Martial Arts Shin Conditioning Target

Abstract

A portable kicking target for shin conditioning during martial arts training, particularly muai thai. The target may be attached to a conventional punching bag to provide target areas of varying hardness, such that, over time, trainee shin bones and the shin area of the legs are conditioned and strengthened. The target comprises a radially spaced-apart pair of impact pockets that are to be repeatedly kicked. Each impact pocket houses a plurality of elongated, generally parallel, plastic impact tubes. One pocket has a plurality of soft tubes, and the other houses a plurality of harder tubes. The kicker's shins are strengthened over time by repeated contact with the impact pockets. Training starts with the softer impact tubes. After the trainee's shins strengthen, the trainee may increase impact force by switching to the harder impact tubes, and eventually micro fractures will develop as conditioning peaks.

Claims

1. A martial arts kick training target for shin conditioning, the target comprising; a flexible body adapted to be coupled to a generally cylindrical support, the body having spaced-apart ends; at least one impact pocket disposed on the target body; and, at least one elongated, impact tube disposed within said at least one impact pocket for absorbing impacts from a user during kicking practice.

2. The martial arts kick training target as defined in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of parallel impact tubes disposed in said at least one impact pocket.

3. The martial arts kick training target as defined in claim 1 wherein said body comprises at least a pair of complimentary connecting strips disposed on opposite ends of said body for securing the target to said cylindrical support.

4. The martial arts kick training target as defined in claim 1 wherein there are at least two, spaced-apart impact pockets, one of said impact pockets housing relatively soft impact tubes of a first predetermined hardness, and the other of said impact pockets housing relatively hard impact tubes of a second predetermined hardness, the second predetermined hardness being harder than said first predetermined hardness.

5. The martial arts kick training target as defined in claim 4 wherein said all of said impact tubes are characterized by a Shore A hardness of between 50 to 90.

6. The martial arts kick training target as defined in claim 4 wherein said relatively soft impact tubes are characterized by a Shore A hardness of 70, and the relatively harder impact tubes are characterized by a Shore A hardness of 90.

7. A muay thai kick training target for shin conditioning, the target comprising: a flexible, body adapted to be coupled to a generally cylindrical support, the body having spaced-apart ends; the body comprising complimentary connecting strips associated with said ends for securing the target to said cylindrical support by coupling together; at least a pair of radially spaced-apart spaced apart impact pockets disposed on the target body; and, each of said impact pockets containing a plurality of elongated impact tubes for absorbing impacts from a user during kicking practice.

8. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 7 wherein there are four impact tubes in each said impact pocket, and the impact tubes are arranged in generally parallel relation with one another.

9. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 7 wherein all of said impact tubes are characterized by a Shore A hardness of between 50 to 90.

10. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 9 wherein the impact tubes in a first impact pocket are of a different hardness than the impact tubes in the other impact pocket.

11. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 10 wherein all impact tubes are characterized by a Shore A hardness of between 50 to 90.

12. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 11 wherein at least one impact pocket houses relatively soft impact tubes characterized by a Shore A hardness of 70, and at least one impact pocket houses relatively harder impact tubes characterized by a Shore A hardness of 90.

13. A muay thai kick training target for shin conditioning, the target comprising: a flexible, generally rectangular body adapted to be wrapped around a generally cylindrical punching bag or columnar support, the body having spaced-apart ends; at least a pair of complimentary connecting strips disposed on opposite ends of said body for securing the target around said cylindrical support by mating together; at least a pair of radially spaced-apart impact pockets disposed on the target body; each of said impact pockets containing a plurality of parallel plastic impact tubes for absorbing impacts from a user during kicking practice, all impact tubes characterized by a Shore A hardness of between 50 to 90; and, wherein the impact tubes within a first impact pocket are of a softer hardness than the impact tubes disposed within the other impact pocket.

14. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 13 wherein said relatively soft impact tubes are characterized by a Shore A hardness of 70, and the relatively harder impact tubes are characterized by a Shore A hardness of 90.

15. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 14 wherein there are four, generally parallel impact tubes in each impact pocket.

16. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 13 wherein the impact tubes are made from materials selected from the group consisting of PVC plastic, polyethylene, ABS plastic, polystyrene, or rubber.

17. The muay thai kick training target as defined in claim 15 wherein said connecting strips comprise Velcro®-brand material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded front plan view of my preferred martial arts kicking target, showing it undeployed and laid flat for insertion of the preferred impact tubes;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the target showing the rear fastening strip;

[0025] FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric assembly view showing the target disposed in its normal, generally tubular configuration, with the punching bag and various impact tubes omitted for clarity;

[0026] FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the target attached to a punching bag for use, with various impact tubes moved to an exposed position for viewing clarity;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary pictorial view showing a martial arts trainee, and specifically a muay thai student, beginning to install the practice target on a conventional punching bag;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary pictorial view showing the muay thai trainee tensioning and fastening the practice target around a conventional punching bag; and,

[0029] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary pictorial view showing the muay thai trainee kicking the target and aiming at a selected impact pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] My new martial arts kick training target is especially adapted for shin conditioning and it is especially useful for muay thai kick training. With initial reference directed jointly now to FIGS. 1-4, the preferred kicking target has been generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The target 10 is temporarily attached to a conventional punching bag 12 (FIG. 4) to serve as a target for kicking, and over time, as the target is repeatedly impacted by the trainee's legs, the kicker's shins are conditioned and strengthened. Of course the target 10 maybe be attached to and at least partially folded around other generally cylindrical supports or devices, the punching bag is preferred.

