The White House is gearing up to host a UFC event as part of celebrations of 250 years of American independence. The fighters on the card are relying on body conditioning techniques that have been around for centuries to try to emerge victorious. Muay thai, karate and jiujitsu all use ancient practices that condition the body for their field.

The human body over time, and under the right stresses and strains, can become more resilient to physical and physiological challenges. One of the key scientific principles here is Wolff’s law – the idea that bone remodels itself in response to the loads placed on it. Studies have shown that in many sports the dominant limb develops denser bone than the non-dominant side. In martial arts, this effect is seen in both arms and legs.

In muay thai, fighters condition their shins by kicking banana trees – whose soft outer layers and substantial bulk make them ideal for the purpose. The repeated impact gradually adapts the tibia to the forces generated by kicking.

The tibia is the second-longest bone in the body. Like most bones in the body, it has a dense outer shell surrounding a cavity, crossed by tiny structural rods – a design that combines strength with minimal weight.

The thickness of the tibia is greatest at the points between 40-70% of its length from top to bottom, the outer (cortical) layer of bone is, on average, between 4-6mm thick in males and 3-5mm thick in females. No studies have directly compared tibia thickness in combat athletes and non-athletes. But in 2004, UFC fighter Shaun Strickland posted an X-ray image of his legs on Instagram showing noticeably thicker bone cortices – visible evidence of what years of shin conditioning can do.

Kick forces are high enough that opponents are warned against single-arm blocks – the impact can fracture the ulna, the longer bone in the forearm, which accounted for a quarter of all mixed martial arts (MMA) injuries in one study.

Even ancient traditions such as iron arm and wing chun, which exploit Wolff’s law to condition the forearms, may struggle to prevent these high-impact traumatic breaks.

Many athletes in combat sports also train their hands and arms. A popular way to do this is rice gripping: submerging hands in buckets of rice and performing various exercises against the resistance.

This works multiple muscle groups simultaneously, in ways that traditional gym exercises often deal with in isolation. As the forearms and finger muscles grow stronger, they pull hard on the bone, triggering Wolff’s law and causing bone to thicken.

Studies show that combat sport athletes have denser bones and more lean muscle in their limbs than both non-contact sports athletes and inactive people – evidence that this kind of training pays off both for delivering strikes and absorbing them.

Many people assume that combat sports require conditioning of the core muscles, such as the abdominal muscles to protect the organs from trauma. But this is only partly true. The other function is to increase the force generation, impact and accuracy of striking, as many striking blows initiated by the upper body start from the legs. Studies have shown that martial artists in a variety of combats improve in force, impact and accuracy from core strength training.

Not risk free

All this training has its risks. Even with gloves, fighters regularly damage the soft tissue and bones in the hands, these can be from a single heavy blow or repetitive strain or injury. For centuries, practitioners have used dit da jow liniment (bruise wine) in repairing the hands after combat.

One common injury is boxer’s knuckle, where the joint and tendons of the middle finger are damaged, causing inability to straighten the finger or snapping of the tendon across the bone. This knuckle is affected because it protrudes out the furthest in a clenched fist and is often the impact point.

It shouldn’t be confused with a boxer’s fracture, which sees the metacarpal of the little finger in the palm of the hand break due to impact trauma. A chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and in the hand it is always the bones of the little finger, because they don’t contribute the same weight in activities as their larger neighbours.

All this impact also affects the skin, which responds by thickening to protect underlying structures to present as knuckle pads. The skin in conditioned areas also adapts through neural desensitisation, where repeated exposure to painful stimuli causes the receptors in that area to recalibrate what they deem as a painful level of stimulus.

This is a well-studied area in conditions where small amounts of a stimulus cause a hyper-reaction. Strikes from combat or training to specific areas, particularly pressure points, can cause damage that can take years to heal.

For all the conditioning, whether using modern or ancient methods, the human body has its limits. There will always be weak spots. Women suffer more upper limb injuries, while men suffer more lower limb injuries. Head and neck injuries and their long-term effects are becoming a growing concern. If conditioning is something that you are interested in pursuing, slow and steady is the safest way to go, giving the body time to respond to what you are asking of it.

Beach Road Fisheries in Skinningrove currently holds a 4.5-star rating from dozens of online reviews, with many visitors describing it as one of the best places for fish and chips on the Yorkshire coast.

Located just a short walk from Skinningrove’s beach, the family-run takeaway has become a popular stop for people exploring the coastline, tackling the Cleveland Way or visiting nearby attractions including the Land of Iron museum.

