On Health, Fitness & Jeet Kune Do

Historically, Martial Arts schools incorporated, to some degree, an herbal pharmacy directed at keeping the students healthy after hard training or combat.  Similarly, students are also given a basic knowledge of how to self treat contusions, and other minor soft tissue injuries.  In modern times we see training centers selling sports balms like Tiger Balm, Icy Hot, Bengay, Cryogel, etc.  Although these products do work, in my experience there is nothing quite as effective as the time tested herbal formulas in the Martial Arts medicine toolbox traditionally prepared by the teacher at the school.

Hit Medicine or Dit Da is a little known branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine developed for healing tissue trauma resulting from fighting.

Unbenknownst to most, Hit Medicine can decrease healing time of minor soft tissue injuries by at least 50% in most cases.  In my early training, I would follow a conditioning protocol of applying herbal liniments to striking and blocking surfaces before and after practice (and sometimes during practice), effectively preventing the majority of bruising and decreasing healing time to a day or two at most.

These protocols are probably most useful to combat sports players who routinely accumulate injuries from full contact sparring.  Although less severe, the average Martial Artist still gets the occasional bruise, strain, sprain, and muscle soreness in which case Hit Medicine comes in very handy.

So what exactly is involved?

The basic Hit Medicine kit should include herbal plaster patches, topical healing wines (Dit Da Jow), an oil based liniment, plastic wrap, waterproof tape, and maybe an oral herbal formula.

The specific formulations on the plaster patches, Dit Da Jows, and oils differ depending on whom you speak to.  In many cases Dit Da Jow is home made using a “family” recipe.  I personally prefer the Yunnan Baiyau plasters and Herbalgy oil along with a homemade Dit Da Jow.  If you don’t have access to homemade Dit Da Jow, Zheng Gu Shui or Yunnan Baiyau Tincture will do.  Simply apply and rub lightly.

For more severe injuries, a wet herbal plaster can be applied and sealed using tape and plastic wrap.  The wrap is usually kept in place for 12 - 24 hours, removed, cleaned and replaced.

These techniques will help with acute injuries, whereas Acupuncture and more advanced Tui-Na techniques should be used to resolve chronic injuries.

Keep in mind that this is a valuable adjunct to training but NOT a replacement for professional medical advice and treatment, so consult your healthcare provider before starting any program.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com