Obstacles to training

[GrrrArg]

Just under a year ago I realised I was largely wasting my time with a style that wasnt going anywhere and not doing me any good.

So I quit the style.

I was fortunate enough to be able to get a job down in kent and was offered somewhere to train (ShiKon dojo, with Steve Rowe) training was brilliant. If I wrote down a list of what I wanted from Martial Arts it would match exactly with what was being offered.

To cut a long story short it didnt work out and ive ended up having to move home.

Now I got a couple major obstacles to training. My right knee and my left knee. Original style has pretty much destroyed them. The stuff ive most recently been doing has gone some way to helping build up the surrounding muscles and tissue, but now that im no longer training there, things are going down hill quite fast.

And I cant find anywhere "decent" to train at home.

So i guess im wondering if anyones had similar problems re a cross roads in training and how they overcame it. Part of me cant see myself ever training again, even though I really want too...

[senseipaul]

why can't you see yourself training ever again? if you want to do it, then you should do it. i need some information before i can answer your question well. how long had you studied? what rank (if any) did you achieve?

i have been practicing for quite some time now, teaching as well (if you didnt get that from the name lol) i feel as though my art is like breathing, if i do not practice i will stop being.....

everyone goes through some down time of sorts. a dojo closed, you have to move, etc. but you shouldnt let it get you down.

[karatekid1975]

GrrrArg, don't feel like you can't train. I've been through a lot since I started training (including moving, cancer, loss of family members, injuries, ect). I can see where you are coming from trying to find a decent place to train. I've been there. It's tough. But you have to have perseverance (sp?). Stay strong.

[CapitalKarate]

It's better to train somewhere crappy than to not train at all. Also one thing I know of that helps emensely with knee pain (if there's not a major problem with it), squats, full ATF squats help so much with knee pain, no idea why but they do. Reps lower than 10.

[ramymensa]

Well, since you can still train I'd say to go and work out. It's better to work that just to sit and wonder why. I have some serious problems with my back and I'm very depressed since my doctor is trying to tell me I should quit. I think I'll have to take it easy for a while and try to train a bit afterwards. i won't be able to do what I did, but at least I'll be there.

From what you say I think you've done Shotokan or something similar (deep stances, anyway). My advice would be to train light and listen to your body. Don't force anything. Unfortunatelly that's what I did and I might have lost everything because of this. Don't do this to you

I hope you'll give us good news. Try to get a place to train a bit and take it easy. sometimes we forget we're just humans

[ninjanurse]

I have recently been to that crossroads that you are referring to...twice!

The first time kept me from training for 3 years. Due to a wrist injury, I didn't think I would ever be able to train again (the way I wanted)...so I closed the door and walked away. I was a miserable person for 3 years and I finally went back to it...with a few modifications in my training. I found what was missing in my life-thank you Master Kuek!

The second time was this year when a knee problem reared it's ugly head and my doctor told me I would never kick or run again! Never Kick or run? I was devastated! I cried. I talked with my old instructor. I talked with my new instructor. I thought I was at that same crossroads again and would have to chose to close the door again. But...my heart wouldn't let me. I couldn't face spending the rest of my life feeling like I did for those 3 years! I decided that quitting was not an option. The truth is that no matter how bad an injury is there is always a way to train and always something that you can give to the martial arts-thank you Mr. Callos!

Never say never! I will do what ever it takes to build my knee back up and change my training so that I can continue to live my passion until I drop dead!

GrrARg talk to physical therapist and hit the gym. There are so many ways to build and strengthen your knees other than martial arts. Get strong and find new ways to train at what you love. You'll regret it if you quit.

[markusan]

Hey I always brag about my recurring back injury and hip arthritis. I can't complain about my knees anymore because bike riding mostly fixed them up. I manage the back and the hips with lots of stretches I got from a good physio therapist and glucosamine.

But a couple of years ago a show on tv put things in perspective for me...some world Karate championships. In the breaking section a guy with NO LEGS, wheeled himself onto the platform in a cut down gi. He lined up in his wheelchair in front of a stack of tiles and put his hands on the arms of the wheelchair he then launched himself up into the air and smashed the tiles on the way down. I don't complain as much anymore.

[ninjanurse]

I hear ya! Somehow our aches & pains seem very insignificant when you see someone like that!

[shotochem]

Don't let it get you down!!!!

Just modify your training. If a drill or excerscise is to painful or damaging,

do another in its place. If the left leg or arm is injured do 2x with your right. Go easy and work on your form and tecnique you do not need 100% power but 100% technique.

The older I get the more I realize this.

[GrrrArg]

Couple things happened since I posted that..

Went to Physio, im a biomechanical nightmare and he cant quite understand how I can train with no pain (I can). Hes given me strict orders to take it easy for at least a month just in case its just a fare up of the same old problems.

Meanwhile hes gonna try and find someone more experienced/specialised to look at the problem for me.

Second thing, went for a drink with a mate last night. Hes currently teaching my old class. Ie the one where I "grew up" and eventually taught for a bit.

I was just watching and waiting till the end of class but being back in a dojo again made me realise I cant stop training.

Going on 7 years now (im only 20 next month) and im still hooked!

The style I was doing is a bit crappy really. GKR, you lot have probably heard of it. Lets not turn this into a bash though It has the deep shotokan stances but not the experience of some of the shoto guys to know when its too deep and injury causing.

So if any of you know any decent clubs in the Newcastle area of the UK...

As to the better to train somewhere crappy than no where at all. Id rather train at home on my lonsesome Ive been a bit spoilt by effectively getting free private lessons off a 7th dan one of his 3rd dan instructors, with occasional input from a couple other 5th and 6th dans.

Maybe its sounds a little arrogent, but theres alot of crappy karate out there. Id rather avoid these days.

Maybe's I am getting old after all.