Despite its relatively hidden location, reviewers regularly praise both the food and the friendly service.

One visitor described it as an “absolutely brilliant fish and chip shop”, adding: “The food is fantastic at really reasonable prices. Everything is cooked in beef dripping, which makes it crispy and full of flavour without being greasy at all.”

The use of traditional beef dripping is frequently mentioned in reviews and is one of the reasons customers say the shop stands out from competitors.

Beach Road Fisheries in Skinningrove (Image: TRIPADVISOR)

Another reviewer called it the “best fish and chips I’ve had by a country mile”, praising the “piping hot”, freshly cooked fish and crispy batter.

Others have highlighted the warm welcome they received from staff.

One customer who arrived shortly before closing said they were still offered freshly cooked food, describing the service as “lovely” and adding that the chips were among the best they had ever eaten.

Another visitor who discovered the shop after a beach walk said their first impression was how clean the premises were before going on to praise both the quality of the food and customer service.

The menu extends beyond traditional fish and chips.

Homemade corned beef pie has developed something of a following among regular customers, with one reviewer describing it as “absolutely amazing” and saying it was clear it had been made fresh.

Other popular choices include sausage rolls, curry sauce, mushy peas and haddock, with generous portions frequently highlighted by visitors.

One customer described receiving “the largest portion of chips I’ve seen”, while another praised the value for money, saying the portions were both “substantial” and “reasonably priced”.

The takeaway sits just moments from Skinningrove beach, a stretch of coastline often described as one of the Yorkshire coast’s “hidden gems”.

Many visitors combine a trip to the beach with lunch from the chippy, while walkers passing through the village on coastal routes often stop for a meal before continuing their journey.

Reviewers frequently describe the location as part of the appeal.

One customer who discovered the shop while walking from the nearby mining museum said they had stumbled upon it unexpectedly and were delighted by both the food and service.

Another visitor called it an “excellent seaside chippy”, praising the freshly cooked fish, traditional Yorkshire chips and friendly staff.

The UK’s new defence secretary has said he is “absolutely determined” to provide the armed forces with the funding needed.

Dan Jarvis was appointed to the cabinet role earlier this week, following John Healey’s resignation as he accused the prime minister of delegating insufficient funds for the Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

In his resignation letter to the prime minister on Thursday, the former defence secretary said the funding “falls well short of what is required”, with extra support not coming until after 2030 even though the “imperative to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years”.

His departure from cabinet was followed swiftly by Al Carns, the armed forces minister and Mr Healey’s parliamentary private secretary, Pamela Nash MP, marking a serious loss for Sir Keir.

While tensions continue to rise over the plan, Mr Jarvis told The Telegraph it is his job to “keep marching forward” as he endeavours to get the military “precisely what they need”.

The former soldier said: “Those amazing people who serve in our armed forces look to us to provide that leadership and to work across government to make sure that they’ve got the resources in place that they need.”

Mr Jarvis acknowledged that he is facing a “challenge” at a time of “constrained fiscal resources” but was resolute in his determination to deliver.

It comes as Kemi Badenoch urged potential Labour leadership rivals to cut welfare costs in order to increase defence spending.

In her letter, which was also sent to Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting, Al Carns, Catherine West, Darren Jones and Ed Miliband, the Tory leader said: “We cannot have our military inadequately funded at a time of growing threats. The funding must also not be backloaded when the pressures are urgent.

“I have made several offers to work with you in the national interest to reduce benefit spending so we can invest more in our defence. Sir Tony Blair, the longest-serving Labour prime minister, has urged you to accept them.

“In the light of the warnings from John Healey and Al Carns, I repeat my offer again today, and ask you to meet with me to discuss defence funding.”

Mr Burnham also said he would cut welfare spending to increase the country’s defence budget in his bid to take on Sir Keir for No 10.

While the Greater Manchester mayor still has to face a tough by-election in Makerfield next week, he has already laid out his vision for how he would increase defence funds through a 10-year approach.

His goal would be take people out of welfare and into work, moving towards a “more preventative state that makes the right investments to support people into work,” he told The Times.

‘Britain’s Hardest Man’ WILL put his reputation on the line any second now after his boxing fight was reinstated.

Charlie Roberts – AKA Big Stacks – was due to fight Armz Korleone on the undercard of Tommy Fury’s crossover clash with Eddie Hall in Manchester this evening. But he was sucker-punched on Wednesday by rapper Jordan McCann who himself is taking on Ibiza Final Boss Jack Kay on the show.

