eagle-ace

I appreciate all of the comments. I know that I will improve with time and dedication to training.

This week I started training at a MMA school. My first class was great. I felt really good about my performance with the striking drills and the jiu jitsu techniques we covered; however, I was a little disappointed with my sparring. Before we began, the instructor told me that we were to go only 30% effort. It didn't take me long to realize that my sparring partners, including the instructor, were hitting harder than they proposed (I got rocked twice!) I found myself backing up a lot when my partner threw a barrage of punches and kicks. I was constantly being instructed not to do this, and I knew that I needed to circle out in these situations, considering that we were simulating fighting in a cage. It just seemed that I was having great difficulty defending combinations. I tried to circle and counter, but my instinct kept telling me to back away from the aggression. I was able to get in a few strikes of my own but felt that most of my time was spent ineffectively defending myself. I know that a lot of my performance was due to inexperience, and I'm sure that I'll improve my technique and confidence as I continue. I was just wondering if anyone could give me any pointers to help me with my stand up game, particularly in dealing with a barrage of combinations being thrown at me.

It's an easy read. By reading the book, you'll realize just how determined this guy is and you can tell how passionate he is for the sport of wrestling. I read the book to my then 6 year old son, who is a wrestler, and he loved it.

If you haven't already, you should read Kyle's book, "No Excuses."

JusticeZero, I don't have to move it at all for it to hurt. Simply standing on it aggravates it. There is a spot in the back of my heel that is very tender to the touch. The rest of the foot aches just about all the time, even when I'm not standing on it. Like I said, the orthodics have helped, because they hold my foot in place so that it's not aggravated as much. Doing stances barefoot and also running make it worse. I would love to train in jiu jitsu or some other ground style to avoid the problems with my foot, but the closet schools are over an hour drive one way.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I really appreciate it. I'm still contemplating whether or not I'm going to get back into MA, but I will take all your advice to heart. Otto, the last diagnosis of my foot (I've had several) is that I have a slight deformity in the back of my heel that seems to be aggravating my achilis tendon. I've been wearing orthodics in my shoes, which has helped. I don't think I'll ever be pain free, but the doctor said that surgery might not be the best choice.

I'm having a mental dilemma, and I thought that it might help to put it in words and maybe get some input from others. I'll start by giving a little history about myself. I've always been involved in athletics and enjoy competing against others and challenging myself. I particularly enjoy wrestling and other combative disciplines. I was a decent wrestler in high school, but I never pursued wrestling in college, for which I greatly regret. Five years ago, a co-worker suggested that I come over to his karate school to see what it has to offer. So, I did and I loved it. The class was physically and mentally demanding, which was great for me. The instructors were strict, but patient and understanding at the same time. I didn't particularly care for the katas we had to learn, but I was willing to take on a new challenge. I was expecially sold on the school when I found out that they had a grappling component to their curriculum. I attended the school for several months and was close to my first belt test when I stopped attending because of a foot injury. A year later, I returned despite still having the injury. I struggled through classes for a few weeks and decided that I needed to get my foot better before I continued with my training. So, I "retired" AGAIN! Now, 3 years later, my foot is better, not 100% but better, and I'm considering my return to the school. At age 35, I still have the drive to be involved in some type of martial art. I've coached wrestling for about 6 years, but I still feel like there's a void in my life, and if I don't pursue my desire now, I'll regret it when I'm older. The problem I have is that I'm very torn as to whether I should continue to pursue this. There are several excuses not to do it that my brain keeps coming up with ("You'll aggravate your foot even more," "The drive is to and from the school is too long," "It'll take time away from your wife and kids," "The school is under new management and probably isn't the same as before," "You already have too much on your plate.") I'm not generally an excuse maker, but I've found that my priorities have to change as I get older. I guess my biggest fear is that I'll return to the school and discover that it's not practical for me to continue. I don't want to have to quit again and be perceived as a "triple quitter," expecially in my own mind. Sorry for the long post, but I had to get this out.

Evans vs. Michida........................Evans (DEC) Hughes vs. Serra........................Hughes (KO) Miller vs. Sonnen........................Miller (DEC) Sherk vs. Edgar..........................Sherk (KO McFedries vs. Foupa-Pokam..........Foupa-Pokam (DEC) Larson vs. Wilson.........................Wilson (SUB) Yoshida vs. Wolff..........................Yoshida (KO) Hague vs. Barry...........................Barry (DEC) Nover vs. Bradley........................Bradley (DEC) Gusmao vs. Soszynski..................Soszynski (SUB) Roop vs. Kaplan...........................Kaplan (DEC)

I've been involved with wrestling for over 20 years, either as a wrestler or a coach. I've had a desire to learn bjj for several years, but there are no nearby schools in my area. I did attend a karate dojo off and on for 2 years that included some grappling, and I had the opportunity to participate in a bjj training session last year. I agree with the previous observations. I was not initially comfortable on my back and had a strong desire to stand up as quickly as I could, thus giving up my back. I thought that every technique had to be performed in an eplosive manner, and I rushed through moves. I can relate to PS1's comment about wrestlers not tapping. I used to tolerate a lot of pain before I tapped and I would get very disgusted with myself if I did tap. On the upside, I agree that wrestlers have an advantage when it comes to being in the right body positions at all times and having a feel for what your opponent is doing and how to react. Most wrestlers are good at takedowns and take down defense (my strongest areas). Also, active wrestlers are generally well conditioned.

