Everyone feel free to share, but now that I am healed I wanted to share my injury with everyone. I picked up a running partner who is also a green belt in Judo. Having done MMA in high school, I jumped at the chance... ordered my uniform, proudly put on my white belt and went to class. The first day was really tough (2 hours, serious workout), drill sergeant tough, but I went back for a second class (an am still loyal two months later).
I am terrible clumsy when I first try things and it is difficult for me to translate something I see visual to my own body, this is why i am not a dancer. One drill that we do is this: Everyone lines up according to belt rank (two rows), then across the dojo, we drop from standing in to a roll off of either the right or left shoulder (not on the shoulder exactly, more on the scapula than the AC joint). To a newbie it looked like they were swan diving into the mats, tumble like ninjas, and then magically back on their feet and doing another one. I jumped right in with this thought "Don't second guess, just do. Just do. Don't be embarrassed. Just do. Be cool. Do it how we did it in practice before class!" So I did it, right on my AC Joint and it hurt. Naturally I though this: "Ouch. Okay, just need to do it faster, harder,... more precise... but definitely faster." So i did it again and with much searing pain and dove my shoulder joint into the mat and then magically... i was on my feet and walked for the door for some cold air. I brushed it off though I couldn’t move it. My hand was slightly discolored, but I was about the "Trust me, I'm fine, I'm just being a wuss." I'm not a wuss.
My Sensei said this to me: "It sounds like a seperation, I've had three." Eyes my shoulder and asks my to pull down my Gi (uniform) and shirt so he can see the injured area. "Yeah. Well. Stupid kids who don't listen to their Sensei usually break their collar bones. How old are you?" 22. "And stupid adults, who don't listen, end up with AC joint separations...or worse."
That night I brushed off. But when I woke up in crying pain i went into my work, the ER, and saw a doc. Yup. Shoulder Separation. What ensued was four very frustrating weeks of severe pain, swelling, missed work, laughs, and an inability to lift weight anywhere in front of my body with my right arm. It’s nearly healed now, with some random pain. On my 3rd day of class, i was in a sling, my very own uniform arrived and I became the glorified clock holder for Sensei. Sensei later told me I need to realize how out of shape I am and that I am a newbie and that I need to listen to wisdom and learn front the beginning like everyone else. And it’s true, sometimes I am totally in denial about my size and think I am just powerful athlete (well... I AM A POWERFUL ATHLETE, albeit a clumsy and stubborn one!)
Anyone else? LoL.
Judo CHOP! Embarassing class moments... ouch
