Side muscle training.

[Adam]

A typical sparring for me: We start sparring. I get hit straight in the gut some 10 times. I just grin and urge the other guy to try harder. Guy starts pounding on my side and my kidneys. I whimper in pain, if I have any air left in my lungs at all.

How do I toughen up the muscles running down the side of my body, both at belly hight and at the area under my armpit?

[KickChick]

... maybe you should try blocking and evading those punches so as not to get hit there so often.... otherwise you will need to focus on "trunk conditioning" ...

[Adam]

I never wear trunks...

Haha, I like that. "Do you have any fighting tips for me?"
"Yes. Do not get hit."
It's good advise, but still, it's not what I asked about. What excersise do I use to make my side muscles toughen up? I find them sorta hard to target.

[YODA]

All forms of crunches with a twist

General core strength is a better approach....

http://www.byrn.org/core.htm

http://www.bodyresults.com/S2coretraining.asp

[MATT_LIQUID]

why let him hit you 10 times? are you doing a Rocky where he hits you until he get tired?

anyways I'd reccomend;

heavy side bends (using dumbells) for 6 sets of 6 each side,

lay on the floor, turn to your side raise both leggs of the ground, then side crunch into them. 2 sets of 30

what are you like when you get caught in the head?

[YODA]

Side bends won't develop muscles near the surface much - they're a quadratus movement - deeeeeep muscles! Internal & external obliques need rotation.

[GICKER]

roman chair side bends this will work obliquus externus abdominis
dumbbell side bends : : : :

[YODA]

Whatever

Flat bench press will work your front deltoids too but it's not the usual target.

[Knight_Errant]

I read like you can strengthen your obliques by doing the normal crunch movement, but with your legs bent and laid to one side with one on top on the ground. Is this true?

[Jay]

Nice links Yoda (saved straight to favourites) :D

Jay