Just arrived in USA for the holidays... wOw thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

In Japan some people joke about breaking "nihon-shu" (Japanese alcohol) bottles on their shins but I think it's just that - a joke.

What about when you're training by yourself - now that I'm in this country for the next three weeks - and you don't have a sandbag or pads around? Guess I could try kicking my parents' furniture while they're at work:)

At the time I was "chopped by a block" it was after a lengthy absence from training and my partner was a strong guy, and his block to my kick was also a heavy strike. The next day I had a large puffy bruise from it. It made me think that perhaps nutrition and conditioning of sorts is just as important for our bones as our muscles.

When my shihan (top level sensei) kicks or punches me his bones feel like IRON. He's not large by any means but he'll definitely stop you dead in your tracks. Even when he's just blocking it hurts, and I've never met another person like that.