Chapter 70: Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back into the saddle girl!

So, after the optimistic last post, the title of this post is quite different by comparison.

I haven't really trained since my last grading, and haven't really trained properly due to the endometriosis pain returning. I was aware of some hip pain after the grading in July, but was inclined to ignore it-I usually ache after training so it wasn't anything new.

To cut an extremely long story short, the general theory is that the endometriosis has returned, and I've exhausted all treatment options for the moment. Yes, I know it sucks- but its the same for any long time chronic illness. There comes a point when you simply have to accept that modern medicine can do no more.

I have been really struggling to walk and driving a manual car hurts, so for some weeks I haven't made it even to training to even watch. Grrr. Even swimming was hurting, never before has swimming failed me but such is the nature of this disease. Just when you think you've got the hang of managing it, it pulls the rug out from underneath your feet.

So as you can imagine I am getting 'cabin fever' or perhaps for want of a better term 'mat fever'. But for the first time in 7 years of training, a few weeks ago, I was starting to question the 'Q' thought. Yes, quitting. So I decided to go back to figure out what to do. As a martial artist, you can't seem to ignore the 'call' of the dojo.

Well, I think I've found my niche. Coaching. I seem to have a knack of explaining something and teaching it too! So I left the session feeling a lot happier. The next session, I was training with someone who I hadn't trained with for a while and found that watching and coaching from the mat side had improved my kata somewhat. So I was quite a happy bunny really.

I also found something which convinced me I'm not doing too badly- I've shared it below:

'On average, every year 10,000 people start/join a martial art. Half of these people will quit in the first 6 months. Of these 5,000 people, only 1,000 will complete a year of training and then quit. 500 of these people will train for two years but only 100 of these people will see their third anniversary of training. Only 10 of these 100 people will make 1st Dan, and only 1 or 2 will achieve 2nd Dan.'

It goes on to say:
'I shall teach go on to teach others what he/she has learned, for martial arts are now part of their life and they shall go on to share this life with others.'

Alright the English doesn't make complete sense but its a beautiful statement nevertheless. So for some weeks although I can't train, and some I can't even breakfall- I can still contribute and train through coaching... its just a different way of learning. Coaching is making me think about not just how a technique is executed but why it is executed in that way. It has allowed me to think about and adapt my Aikido so it works for me without causing too much pain. So although I might be a gimpy 1st Kyu limping about on the side lines- I can still execute a wicked set of techniques. How cool is that?