July 20, 2007

Karate Camp Day 1 and Injury Report

Day one of summer training camp was today. I had an opportunity to train with Hanshi Miguel Ibarra in Aiki-Jujitsu and Kyoshi Bill Hayes in a style of Shorin-Ryu Karate. I also had a training session on some sword techniques from a 6th Dan, and another session with another Kyoshi and two 6th dans.

I am one of only about four brown belts at this training camp. The rest are all varying degrees of black. There’s nothing like a training camp with that kind of company to make you feel completely insecure about your own skills.

I did learn some really cool things. I’m just worried I’ll have to go back to camp in a complete body cast tomorrow. This skinny bod of mine just doesn’t bounce back in a day the way it happens for kids and young men.

I realize this post is rather disjointed. I’m going to blame that on the bell ringing that took place today when I was dropped on what felt like my neck/head during the aiki-jujitsu session by an aiki-jujitsu black belt candidate. I’ve got a brush burn on the back of my neck to prove it. This post will also serve as a public service announcement to anyone out there thinking that they can wear their wedding rings while doing martial arts. When I was dropped earlier today, I must have landed badly on my left hand. After the static spots cleared, my diamond looked more like a ruby and my fingers had blood on them.

As of tonight, the injury report is as follows:

Two cut fingers from wedding rings (pinky and middle finger)
One jammed middle finger
One bruised upper pinky knuckle
An entire hand experiencing some hurt (yes, you should totally thank me for even trying to write a post)
One extremely stiff neck that is spreading into the back, my shoulders, and all around my neck (front, back and sides).
One brush burn on back of my neck that hurts like you know what when I’m in the shower.
One foggy brain that saw spots after being dropped in what I will call a rather unfriendly manner.

Tonight, I got to watch black belt testing. I wanted to watch so I know what to expect. It was exciting to watch and gave me some good ideas of things I need to work on.

I’m not the only one who experienced an injury today. Today, Lil C through her head back into Big I and broke what appears to be a blood vessel on top of her nose. Her nose is bruised and was bleeding quite a bit today. I’m just hoping the poor kid doesn’t have a broken nose because she already has so much going against her in the genetic nose department in this family that I’m not sure any of us can handle a broken nose.

I’ll be heading back to camp tomorrow and am going to hope that I am able to turn my head from side to side and bend my fingers a little better. I did natural child birth right? What’s a jammed finger?

Enter ibuprofen and tub full of ice.

Edited to Add: There will be no more karate camp for me except for observation only (Maybe the dinner if I’m not too loopy from the muscle relaxers.) I saw a doctor this morning (Saturday) after waking up in agony. I have a severe case of whiplash/neck sprain that will require physical therapy starting next week. I’ve been prescribed muscle relaxers, some pretty heavy duty pain medication, a soft collar for alternating with ice application, and some gentle neck strectches. Someone please remind me to never try aiki-jujitsu again.