How to Massage Upper Abdominal Muscles for Martial Artists

More than any other sport, martial arts are brutal on abdominal muscles. The brutal way punches and kicks attack the stomach and abs is enough to bring anyone to their knees. When a match is over, it’s a good idea to properly massage those muscles to allow them to heal quickly, as well as relieve pain.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Stretch before beginning a massage routine. If you are planning on giving yourself the massage, properly flex and bend this area of your body so the massage will not damage any muscles. If you are performing the massage for someone else, ask them to properly stretch as if they would before a match.

2. Pinch the muscles with your fingers. This will be a wider, smoother pinch that uses all fingers and focuses on a specific area of the abs. Begin at the top of the abdominal muscles, and slowly work your way down the body.

3. Follow up the pinching routine with a circular motion. Using your three longest fingers, apply pressure to the abdominal muscles and rotate in small circles. Like the previous step, begin at the top of the abdominal muscles, and work your way down the body.

4. Include a final massage if the abdominal muscles are still feeling tense or painful. Using your palm, make gentle waves across the abs by applying pressure with your palm, shifting it to the base of the fingers and finishing with the finger tips. This will provide added relief to the muscles.

5. Re-stretch the abdominal muscles in order to keep them loose, allowing them to adjust to the massage. This can be a light stretch compared to the beginning.

Resources

• Read more martial arts massage therapies
• Read more about dealing with martial arts soreness

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