Recovering from a broken rib affecting my sparring

[aes]

About two months ago or there abouts I broke a rib on my upper left side.

 

I took about 6 weeks off of sparring but have gone back now (wearing chest protector) and have been fighting with my right side forward to try to protect my left from a direct hit, just in case.

 

I worry about this a bit because this is one of my big weaknesses. I often leave this part of my body open too long when attacking and get nailed.

 

My problem is this injury has made me real nervous about being hit there so when I go in for a combo/attack I stop short due to it requiring me to turn and expose this side.

 

My questions are how long should I wait before "getting back onto the horse" so to speak? I shouldn't favor it for ever, but on the other hand I don't want to re-injure it.

 

Also has anyone else had problems with techniques once they have suffered an injury?

[AngryMatt]

I tore up my left ankle two years ago in a skateboarding . Every ligament and tendon torn except the Achilles and a massive dislocation. I've got about 80-85% strength in it and have to wear a brace when I hit the gym for any kind of training.

 

I don't let my opponent do lock techniques on that foot, but I have no choice but to let them hit the sweeps and other techniques on the ankle. I also do my stances (Ichimonji, Jumonji, etc) kicks and other strikes with both sides. You just have to pretend that the injury doesn't exist. You injured a bone; it's stronger than ever right now. If it was soft tissue it's a different story, that stuff gets permanently weak.

 

It's in your head man. I may not know a great deal about martial arts, but I know quite a bit about injuries. You just have to remember that you broke a bone and you're in BETTER SHAPE than before.

[Meguro]

Broken ribs, ouch! Been there, done that, about 4 times. The first two breaks, first left side, then right side were from hard shots. The last two breaks were from relatively "light" taps. The reinjuries probably resulted from going back to training too soon after injury.

 

As long as your going to be participating in karate, the risk to injury is there. I'm trying to work on my aerobic/anaerobic conditioning. I find that as soon as I start gassing-out my defense/avoidance skills flag. Try doing interval training, running 10K each day, whatever it takes, to get you through the distance of your fights, for however many rounds and min/round you do.

[Rank7]

i had a rib cracked. now i look forward to executing body hooks

[aes]

Well I stopped fighting with my broken rib back and wow, it is a lot easier to fight again now that I am not limited in trying to guard my bad side.

 

Nothing landed that made it hurt.

[Scand]

Nice to hear that.

 

This case reminds me of my own injury during my martial training. I've never broke a rib (I've got my collar-bone broken once, but that was well before my MA hobby) but I've fell badly, head first. The impact hit my upper head and caused a light memory-loss. I've heard that there were lots of blood and a guy said that he could actually see my skull/bone in the wound.

 

This caused me to quit hoijeonmoosool as I learnt to fear ukemis and throws and just about any possible impact onto my head. I couldn't do any as I automatically pulled my head into wrong positions to avoid additional injuries and pain. I also sincerely just couldn't get my body to perform this stuff. So no sparring and hitting for me sir!

 

It took a couple of years to forget that what was happened and give MAs a new chance. Nowadays I practice shaolin kung-fu and I like it.

 

This is just an example of what could happen if you let an injury control you.

[aes]

Yes the old saying about getting back onto the horse does seem to apply to injuries but on the other hand you don't want to reinjure it.

 

I felt that I had let it heal long enough but I do also know that on occasion a pretty hard blow lands on my healing area.

 

It is really hard to fight effectively when you are not moving naturally and protecting one spot too much.

 

Tomorrow is my first tourney sparring match of the year. Wish me luck.

[ravenzoom]

I played hockey all my life so I know quite a bit about injuries. The best way to avoid hurting your rib again is to not allow any blows to hit you until you have completely recovered. You will know when it is healthy since you will not be afraid to get hit there anymore. If you are scared of getting hit to your rib it's because it has not completely recovered yet. I know it's easier said then done, I have not followed my own advice in numerous occasions, but waiting for full recovery would still be the best thing to do.

[Red J]

Tomorrow is my first tourney sparring match of the year. Wish me luck.

 

Good luck. Let us know how it turned out.

[aes]

Tomorrow is my first tourney sparring match of the year. Wish me luck.

 

Good luck. Let us know how it turned out.

 

Thanks, well my rib did not affect my fighting but it was a small division this time. Unfortunately I lost my first match. I started to not block to the head as much because the judging never seemed to give points for these, but this got me this time. I managed to score once but he got me with backfists to the face area. I don't feel too bad though he is a brown belt.

 

In the second round I won netting me a 3rd.