I've seen 5 different doctors, 1 general doctor, 1 orthopedic surgeon, 2 podiatrists, and 1 doctor that specializes in prolotherapy. The conclusion that they all pretty much made was that I need to rest it, and I agree that staying off my foot does make it feel better. The problem is, I can wear a cast for several weeks, but shortly after taking it off and walking around normally, the pain returns. I'm no doctor, but this tells me that there is permanent damage that isn't going to heal. I've learned to live with the pain, as do most athletes that want to stay active. I'm just torn as to whether I should give into my desire to do MA, at the risk of making it worse.

Thanks for the input. Here is a list of everything I've tried in dealing with the injury: 1. Wearing a cast on 3 separate occassions 2. Physical therapy 3. 3 different types of anti-inflammatories 4. Topical creams 5. Shoe inserts 6. 2 injections of cortizone 7. 1 injection of some nerve numbing solution 8. Prolotherapy (several injections of "natural" solution that purposely inflames the area to initiate the natural healing process in the body) 9. Foot splint at night 10. Icing 11. Stretching 12. Taping My foot hurts all the time, but actually feels the best when I'm exercising. However, once the adrenaline wears off, the soreness and acheness sets back in. The last time I trained in MA, which was a couple of years ago, I did wear wrestling shoes on one occassion. That didn't really help all that much because of the lack of cushion provided in the shoes. Plus, I felt really ackward wearing shoes when no one else was. I've done a lot of research on this condition, and to me it seems that surgery is not the best option, as there is no guarantee that it will work and there is a good chance that it can worsen the condition.

Is anyone suffering or have suffered with plantar faciitis? I injured my achilis tendon where it branches off at the heel, which I believe is causing the plantar faciitis in my whole foot. I've been in terrible pain for 8+ years. I've received a lot of different types of treatment, including injections, but the only things that seem to help a little are stretching, icing the area, and wearing a foot splint at night. Running and standing barefoot on a hard surface is very painful for me. This injury has held me back from a lot of things, including participating in martial arts. I am fairly young, 35, and in great shape otherwise. I would love to get back into MA training. The dojo that I would like to go back to involves a lot of running, box work, and training barefoot on a hard floor, all of which aggravate the injury. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this type of injury, and if so, how they dealt with it in continuing their training. I'd appreciate any of your thoughts.

Ferguson vs. Shamrock...Ferguson KO Shields vs. Daley...Daley DEC Arlovski vs. Nelson...Arlovski KO Carano vs. Kobald...Carano DEC Radach vs. Rua...Rua KO Santos vs. Takahashi... Takahashi DEC Berto vs. Heun...Berto DEC Petruzelli vs. Rosa...Petruzelli SUB Borgomeo vs Gomez...Gomez SUB Bouchat vs. Cury...Bochat DEC Gomez vs. Jackowski...Jackowski KO

Chuck Lidell vs. Rashad Evans - Lidell KO Rich Franklin vs. Matt Hamill - Franklin SUB Nate Marquardt vs. Martin Kampmann - Kampmann SUB Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Pahhares - Henderson DEC Karo Prisyan vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida - Parisyan DEC Dong Hyun Kim vs. Matt Brown - Kim KO Kurt Pillegrino vs. Thiago Tavares - Pellegrino KO Roan Carneiro vs. Ryo Chonan - Carneiro DEC Mike Patt vs. Tim Boetsch - Patt DEC Jason Lambert vs. Jason McDonald - Lambert DEC

Yeah, I agree. I get a little tired of the reality TV junk. It's nice to see that they are showing more fighting on the show, and they have to earn their way on with more than just their personality.

Thanks for the help, White Owl. I visited a school in Edinboro several months ago. I'm thinking it's the same one you speak of. I've been considering attending there or going back to my old dojo. Was it a karate tournament that you did there? As much as I want to get back in MA, I'm having a hard time committing because I'm afraid of sacrificing time from my wife and children and other things I like to do. I'm not sure I'd be able to balance everything. I've also been dealing with an injury to my foot and ankle.

I hope you're a Steelers fan, Beast.

Hi, white owl. I live in Carlton, an hour and a half north of Pittsburgh and an hour south of Erie. I'm still looking for a school. I'm mostly interested in jiu jitsu and mma, but those types of schools are over an hour drive one way for me. I know people travel much further to train, but I can't commit to that long of a drive.

Thanks for the welcome bushido-man 96. I wrestled for 5 years in middle school and high school combined. Unfortunately, I didn't wrestle in college; that's one regret I have. I've been coaching wrestling at the elementary and high school levels for 6 years.

I'm the new guy just wanting to say "Hi." I'm a wrestler with a little martial arts background and looking to get back into training. This is a great site!

I'm also from PA, the northwest part, and having trouble finding a school of interest. I'm really interested in jiu jitsu, mma, or any other form of grappling, but there doesn't seem to be any of these schools close to me. I can't travel too far because of work and family committments. I did attend a karate dojo a year ago that did limited grappling. My desire to get back into martial arts is strong, so I might have to settle for my old school, even if it's not exactly what I want.