Big Stacks was taken to hospital where he had stitches on his cut lip. He and Armz both attended Thursday’s press conference where he admitted he couldn’t wear a gumshield and that he was struggling to fight. He said: “I’ve been to hospital. I had to get the all clear. But yeah, I’m sweet. I’m still here. I took a little cheap shot but I firmed it like a boss. And I’m still here.”

Armz said he had heard the fight would go on but would only allow body shots. He said: “What’s this I hear that you want to pull out? You want to do body shot challenges. Are you silly? I’m hearing from my coaches that you want to do body shot challenges. Are you pulling out or not?”

Big Stacks responded: “I might not be able to. I don’t know if my jaw is alright. I might be able to body shot, yeah. You don’t know the injuries. Do you think I’m doing this on purpose? Do you think I took that bang on purpose? I’ve got to care about my health.” On Friday, it was confirmed the fight had been cancelled.

But Big Stacks rocked up to the weigh-in and although he didn’t step on the scales, he later spoke to Misfits boss Mams Taylor before confirming the fight was back on. “The fight is still on, I didn’t not want to fight,” he said. “I’m not p****ying, I’ve got what I wanted and me and Armz are going to get cracking. Forget about the face, the fight is still on. I don’t want to let anyone down, the fight is on and Armz is getting ironed out.”

It is understood the fight will only allow body shots in order to protect Big Stacks, but it is unclear what, if any, punishments would be dished out if either man instead punches his opponent’s head.

Chocolate Bar by Bullion opened last weekend in Newgate, which previously contained The Echo and Timpson’s.

It offers a range including chocolate, drinking chocolate, iced coffee and blow-torched marshmallows.

The business, which creates small batches of bean-to-bar craft chocolate, was founded by Max Scotford around ten years ago. He called the opening weekend ‘amazing.’

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Max told the Press: “From open until close, we had a constant flow of customers coming to support the opening, and the response has exceeded our expectations.

Some of the York team on opening day (Image: Pic supplied)

“We’ve hired a team of five from the local area and, although they’ve all completed their training, this was the first time they had worked together at the York site. We’re incredibly proud of how they performed and kept the drinking chocolate flowing throughout a very busy opening weekend.”

He explained: “We’re one of only a handful of bean-to-bar craft chocolate makers in the UK, meaning we source the cocoa beans ourselves and make our chocolate entirely from scratch here in Yorkshire. It’s all about great ingredients, great craftsmanship and exceptional flavour. Given York’s rich chocolate heritage, we couldn’t think of a more fitting place to open than right here in Shambles Market.

“Our 70% drinking chocolate with a dash of sea salt is always one of our best sellers, but on a warm summer’s day it’s even better served iced. That’s the beauty of Chocolate Bar – customers can completely customise their drink, whether they prefer white, milk or dark chocolate, hot or iced. We wanted to create something that offers a chocolate experience for everyone.”

Annie Dalglish and Emma Kay (Image: Darren Greenwood)

And when the Press called earlier week, chocoholics were well satisfied.

Megan Bruckwicki said of her drink: “It’s really good. It’s the taste, you can tell it has a nice chocolately flavour.”

Tom Hickson added he liked seeing the drinks being made.

Megan Brukwicki and Tom Hickson (Image: Darren Greenwood)

Carolyn Nicholls said this was her first visit.

Annie Dalglish and Emma Kay (Image: Darren Greenwood)

She said: “Yes, it’s delicious. It’s nice to see it being made in front of you. It’s also nice that it’s local, a Yorkshire thing.”

The golden praise also extends online. Though Chocolate Bar by Bullion does not appear to be on Tripadvisor yet, all it’s nine reviews on Google are five star.

Carolyn Nicholls (Image: Darren Greenwood)

One said: “Highly recommend. It is great to have a new independent hot chocolate place. I had the 80% which was smooth, rich, creamy and delicious.”

Another added: “Such an interesting concept, love the build your own, everything is customisable to your tastes. They have so many different percentages of cocoa and milks, the retail shop looks so so good as well!”

Have you been yet? What did you think? tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

The Middleton-born actor and comedian has thrown his support behind the Greater Manchester Mayor’s campaign

Steve Coogan has said he believes ‘radical’ policies are required to take on the ‘populist right’ as he lent his support to Andy Burnham’s by-election campaign.

The Greater Manchester Mayor Mr Burnham is bidding to return to parliament in the poll which is taking place on Thursday (June 18) with Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon his biggest rival.

