Douglas----21/10/2003 1:11 AM----Post Number: 62

I've found that my shoulders have been bugging me a little in the past month. It pretty much started with an increase in the number of times we do a lot of cuts with kibon donjak during a night of training. I've been trying to take the warnings of senior students to heart, and so far I think I've avoided any serious injury more than muscle strain or what not. Rest, and alternating hot and cold packs have made the bulk of my efforts to get back into it.

It's almost amusing that during parts of a warm-up that I do in a Hapkido class that I go to, I find that I feel like I have almost no arm strength left these days. By the time I get to Gumdo, I feel like Hapkido has taken out my knees, so they seem to complement each other nicely.

Someone told me that my quanjangnim had said that out of all the students in the class, I'm still focusing too much on each cut. I found this both surprising and a little disapointing, because I thought I had been making efforts to not earn such comments. Later, the comment seemed to become refined in its translation to, the other students are more relaxed and "bounce" their Mok-gum more on the center cuts. It was further said that there are times for working on control and form, and times for woring on endurance. I was told that trying to work on form (or did they say power?) while doing a high number of repetitions at high speed will burn me out.

OK....

I'm still not sure than I'm getting what I should from all this. As of late, when we go for a thousand or so center cuts I feel like I'm back in high school doing distance running. I try to not let my form go all to Hell, but I focus more on just trying to keep everything relaxed and my shoulders in one piece.

shawn_berserkr----17/02/2004 1:47 AM----Post Number: 63


G'day all!
I'll start by apologizing for digging up such an old thread, but I just had to mention that this past Friday marked my first bout of physical activity in four and a half months, as I've finally reentered the dojang. (That torn up ankle thing...)
Although I was disappointingly out of shape, I have to say it was exhilirating to run through the gumbup again (and still REMEMBER THEM!:D)
Unfortunately, this is Master Han's last week with us in Canada. (I hardly got the chance to learn anything from him!)

Glad to be back!

Anthony_Boyd----17/02/2004 10:27 AM----Post Number: 64


Glad to hear you are back in action, Shawn!

Cheri----11/05/2004 10:46 AM----Post Number: 65


Anthony, you can add another puzzle mat casualty to your list. Right in the middle of learning Yedo 7. Oh well, at least it's only broken toes and not anything serious:?

shawn_berserkr----12/05/2004 2:00 AM----Post Number: 66


Ouch!!! I'm sorry to hear that, Cheri! Which movement in the form led to this?

Cheri----12/05/2004 5:52 AM----Post Number: 67


It was after the stab to the throat/eye pokey thing as I was turning the other direction and bringing my right foot forward. I caught my toes and turned them under with all my weight on that foot. I took a dive so of course everyone thought I had done something to my knee again. And of course being me I smiled and claimed everything was fine. I always practice on hard floors at home so sometimes the mat and I don't interact well.

Anthony_Boyd----12/05/2004 6:35 PM----Post Number: 68


I think you have used up all of your injury opportunities for the next few years. It is time to give someone else a turn...


I hope you are granted another swift recovery.

CMA-Casey----27/06/2004 5:13 AM----Post Number: 69


Last night my sabumnim asked me to perform some forms for our gumdo students just before they were to test for their white belt. I was to do Yedo forms 2, 3, 5, and 6 linked together as one form and I opted to use a jingum over a kagum. Well, when I got to the part of Yedo 5 where you thrust the sword to you rear, thrust I did - right into my right love handle! I paused for a second to contemplate the degree of damage and ,figuring it was probably barely more than a scratch, went on to try and finish my demonstration. I stopped, however, somewhere during Yedo 6 with an early chakgum when I noticed I was leaving blood on the floor. I bowed to the audience and to my master before excusing myself to the changing room. The mother of one of our gumdo students is a nurse and assisted me with packing the wound with gauze and she and fellow member Pattie (of CMA John and Pattie) accompanied me to the local emergency room where they were kind enough to staple me back together in a timely manner. Fortunately I didn't cut any muscle tissue and, if all goes well, the staples come out in ten days after which I plan to get my first tatoo - a sign next to the scare that reads, "Insert sword here.":o I asked the medical seemstress to make the scar ugly and even larger because we all know that 'chicks dig a guy with an ugly scar.":D Right? The actual stabbing was painless, but the needle used to administer the numbing agent hurt like hell. I hate needles!

Anthony_Boyd----27/06/2004 1:01 PM----Post Number: 70


Wow! I'm glad to hear that the injury proved to be "just a flesh wound." The tattoo idea sounds hilarious!

Ryan----27/06/2004 5:15 PM----Post Number: 71


That is some story. I am glad to hear there was no serious damage. Consider youself very lucky that you came away with nothing more than a good story to tell and a scar.

moebeck----29/06/2004 1:38 AM----Post Number: 72


I'm sorry to hear about your run in with the "buisness end" of your blade. I'm glad your well. Did the white belts see this happen, and did they go on with their test?

CMA-Casey----29/06/2004 1:22 PM----Post Number: 73


Yes, the test went as planned. I'm told that nobody in the audience freaked out and that most didn't realize I had injured myself until later. The nurse who helped me bandage the wound was there to witness her son's gumdo belt test, so I'm sure he knows the details and I imagine he has relayed them to the rest. My main concern about the whole thing is that I created doubt in the students and others present in practicing the art. I probably will not get to see them again until next Monday, but I'll get their thoughts on what happened at that time.

I stopped by my doctor's office today so that he could verify that the wound is not infected. Jokingly, I told him that I was concerned about nerve damage and asked him if he thought I will regain full use of my right love handle. He didn't get it. He went on to explain to me how to prevent infection. I asked him if it will have to be amputated if infection sets in because, if so, I'd like to have both of them removed. I added that if they're removed I'm not interested in wearing prosthetic love handles. Again, he didn't get it. I mentioned to him my idea about the tattoo. He didn't get it , but he went on to educate about the dangers of infection resulting from tattoo work. I was 0 for 3, so I gave up. If this accident had to happen, then I wish it would have occurred around the Christmas holiday so that I could have hung some Christmas ornaments from the staples. As it is, I'm stuck with this weekend being the 4th of July weekend. Hanging lit fireworks from the staples is going to suck. I'll let you know how it goes.

Anthony, what is the title of that Mel Brooks movie you referred to? It's been a long time since I've seen it and I think it's time I viewed it again.

Anthony_Boyd----30/06/2004 9:34 AM----Post Number: 74


Oh, oh, oh...
No prize for the man with the staples! I was referring to a Monty Python movie, I tend to avoid Mel Brooks films (other than Space Balls, which is required viewing). "Just a flesh wound" comes from Python's "Holy Grail" from the scene where Arthur fights the Black Knight.
*film*

CMA-Casey----30/06/2004 11:16 AM----Post Number: 75


Thanks for the correction and the title. It's so easy to confuse the two. Their names are practically identical in spelling and pronunciation. And yes, Space Balls should be required viewing.

Zeetay----30/06/2004 12:27 PM----Post Number: 76


Casey, I am sorry to hear about your injury, but the way you related the story and the visit to the Doctor was extremely funny. Between the tattoo and the prosthetic love handles, "pure unudultereated genius, I like the way the rolls out, Wile E. Coyote - Genius.". Sorry to digress into Bugs Bunny cartoons. Sometimes I cant help myself.

Anyway, I'm sure everyone joins me in wishing you a quick recovery. I read the thread to my wife who, unfortunately , didnt get it either.