earn my black belt

Yes, I’m testing with a torn ACL. _{Sssssshhhhhh! Don’t tell my doctors!} I am doing the Gimpy Geriatric Modification of the test – no pivots, eliminating or modifying kicks, going very slowly, and the only “sparring” isn’t really sparring per se, only demonstrating counters to a lower rank’s very basic moves.

I was very worried about how I would appear on the test. When you are progressing normally, most things should have been imbedded into your “muscle memory,” as opposed to when you are starting new and have to think every move through. But with an injury, you revert back to that level where you have to think every little move through, because you are thinking, “Will this re-injure me? How about if I do this, will this screw things up?” And it shows. But my instructor has said that the fact that I am even going through testing with an injury speaks volumes, so I’ll just have to hope they will take my level of dedication into consideration.

If I pass, it will be about 6 months at Brown 1, 6 months at Brown 2, and a year at Brown 3. So, at the very least I am two years away still.

Guess what? Nope, guess again.

Remember how I had a doctor’s appointment on Friday to find out once and for all why my knee wasn’t healed yet from November’s “sprain?” Well I found out. It wasn’t just a sprain. I tore my freaking ACL.

The ACL is the rubber band thingy inside of your knee that keeps it stabilized (the Anterior Cruciate Ligament). When you tear it, you have to have it repaired through surgery. When you have surgery, you have to allow time for rehabilitation. When you have to allow time for rehabilitation, that means you are out of your sport for 6-9 months.

6-9 MONTHS! From the time of surgery!

So I am OUT of my martial art for up to a year, because it may be a couple of months before they can fit me in for the surgery.

Yeah. I know.

All you ever wanted to know about the Anterior Cruciate Ligament is right here.

And probably some you didn’t want to know.

My instructor and one of the brown belts with knee problems offered to help me with activities that will accomodate my knee, so I can see how that works. But it won’t even come close to being the same. As far as the doctor is concerned, the only activities I can really do without cause for concern are walking, swimming, cycling. So GoodnightGrace, if you’re reading this…

the bike is coming out of storage.

is tonight. I am going to get ready now, folks, so see ya. Perhaps I will report in when I return.

This oughta be interesting…

was last Thursday. I worked on punches only: front forearm snap, full open, and a new one that I can’t remember the name of. Basically it’s one you can use if your arm is already extended because of blocking or etc., and you can deliver power without drawing the arm back at all. It was pretty interesting, I’ll have to relearn what it’s called. Anyway, my knee did OK, though it wanted to hyperextend whenever I tried the right full open.

I can’t even properly console myself with a big bowl of Cheerios because in my misguided attempt to save a few pennies I bought Trader Joe’s brand of Joe’s O’s(half the price of real Cheerios), which are a mere shadow of the General Mills brand! Dammit all!

Sparring tonight, I went for a kick and the person I was sparring with scooped my leg. OK, fine, but suddenly my weight-bearing leg felt like someone kicked it hard from the rear and I went down cursing like a sailor. I haven’t felt pain like that in a long time. The pair that were sparring behind me were nowhere near…it wasn’t one of them the kicked me, it was connective tissue blowing out! I don’t know what happened, I must have done something very wrong because I have never had that happen before.

So now I am not sure I’m going to be able to do the brown belt test on Monday. I AM SO BUMMED. I cannot even tell you how BUMMED OUT I AM. I’ve worked towards this for over 7 months. I will refrain from typing the string of curse words that I would like to use right now…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love it when this instructor teaches. Oddly enough, he’s one of the lower ranking black belts, too. But maybe that’s why – he’s closer to my rank (though he’s like some sort of panther or something in his fitness and movements, so no comparison to my clodding motions), and so he knows how to focus in to exactly my level and what I need. (No disrespect intended to the higher ranking black belts – they are too amazing for words.) We did some bag work, refined the hooks, full-open, and forearm snap punches, and did some applications in which he really got me to improve my extensions. Also did some light sparring in which he coached me while a second level brown fed strikes to me. I love this instructor’s class – the time is always structured and used so well, and he can really identify small changes that have a big impact.

Sucked into the vortex of 43things and I’m late for class! Criminy! B-b-b-bye, y’all! Help me feed my insomnia later, will you? ;)

November 5, also Guy Fawkes Day. My last test was on St. Patrick’s Day, and ironically, I earned my green belt that day…!

frrrrrrreakin’ out a little, because my brown belt test is in a few more weeks and I had to miss several classes lately! I asked a Brown 3 if he had feedback for me for things I need to work on before the test, and he said I was doing fine, he thought I’d be ready.

I’m not sure I believe him!

_{In fact, I do not believe him!}