If he wins the Wigan seat he has signalled his intention to join any Labour leadership contest and make a bid to become to Prime Minister.

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The Middleton-born comedian, actor, and screenwriter Mr Coogan, best known for his character Alan Partridge, has endorsed Mr Burnham as he joined him on the doorstep in the constituency this afternoon (Saturday, June 13).

However he also took a swipe at Labour, the Tories and the ‘neoliberal consensus that has existed for the last 40 years.’

“The top down Westminster model of a kind of misguided Stalinist benevolence doesn’t work anymore, people want to be empowered” he told the Mirror.

“I blame the rise of the populist right squarely at the feet of the current Labour Party, the Conservative Party, and the neoliberal consensus that has existed for the last 40 years. The only way to address that is with some radical policies.”

He also featured in a campaign update video where Mr Burnham said he was ‘doing everything possible’ to win the seat and taking ‘nothing for granted.’

Himself wiritng in the Mirror, Mr Burnham accused Westminster of failing Northern communities for decades, and turning a ‘deaf ear’ to the issues facing them.

He pledged to fight for decent jobs, affordable homes, and safe streets for all, ahead of the seismic by-election on June 18th.

“Almost a decade ago, I left Parliament to stand to be Mayor of Greater Manchester because I saw decisions being taken by a handful of people in London who couldn’t point to Makerfield on a map, let alone ever set foot here” he said.

“I knew that it wasn’t in Westminster where things should be decided – but in Wigan, Winstanley and Worsley Mesnes.

“A decade later, I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve here. A bus network brought under public control, working for people instead of profit. A fair deal for the north during the Covid-19 pandemic when the Conservatives tried to shortchange us. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Hillsborough families and demanding justice for the victims.

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“But why should we have to fight every step of the way for these victories? Fight to get affordable and reliable public transport. Fight to get the financial support we were owed during lockdown. Fight to get justice for those denied it for decades.

“Westminster has refused to listen to towns like ours for decades. Successive governments turn a deaf ear to the things that matter most to us – decent jobs, affordable homes, safe streets and opportunities for our young people.

“If I’m fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to represent our community in next week’s election, I’ll make sure they hear us loud and clear.”

Speaking in Makerfield, he added: “This is the start of a serious effort to regain the ear of the country, to make politics work for people. Westminster politics has not been working properly for as long as I can remember.”

Earlier, in a speech, he said the UK was on a path towards the ‘poisonous’ politics of the US under the current Labour leadership.

The results of a poll exclusively revealed by the Manchester Evening News this evening, puts Burnham on 46 per cent and Kenyon on 41 per cent. However, the five-point gap is within the poll’s margin of error of just under five percentage points, meaning the race remains highly competitive.

The data also shows Mr Kenyon’s past comments on social media also appear to have cut through in the constituency.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

The next generation of football fans have been making some heartwarming masterpieces ahead of kick-off.

A Scots neonatal unit has shared adorable photos of their “tiniest supporters” gearing up to support the Scotland national team ahead of their opening match against Haiti.

The heartwarming snaps were shared by Wishaw’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in North Lanarkshire, which is dedicated to providing evidence based care for babies and their families, to show what the mini fans have been up to while their seniors get ready for the whistle to blow stateside.

The collage shows tiny saltire footprints taken from the feet of babies in their care, some topped off with See You Jimmy Hats and others completed with tartan kilts at the bottom, all made to look like miniature Scotland fans.

A neonatal unit spokesperson wrote on social media: “Scotland, we’re ready! Our tiny supporters have been busy creating their own Scottish masterpieces ahead of Scotland’s first match tonight!

“From tartan kilts to Saltires, they’re showing that you’re never too small to cheer on your country. No Scotland, No Party!”

The gesture comes ahead of Scotland’s match against Haiti on Sunday, June 14 which will kick off at 2pm UK time and 9pm local time.

Touched parents took to the comment section to hail the unit’s move.

One commented: “Absolutely brilliant,” while another scribed: “Love this”. A third chimed in: “This is too cute,” while a fourth added: “Well done”.

Scotland are back playing football on the biggest stage of all and over in Boston, the Tartan Army just can’t wait for kick-off.

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Hundreds of thousands of the Tartan Army have descended on the US host city of Boston, Massachusetts to cheer on Steve Clarke’s men and hope for a positive start to the country’s campaign which comes 28 years in the making.

The Record has been reporting on how the excitement is at fever pitch ahead of the opener against Haiti tonight with fans desperate to see us start our campaign with a win.

