Injury Update

Well it’s been 4 weeks to the day since I tore my hip flexor.  It’s been a shitty time.  Not as bad as an ACL tear, but a close second.  You don’t realize how often you use these muscles until you injure them.  For example, I’ve kept going to the gym to lift weights throughout the healing process.  I’ve simply modified my workouts.  I found out the first day that I couldn’t lie flat on a bench to press.  This stretched the torn muscles causing my eyes to start glistening and noticeable whimper to those in my vicinity.  So lying flat was out.  Next I found that sitting on a shoulder press bench with my knees bent more than 90 degrees caused sever cramping.  This wasn’t as bad as the stretching, but painful nonetheless.  Finally I thought I could do some bent over dumbell rows.  Unbeknownst to me, as soon as my lower abs contracted to brace, my breath would immediately be taken away and I would want to fall down.  It was a bit of trial and error.  I’ve spent a lot of time on the elliptical machine and doing machine circuits.  I’m happy to say though, that it’s finally starting to feel better.

I started physiotherapy this week.  He puts me through hell, but I feel so good when it’s over.  The way he explained it to me is like this. I partially tore both the Psoas and the Iliacus.  That’s why I have pain sitting up or lifting my legs while in bed.  The thinks that that they are healing well.  However, he also believes that the Iliacus has attached itself to bone during that healing process.  That is what is causing the sever pain when the area is stretched.  basically, the muscle has become too short.  So what he’s doing is breaking the muscle away from the bone; re-tearing it if you will.  Goddamn it hurts!

He’s expecting a full recovery which is what I wanted to hear.  I really am going bat shit crazy being off the mats.  It’s weird.  I think about quitting Jiu Jitsu so much when I’m able to do it, but now that I can’t, all I want to do is get back on the mats.  Yep, I’m fucked…  Anyways, I plan on letting it fully heal before I get back out there.  I have a trip to Whistler planned in January and I want to be able to ski as aggressively as I usually do.

The end

Dang It All To Heck!

This past Friday I was to lead my first class as a purple belt.  I had it all planned out.  What we would warm up with, what we would drill, technique I wanted to work on, extra stuff if there was time, and end it with some rolls.  During the warm up drills (standing guard passing/not letting the standing pass), I jumped in and within 30 seconds, tore my right hip flexor.  Damn that hurt!  I managed to finish the lesson by having a senior blue belt demonstrate what I wanted to show.  What a let down.  Now I’m out for weeks!  Argggggggg!!!!!

the end

Enson Inoue Seminar September 30, 2015

Last night, Grizzly Gym hosted mma pioneer Enson Inoue for a nogi grappling / mma seminar. I was unable to attend the first part. Stupid work. Professor Mike told me to attend when I could and to bring my gi along as well. 

I got there around 7:00pm. It looked like everyone was having a great time. You can tell that a seminar is going well when the participants are smiling and chatting about the techniques as they are drilling. I met Enson last year when he came for a visit. Again, what a nice man. He remembered me (at least he said he did lol), and welcomed me even though I was late.  I hate showing up late. I find it disrespectful, but again, professor Mike told me to come late. 

The stuff that he shows really works.  It nothing too fancy, but it’s all been proven effective. I remember last year someone asked Enson if he’d consider doing straight grappling matches like Metamoris or other super fights. He said that while he would love to, he thinks that the young grapplers today have passed him by with all the new school technique. He said he watches guys at his gyms and is in awe with what they can do. At the same time he said he might be open to matches with the older guys. He specifically mentioned a rematch with Randy Couture.  I don’t know if his opinion has changed or not seeing as how he had an official retirement ceremony in Japan this last year. 

After 2 1/2 hours, the seminar came to an end. Mike asked Sean and myself to put on our gis. Then this happened…

   
    
   
Thanks so much to Professor Mike for believing in me. Thanks to Sean, Wes, Josh, PJ, and all the other Grizzlies I’ve trained and learned with. And thanks to my awesome wife for putting up with the time at the gym, the injuries, and the shitty attitude from time to time (she’s started her BJJ journey recently). As much as I don’t believe I have the skill to wear a purple belt, it was a great honour. I’ll have to keep working hard to fell like I’ve really earned it.    

   
Of course, Sean and I had to have our inaugural purple belt match immediately. All I’ll say is this is the first half. 😉

The end

New Injury

I injured my hip flexor (I think).

http://www.epainassist.com/sports-injuries/hip-injuries/hip-flexor-strain

It must have been during rolling.  It’s been a couple of weeks.  I’ve still been rolling which seems to make it worse (makes sense).  Has anyone had this injury before?  How long did it take for you to get over it?  I’ve been trying to avoid the pain by using the other side of my body as much as possible.  Of course, that’s my weak side for technique.  Let this be a lesson to all of you that only train technique on your dominant side.  It sucks when you’re forced to do the other side!

the end

Patches

Sonetimes I think patches look really good on a gi. Sometimes I think that they look awful. Is being a walking billboard really what Jiu Jitsu is about?  That being said, I just sewed 3 patches on my Globetrotter travel gi that I’ve been meaning to get to for about a year. Using a sewing machine is friggin’ hard!  Not the best job…

   
   
I need more practice. I hope they stay on!

The end