[0031] The target 10 comprises a flexible, generally rectangular, blanket-like body 14 that is equipped with at least a pair of complimentary connecting strips enabling rapid mounting to a conventional punching bag 12 (FIGS. 4-7) or similar generally cylindrical object. A first connecting strip 16 is disposed at the right end 15 (FIG. 2) of the body 14 (FIG. 1). The left end 18 (FIG. 1) of the target 10 has a complimentary connecting strip 20 whose underside 21 is exposed on the underside of the body 10 (FIG. 2). Each of the connecting strips 16 and 20 is provided with Velcro®-brand material enabling quick mounting and unmounting. The connecting strips 16, 20 thus enable the target 10 to wrap around a generally cylindrical or tubular object. When mated together, the connecting strips 16 and 20 secure the target 10 upon a typically cylindrical structure such as a punching bag, at a selected tension. When properly fastened, the mounted target 10 is semi-permanently secured to the punching bag (FIG. 4) where it will remain in place despite vigorous subsequent impacts from repeated kicking.

[0032] Importantly, the body 10 comprises at least one, and preferably two or more spaced-apart impact pockets 22 and 24 that are positioned to be forcibly contacted by the users shins or feet. Each impact pocket 22, 24 houses a plurality of elongated impact tubes 26, 28. In the best mode, the impact tubes are oriented parallel with one another, and generally perpendicular relative to the ground. In the best mode there are four impact tubes in each pocket, but of course more or less impact tubes could be employed. The impact tubes 26 normally disposed in pocket 22 may be made of relatively soft polyethylene to more gently impact the kickers shins. On the other hand, the spaced-apart impact pocket 24 may house a similar plurality of harder or stiffer plastic impact tubes 28 to be targeted as the student kicker progresses. Although the impact tubes are preferably made of a relatively flexible plastic material such as polyethylene, they may be made from fabric materials, rubber, rubber hose materials, or the like.

[0033] The impact tubes can have a shore A hardness of between 50 and 80. In the best mode known at this time, the “softer” impact tubes 26 have a Shore A hardness of 70, and the harder impact tubes 28 have a Shore A hardness of 90. The impact tubes are available in many colors, but in the best mode they are colored blue and red. Repeated kicking of the softer impact tubes 26 is recommended for the start of conditioning. Over time during regular training sessions, the kicker's shin area, including the outer skin, toughen. After suitable conditioning, graduation to the harder impact tubes 28 eventually produces micro-fractures in the shin bone region for maximal eventual toughening.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows the general configuration of the target 10. It assumes a generally tubular shape to surround a cylindrical object on which it is mounted. The impact pockets 22 and 24 are radially spaced apart from one another about the target circumference. The underside 16A (FIG. 3) of connecting strip 16 has engaged underside 21 of connecting strip 20 on the opposite target end 18.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows the target 10 secured to a conventional punching bag 12. Both impact pockets 22 and 24 are shown holding the various impact tubes 26 or 28, with the impact tubes partially withdrawn from their receptive impact pockets for purposes of clarity. When inserted, the impact tubes are fractionally held and maintained by yieldable compression from the pockets against the body 10. The pockets maybe “open” as in FIG. 4 to facilitate the quick installation, removal and replacement of the impact tubes. This is desirable for adapting the target 10 to students of different skill levels and different pain tolerances. However, in the preferred embodiment known at this time, the impact pockets remain closed to more securely brace and hold the impact tubes.

[0036] In FIG. 5 a trainee 30 is shown handling the target 10 in an unwrapped and loose position, so that it can be held up to the punching bag 12 for proper placement. In FIG. 6 the muay thai trainee 30 has positioned the target 10 in a concentric, wrapped-around position on the punching bag. The vertical height of the target 10 will be based upon the height of the kicker, the dimensions of the punching bag, and the skill level of the trainee 30.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows the kicker 30 directing a leg 36 and foot 39 towards an impact pocket 24 on the target 10. The object of course is to strengthen the kicker's shin area 41 by repetitive contact with a selected impact pocket 22 or 24. The kicker's shins can be gradually strengthened by repeated contact with the selected impact pocket, and more particularly by the effect of impact tubes concealed within a selected impact pocket. After beginning shin conditioning training with relatively soft impact tubes disposed in a given impact pocket, the trainee kicker can later switch to harder tubes within a companion impact pocket. After the shins strengthen and “toughen up”, and the trainee gains experience, the pain decreases. Later, subsequent training with harder impact tubes will be more productive, and micro-fractures in the shin bone will gradually result. Depending upon the selected target design, the impact tubes in a given impact pocket may be changed to other strengths or hardnesses. When a beginner finds the impact pockets too hard for comfort, the impact tubes within a given impact pocket may be replaced with much softer tubes or softer materials, thus decreasing impact pain and discomfort. When a given training session with a given punching bag or target is completed, the target 10 may be easily removed for transportation and stowage, simply by grasping the opposite ends of the body and gently unfastening the Velcro®-equipped connecting strips 16 (FIG. 1) and 20 (FIG. 2) and drawing them apart.

[0038] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure.

[0039] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

[0040] As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.