The Importance of Pain Tolerance

You know, getting almost choked out in my MMA class today got me to thinking: how important to your training is pain tolerance? Pain tolerance is something that differs from person to person, I understand. My questions are: 1) How big of a role do you think pain tolerance plays in a "martial" situation, whether it be competition or self defense? For instance, if person A had exceptional martial skill, but a weak jaw, would it matter that he/she was one of the best at their school? And:2) In your opinion, can pain tolerance be "built up", or is it something already predetermined physiologically, or even psychologically?

“	Originally Posted By: WuSung My questions are: 1) How big of a role do you think pain tolerance plays in a "martial" situation, whether it be competition or self defense? For instance, if person A had exceptional martial skill, but a weak jaw, would it matter that he/she was one of the best at their school?	”

I think pain tolerance plays a major role in either, if you can't take the pain of a hit, smash, etc. you're not going to last long in a fight(competition or real). As for person A, the only way their lack of pain tolerance wouldn't be a crutch or disability is if they are so good that no one can touch them, that they could knock people out with one strike and be so quick to always hit first, but since so very few are alive with those abilities, they better learn how to take and deal with pain.

“	2) In your opinion, can pain tolerance be "built up", or is it something already predetermined physiologically, or even psychologically?	”

Yes, it can be built up.
Part of the purpose of conditioning exercises, besides toughening the body for fighting and to resist injury, is to desensitize the nerves to feeling pain, so that if you land a solid strike into someone you won't be phased by any pain that said strike might cause you, such as a forearm to forearm/leg/collarbone- smash.

Part of it is also psychological, you have to condition the mind to view pain as of nothing, some of the best martial artists I've seen have a liking for pain and so still function efficiently while receiving it, even if they don't have a high pain threshold, they can still except and control what they do receive through conditioning of body, mind, and spirit.

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Oh THAT'S how that works!

You need to be able to take as well as give. If you can't then you shouldn't be doing martial arts.

“	Originally Posted By: WuSung 1) How big of a role do you think pain tolerance plays in a "martial" situation,	”

Pretty big, if you get hit in a fight and you cant take it your going to have a problem.

“	Originally Posted By: WuSung 2) In your opinion, can pain tolerance be "built up", or is it something already predetermined physiologically, or even psychologically?	”

Yes it can be built up but your tolerance level is all ready predetermined psychologically.

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For as long as one hundred of us shall remain alive we shall never in any wise consent to submit to the rule of the English, for it is not for glory we fight, for riches, or for honours, but for freedom alone, which no good man loses but with his life.

First of all I need to clarify that being choked out and "having a weak jaw (chin)" have absolutely nothing to do with pain tolerance.
These are attacks that have a physiological effect on the nervous system of the body and will cause a "system shutdown". Actual "pain" has to reach an extremely high level to cause a physiological/neurological shutdown. A good choke should not cause any pain. Also, a good shot right on the button should not be felt... at least not until after the fact and you've woken up.

That being said, pain tolerance can go a long way in absorbing punishment that is superficial and yes it can be conditioned.

Peace-
Cam

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Rock On!
Cam
"Raise up your mind....."

Important? Yes... unless you're good enough that you never get hit!

Built up? Definitely!... although some people do have a greater pain tolerance than others right off the start.

And i'm with Cam on the choke/jaw bits... when I think "pain tolerance" i think about getting kicked in the shins....

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The E.S.Q.

Women can take more pain than men.

“	Originally Posted By: Lucid Women can take more pain than men.	”

That depends, childbirth yes, other no.
I can take 20/30 times greater level of pain in martial arts aspects than a kung fu sister can.
So that is not really a completely true statement.

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Oh THAT'S how that works!

So, opinions are all pretty much on the same page. Cam, I agree that chokes/knock-outs don't hurt...I just was thinking about pain tolerance AFTER I got choked out. I think the pain tolerance would play a role in other submissions, though: arm-bar, leg lock, etc. If you could stand the pain, maybe you'd have time to get out of the hold before he/she snaps your appendage...I have a pretty good chin, and haven't been knocked out but just a few times in my life. The only pain from that is usually after you wake up, you can soemtimes have a headache. I have seen some good martial artists, (form-wise, point-sparring wise), but when you glove 'em up and go all out with them, they crumbled like paper. Maybe their psyche didn't allow them to meet the punishment and see that it is really no big deal. For alot of people, the adrenaline associated with a fight, or a competition may negate the pain. Cam, you are a competitive fighter, do you find that pain is something easy to ignore while you are in your competitions, due to the adrenaline level?

If a fighter can't take pain then he's not a real fighter.

“	I think the pain tolerance would play a role in other submissions, though: arm-bar, leg lock, etc. If you could stand the pain, maybe you'd have time to get out of the hold before he/she snaps your appendage	”

Definitely in that situation. You can even continue to fight with broken appendages if your tolerance for pain is high enough, or you have a large enough adrenaline pump going...

“	Cam, you are a competitive fighter, do you find that pain is something easy to ignore while you are in your competitions, due to the adrenaline level?	”

Absolutely! We have a saying in our gym, "It never hurts until tomorrow!".
In the fight I had a few weeks back I threw a hard shin kick to the mid section that he blocked with his elbows in the second round. The fight lasted 3 full rounds. Afterwards in the back I made my manager call the doctor in the back to look at my leg/ankle. I thought it was broken. It was really swolen and discolored and the pain had started to set in about 15 minutes after the fight. Luckily it was only sprained and badly contused (it's still sore now but almost 95% back to normal). 30 minutes after the fight I needed crutches but during the 3rd round it never even occurred to me that the foot was hurt at all.

It's like the lesser of two evils in the ring/cage... You really don't have time to stop and think, "Darn, my foot really hurts!" because you're too busy thinking, "Man, I gotta keep his elbows off my melon!!".

Peace-
Cam

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Rock On!
Cam
"Raise up your mind....."

IMO one conditions in different ways to meet different needs, but overall to prevent, reduce or tolerate injuries or pain.

General muscular conditioning (calisthenics, weight training, stretching) to build strength & flexibility.

Sport-specific conditioning (drills, forms, bag work, whatever) to develop proper structure and function, to prevent/reduce injury in the ring.

Endurance conditioning (stances, iron body, running/windsprints, lamaze, e.g.) to test, build, and prepare the body for extreme discomfort, pain and possibly injury.

For women only -- advanced lamaze, which enables you to choke out your husband/significant other while simultaneously pushing out a baby. This is the ultimate martial art.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

“	Originally Posted By: Sammygirl For women only -- advanced lamaze, which enables you to choke out your husband/significant other while simultaneously pushing out a baby. This is the ultimate martial art.	”

Would that mean he is fighting multiple opponents?

Heck yeah, you can't trust those babies for one second!

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

Better focus would help in this department.

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It's all about the nitty gritty.......