Toughening the shins and forearms
Some of the benefits of martial arts training remain hidden until that moment when something unexpected happens and you find yourself handling it much better than how you used to in the distant past. One such benefit revealed itself to me when my shin bumped against a chair in the dark one night and the chair said "ow!". Okay! Okay! :D The chair did not say anything. It just moved a bit, but I was fine. This- however- did not come cheap and there is no shortcut to it, I am afraid. If you are considering starting with this type of training when you are 40 I'd say you will find yourself disappointed. The conditioning of my shins was an investment I have started making back in my early 20's and the actual toughness, which amongst others include the ability to kick a broomstick in two, only showed up during my mid 30's. That's not all, though. Who's ever blocked a mae geri (front kick) with gedan barai (lower parry) during Karate class and had your train...