Continue Training Despite Illness?

[JackCrevalle]

After a 25 year or so hiatus I got back into the martial arts again (TKD) this last fall.

Up until about a month ago, I thought I was doing great (for an overweight old guy that is).

About that time, I got a cold and had to miss a couple of classes. I came back and then about a week later I got sick again, only more severely. I missed a couple of classes then, also. I was seriously considering missing a third class but my wife told me that at that point she thought my going to class would do me more good than harm. I went to class that evening and even though it was a tough workout I felt pretty good afterward.

That night however I got up and prayed to the porcelain god more than a few times. I stayed home from work that day and the next. That night I had a belt test and was not really feeling up to it but I went anyway. Fortunately our warm up was not too brutal because I was definitely not up to much more, having not eaten in two days.

I'm suspect that the dojang is the source of some or all of my recent illnesses. I did not get even a cold last year at this time even though I did not get a flu shot as I did this year.

It is triply bad for me to get even a simple cold because I am on medication for arthritis which suppresses my immune system. This means that it is easier for me to contract an illness, that an illness could lead to serious complications or that I might have to stop taking my medication (if I had to stop my medication there would be no question of my going to further training; I would have to stop).

My instructor has gotten sick twice in this same time period. There are many school aged children in my class as well as all the others and I think that they are probably the ultimate source of these infections.

My dilemma is what to do from here on. I signed up for 6 months and that is just about up.

The way I see it I have several options.

The first is to continue as I have been doing in hope that this is a seasonal turn of events and that, if it is caused by those around me in class, it will end as we get deeper into winter. Perhaps signing up for a lesser renewal date in case I keep becoming ill and am forced to leave due to more illness.

The second is to perhaps just take individual lessons. This might limit my exposure to disease more but would be more expensive. I'm sure that this would be much less challenging as well.

The third option is that there is a class which I have found in Shodokan karate somewhat further away that is just for adults. I have not checked this out to see if it would be a reasonable MA for me since it is mainly taught on the same evenings as my TKD classes.

What do you think? Thanks.

[ninjanurse]

There are always viruses going around no matter where you are-and adults sometimes have the same hygiene habits as kids so I am not sure that moving to a school with all adults is the answer-besides you may have gotten it at the supermarket for all you know. Good handwashing after class may help as well as politely asking those who cough or sneeze to cover up or sit out. I always remind my students of this during the "flu" and cold season so that we don't "share"!

[bushido_man96]

Sign up for the lesser extension, and see if you get any better. Hopefully, you do, and this will all be an afterthough!

Winter is just rough at times. See how it goes as it gets closer to spring.

[Fish]

I think if you're really ill, you should give yourself time to recover fully before you start training again, otherwise you will just get ill again and it will put your training further behind. It is frustrating to rest when you want to train, but sometimes it is actually the quickest way to make progress.

[lordtariel]

I agree with what people are saying. If you're really sick, then you should spend the time resting. I'd rather spend a few days at home and go back to training than train poorly while I'm sick and have it hang on for weeks. If you want to train, go light and slow at home, work on technique rather than endurance or strength.

Just remember, you're in a group of people that get together often. If one person gets sick, odds are a lot of other people are going to get sick. Doesn't matter if it's the workplace, school, or the dojo. Try to control what you can. Wash your hands, avoid rubbing your hands over your face when training, keep hydrated, get adequate rest, and eat right. That should help cut down on getting sick.

[lordtariel]

Sugar also will repress your immune system, so cutting a lot of sugar from your diet will help.

[baronbvp]

Good handwashing after class may help

This is key. There is too much out there to avoid, but if you can keep your fingers out of your mouth, nose, eyes and wash immediately after class, I predict you will get sick less often. Also, make sure you wipe down your sparring gear with disinfectant wipes and keep that mouthguard clean.