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PaulA
PaulA's picture
Injuries

One of my long term martial arts buddies is a really great guy. If you are like me, you meet them now and again; a good solid martial artist. He is a 4th dan in tae kwon do, and at the time training for his 1st dan in ju-jitsu. He once told me that one of the key areas in martial arts is avoiding injuries; good advice I thought.  Shortly after, at the age of 35 he had a double hip replacement (yes at 35!). This could be attributed to a genetic pre-disposition, but  I have heard such accounts far and wide about similar injuries to martial artists. Judo players for example with knees and toes and even tai chi knee! Since all martial arts, at their heart, are arts for self defence, surely this should include defence against injury by oneself? This idea is certainly included in the code of behaviour of at least one martial arts organisation that I know of (don't do drugs, self harm etc). But what about the training and even the kata or forms we do? Should these be looked at in this light? 

My example is Empi. The opening move involves a drop to the left, thus putting, potentially, great pressure on the right knee as one drops. Over time this is likely to cause injury. My question is:

Is any injury suffered, caused by bad practice, and thus should the warnings be given in advance?

or 

Is the technique itself, no matter how it is practised, likely to lead to injury?

Leigh Simms
Leigh Simms's picture

Hi Paul, I only practise Enpi Kata's opening movements on a matted flooring. If not I go slower and dont let my knee touch the floor (Self Preservation over style purity). 

As far as I am aware, no techniques in karate should cause a major injury if done in the proper way. Surely the past masters (who trained a lot harder than the majority of clubs out there in my view) all lived long and as far as I am aware healthy lives themselves.

One of my views I instil into my students is to never "injure" the person you are working with. So when you think of Sparring scenarios, you see the need for protective equipment. I do say injure, instead of hurt however, as their has to be some element of physicality for it to be worthwhile.

 

 

Dave Moore
Dave Moore's picture

I know a lot of people that overtrain, even when injured and then wonder why the injuries never get any better. I include myself in that one. At 42 I am getting around to the realisation that sometimes your body says no for a reason.

GeoffG
GeoffG's picture

Dave Moore wrote:
I know a lot of people that overtrain, even when injured and then wonder why the injuries never get any better. I include myself in that one. At 42 I am getting around to the realisation that sometimes your body says no for a reason.

Some fool is currently going through that right now, so I hear what you're saying Dave.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Dave Moore wrote:
At 42 I am getting around to the realisation that sometimes your body says no for a reason.

I recall being told that crossing that barrier into your 30s means that you have to listen to your body when it speaks because it does not take kindly to being ignored. I think the last 10 years have validated that wisdom.

I don’t think that means we need to train with any less intensity, but it does mean recovery time (generally and from injury) is longer and training needs to be a little smarter. The 20 year old me recovered a lot faster … but I’d like to think he wasn’t as smart as I am now … we’ll see what they 60 year old me thinks? ;-)

All the best,

Iain

DaveHaze
DaveHaze's picture

I'm 59 and at this age I do not want any injuries. To long to recover and the chance of complications is greater. I listen to my body now and train on a regular schedule but not as intense as times past.

michael rosenbaum
michael rosenbaum's picture

I'll be 50 in a few months and I've noticed the effects of aging, not so much in recover time, but movement wise.  For instance some of the pivoting movements found in Chinto and Kusanku really put strain on my knees. I try to avoid them, or else practice the kata in a way that that dosen't happen. Likewise my running days are over with but where squats, deadlifts, cleans and oylmpic style lifts are concerned it's not a problem. Personally I feel that a lot of the aging effects can be overcome with good diet and a healthy lifestyle. SIx beers a night, a bag of chips and a two pack habit (cigarettes) will take its toll faster than fighting and aging combined.

Mike R