises that are out of place in civilized, adult society.

So it’s fine for kids who want to feel tough to “condition” their shins, but I want to assure novices that there are workable options for grown people who just want a good, practical form of exercise without the pain and bruises.

(PS – Trainees who wear protective equipment hit with “greater force and confidence” too.)