Does anyone have any new advice or experience with Martial Arts training with a LapBand?

My wife is suggesting that we get into Martial Arts as a family exercise option. (Once I’m all healed up.) She was a Black Belt in Taekwondo back in high school & I did some Ninjutsu training in HS as well.

I’m concerned about the possibility of damaging the port from a well placed powerful punch/kick/elbow/knee crushing/cracking the plastic or tearing the sewn in port stitches.

Thanks,

Matt

Your concern is a valid one. There's a lot more to TKD than sparring. It is a great exercise tool. If you spar, you will be wearing a hogu(foam vest) so it would have to be a pretty good kick but there are some young ones who do kick that hard.

I'd advise TKD for you even with the band. Just don't spar or make sure you are sparing with someone who has plenty of control. My wife is a 3rd degree BB and there are a couple of sparring partners who are pretty wild and can't control their kicks so good. But, believe me, talk to the master and they will know ways to avoid the kind of accident you wish not to have.

tmf

being well versed in karate I would say do not do it. Your concerns are very real.

Very good to know. Thanks guys.

I do muay thai kickboxing and haven't had any issues, although this is a valid concern. If you are doing it just for exercise/fun then I would just let your sparring partner know about your port placement so they are warry, but if you are planning on doing competitions then I'd avoid it altogether.

Good luck.

Tanya in NY

agreed. What about some other forms of MA? There's all types. I've thought of kung fu, capoiera (brazilian ju jitsu), aikido, hapkido, tang su do, kendo, wu shu, and others. There's also tai chi if you aren't insterested in sparring.

I agree with the others that have responded thus far, having something happen to the port is not a good thing. In my school we didn't use a hogu. If you go to a school where they don't wear one, I recommend asking the master if they felt you should get one. I know when I return to my martial arts for my bb that I will have one. If I have to wear it under my uniform, then so be it.

Good luck to you and let us know how it goes.