if you want to throw elbows and knees, MT is for you.
If you want to become a kicker/puncher, go wth kickboxing.
If you want to be a technically proficient puncher, go with boxing. MT and kb guys don't punch as well as boxers, but boxers don't kick. My honest opinion is that the most practical kick there is is the leg kick and you don't need to "study" a martial art to do one. you just do it. That's why I box but work my own "brand" of leg kick on my bag at home.


and to answer your question, you slowly but surely deaden the nerves in your shins by doing work on the bag. It starts out painful but gets easier as you go. I can attestto this just form having done bag work in my basement. you just get better at it and the pain goes away. In fact, thai boxers used to kick banana trees or something like that. So that scene in the Van Damme movie when he kicks the tree, not far from the truth.