Supporters pulled on their Scotland tops and dusted off their kilts as hundreds of fans headed into the city centre early doors for some nerve calming lagers.

Elsewhere, at Rowes Wharf, buzzing foot soldiers slapped on the sun cream before marking the historical moment by heading off on a three-hour party boat.

The locals are getting involved, too. One clip being circulated online shows a local cop wading into the middle of a crowd of Scots and other supporters at the FIFA Fan Festival at Boston City Hall Plaza to do keepy-uppies.

The policeman does well to keep the ball in the air for several rounds, before he drops it, and is immediately embraced with buzzing Scotland fans kitted out in kilts and strips who jump up and down in a circle in celebration.

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Former NFL player Wes Saunders is competing in Netflix’s Outlast: The Jungle

Netflix personality Wes Saunders enjoyed a remarkably successful sporting career prior to entering reality television.

The 37-year-old features in the most recent series of Outlast: The Jungle, a survival competition that sets 16 strangers against one another in the fight for $1 million.

The participants are placed in the heart of a Panamanian jungle with nothing but essential supplies and must endure life in the wilderness. Amongst the competitors are influencer Halle Cooley and former American football player Wes.

His NFL journey began in July 2011, when he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent. The tight end secured a place on the squad’s official 53-man roster in September that year.

He subsequently transferred to the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, following a ban for breaching the NFL’s substance-abuse policy during his time with the Steelers. Wes had returned a positive test for Adderall, a stimulant commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorders, reports the Mirror.

Despite the setbacks in his formative years, Wes still commanded substantial earnings from his sporting career.

What is Wes Saunders’ estimated net worth?

Wes Saunders possesses an estimated net worth of approximately $1.5 million. Spotrac calculates he accumulated roughly $1.2 million from his football contracts alone, though that excludes his income beyond the pitch.

Alternative estimates from The Tab suggest the sporting figure’s net worth stands at an impressive $5 million. Regardless, he ranks amongst the highest earners on the Netflix programme.

The competitive programme is yet to reveal its champion, with just a handful of participants still vying for victory ahead of next week’s grand finale.

The remaining cast members are: Sarah Awad, Abby Chu, Morgan Colburn, Braxton Fish, Pharaoh Gayles, Nikki Hru, Maddy Jones, Leiya Pillitteri and Wes Saunders.

Prior to its launch, showrunner Mike Odair confirmed that this series features one of the most compelling line-ups to date.

“This season felt like throwing gasoline on the format,” he told Netflix. “We traded the frozen isolation of Alaska for the heat and volatility of Panama, and everything changed: the survival, the strategy, and the social dynamics … This may be our most dynamic group yet.”

The first six episodes of Outlast: The Jungle Season 3 are streaming now on Netflix. The series finale airs on Wednesday, June 17.

Four members of Iran’s World Cup delegation have won appeals against having their visa applications for entry to the United States rejected.

But 11 members of the party will not be allowed to travel to the US when their team plays matches there.

Iran last week accused the US of denying visas to “integral” members of its national football team’s backroom staff.

That was after officials in Washington said Iranian players had been given permission to travel to the country for the tournament.

Iran have already moved their World Cup base to Mexico over concerns stemming from the country being at war with the United States.

Of the 15 Iranian delegation members initially denied US visas, 10 submitted fresh applications after arriving in Mexico.

Four of those appeals were successful, it has been revealed. Those granted visas include a member of the team’s technical staff working as an analyst and two officials from the federation’s international department.

The remaining six applicants were rejected again. They include Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj, one of the federation’s vice-presidents, two team administrators responsible for day-to-day operations, a media officer and a security officer.

A second media officer chose not to reapply for a visa after the initial rejection.

Iran play New Zealand on 15 June in Los Angeles in their first game of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

They will return to the city to face Belgium on 21 June, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

The country’s World Cup group-stage ticket allocation for supporters was revoked by US officials earlier this week, though Fifa has insisted it is working to “maximise opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches”.

The FFIRI had previously presented Fifa with a list of 10 conditions for their participation in the World Cup, including allowing players, coaches and officials who have completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US secretary of state Marco Rubio had said Iran’s players will be welcome at the tournament but individuals with links to the IRGC could face entry restrictions.

Iran was not represented at a meeting of Fifa’s annual congress in Vancouver in April after officials were turned away at the Canadian border, with Canadian officials citing the IRGC links of delegation members.

Fifa does not place a limit on how many people are in a nation’s World Cup delegation, though it will only cover costs of up to 50 individuals.