Sick for Three, No, Five Days (BJJ One Month)

In July, I started to take five classes a week at the BJJ gym. For a month, I

was consumed by the art, training in the evening and watching instruction videos

and taking notes during the day. I am glad to say that I have survived and

learned a lot, not just the moves but about my own body.

 

My neck and shoulders are adapting to the new activity. The neck pain came as a

shock the first week, lasted for two more weeks, and has since recovered. The 

soreness was gone and the cervix spine felt good. Daily strengthening exercises

to defend against pulling and squeezing felt great.

 

The shoulders are stressed in many ways, e.g., from a heavy guy pressing down or

chokes that trap the shoulder to squeeze the neck. Bar-hanging and pressing

since the end of 2020 have prepared me well and one month seemed enough for them

to adapt.

 

The legs, however, have more stubborn problems. The left hip has ached for three

weeks after an improper break-fall and been recovering very slowly. On the right

side, the old groin pain bothers when I squeeze the knees hard or when I squat.

I have begun to study isometric methods for stretching and joint mobility to

address the problems.

 

I was not alone in battling injuries, as I learnt from one coach, "Everyone over

the purple belt is dinged up." On the other hand, the 63-year-old lady, a

veteran in all kinds of martial arts and a blackbelt in BJJ, told me she was

preparing for a tournament!

 

Another major challenge was cardio recovery (Maybe that's the reason for the 

Gracie Diet). For a 48-year-old beginner who knew little more than using

strength, every bout felt like a brutal survival test, and five times a week

were a lot. Muscle pain all over the body often affected sleep. The leg pains

made me feel old getting up in the morning. Weight-lifting was reduced. Often, I

had to take a nap during the day to get ready for the evening roll. If it were

not for Tim, I would have skipped a couple of classes.

 

Nonetheless, once on the mat, the adrenaline surge does magic. Taking a fall,

getting smashed or strangled, the accidental elbows or knees, etc., feel like

nothing. I only feel a great sense of well-being during and after each sparring

session. Fighting appeals to some primal need.

 

Anyway, I think I am lucky to be made aware of my weaknesses and limits and to 

take action. I will do four classes a week in August to see if it's better.

 

Toward the end of the month, it seemed that the strain has accumulated to a

tipping point. I felt a hint of cold on Thu. Maybe I should've taken the day off

as the exertion that evening must have made it worse. Friday afternoon came an

avalanche of sneezes. I didn't have a temperature and my body did not ache. I

felt OK on Sat but decided to skip a class for the first time.

[7grizzly]

回复 '暖冬cool夏' 的评论 : Thank you, 暖冬, for reading and your cogent comments and example. I totally agree with slow-and-steady. I'm thinking about taking three classes a week now ;-)

Thank you for picking out something to like in my convoluted writing ;-)

[暖冬cool夏]

The strain has accumulated to a tipping point.
Friday afternoon came an avalanche of sneezes.
+1, Great sentences!

[暖冬cool夏]

... and five times a week were a lot.
Indeed!
A lady I know from WXC got her knee or the inner muscle injured from a yoga move that she has been practising for more than 20 years. Be mindful! Slow and steady wins the race/prevails. Take care!