BedrockBrendan
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I have a couple of mates who do Judo in their forties and they are paying the price now. I know a lot of trad Martial Artists who are also in a bad way from snapping their punches out with nothing to absorb the impact. It's really bad for the joints.
I think it is the getting thrown with the Judo.
With punches it is hard either way. I've done traditional and done more combat sport stuff. Lately I have been balancing more snapping in the air and using something like a heavy bag or pads (or sparring partner). There is definitely value in terms of balance and technique of snapping in the air. But in terms of injury, I have hurt joints with both methods. With snapping in the air its easy to over extend. With heavy bags, it's easy to destroy your wrists, your hands, and your shoulders. I do find warming up and stretching help. Some people are just lucky or unlucky too. I know one guy whose hip joints are completely deteriorated. I am exactly the same age as him and mine are fine. We did many of the same martial arts.
I don't know if there is a magic formula, but I try to read my body more. When I was young, I would do anything and I didn't worry about injuries. Now I think more long term. About ten years ago, I remember being asked to kick a thick bamboo pipe. I had done it before, with smaller bamboo and similar objects, but this one just seemed too dense (it simply felt like I was asking for problems if I kicked it hard), so I just tapped it with my shin instead of kicking full force like the instructor wanted. Later during the drill he explained that one student had broken a femur on the thing.