Cool stuff I learned this week

[sensei8]

 Both aurik and Brain are really getting the benefits of both their core training as well as their cross-training as well as n their Kobudo training.

Words haven't been better spoken than when someone say/s the Okinawan practitioners disrupt our opponents through and through. In Shindokan our main goal is to get behind our opponent t and what better way to achieve that goal is to disrupt our opponent as often as possible. For Shindokanists, disrupting our opponents base is key by constantly attacking ever/y inch of our opponents legs/base. these constant attacks to the base...imagine what starts to happen with these unrelentless attacks to the legs/base is that the opponents body starts to falter in keeping a well-balanced profile, and when that becomes quite apparent, well, my opponents profile tilts to one side or another, and with that, getting behind my opponent becomes much easier to achieve. If I can't directly get behind at that moment, then, I can force my opponent onto the ground, which is the next best thing for a Shindokanist.

Keep training and train well!!

[aurik]

Reposting this from the "Equipment and Gear" section from one of the replies, but it very much pertains here as well.

So I had an atrial flutter ablation procedure yesterday.  The absolute worst part of it was the prep -- they had to shave almost my entire chest and back (to apply the various cardiac leads and parts of my groin area (for access to the femoral artery).  And then they had to insert two IV's.  My skin is pretty thick and tough (it's always been, and I'm sure the years of kotekitae haven't helped).  The left arm was an easy stick in the crook of the elbow.  On the right arm I have this really nice vein on the back of my hand that is usually really easy to draw blood from, but yesterday it wasn't having it.  The nurse tried it and by the time the needle punctured the skin, the vein just... moved.  Then they pulled out the ultrasound machine to try two different veins in the forearm - no joy.  Then the anaesthesiologist steps in and finds what looks like a beautiful vein in the crook of the elbow, he brags, "If I can't get that vein..." and then it takes 4 different sticks to get a vein in my forearm.   By that time, I felt like a danged pincushion.

The procedure itself went by pretty quick.  I think it was about 1 hr 45 minutes.  They went in through the femoral artery with a camera and a few other tools.  The doctor was able to trigger the atrial flutter, then he did the ablation, and was unable to trigger it afterwards.  He then checked for other abnormal rythms, and was unable to trigger any of those.  So nothing unexpected.  

For recovery, I had to lay flat on my back for an hour afterwards and was able to have some water, then another hour at 30 degrees, and after 2 hours I was able to sit up fully and have something to eat (By this time it was about 4pm, and I hadn't had anything to eat since 9pm the night before.  I was able to go home at about 6:30pm, with instructions to apply pressure to the wound site anytime I change positions (sitting->standing), etc.  Take it very slowly up and down stairs for 48 hours afterwards, no showering for 48 hours, and no driving for 5 days.  That's primarily to let the incision site heal -- they told me if things start bleeding, I need to apply hard direct pressure, and if it doesn't stop in 10 minutes to call 911, no exceptions.  So I'm taking that pretty seriously.

Other than that, no showering for 48 hours, no driving for 5 days.  I have a postop appointment to check the wound site, and assuming that looks good I can resume physical activities afterwards (but I'll probably wait until after Thanksgiving to be on the safe side).  I no longer have to take the Diltiazem (for the atrial flutter), and I can stop the Eliquis after 30 days.

So after 30 days, I hope to put this difficult chapter behind me and move forward.  I'll probably be seeing a cardiologist for the rest of my life, but it's just one of those things about getting older, I assume.