Injuries

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[Horselord]

I recently, about 3 months ago, injured my thumb on my left hand very badly. Just one of those things where I took ukemi the way I normally would, but for some reason my left hand got under me and all my weight came down and poped the thumb out and resulted in a very serious sprain. It is still tender and I have been taking it easy like the doctor says, but I am still very nervous about the thumb. The result of taking this bad fall is that I am hesitant to take ukemi on that side now. The same happened to a friend of mine who took a very nasty shihonage from a shodan at a seminar and resulted in a hyperextended right elbow. He is now nervous about taking shihonage on that side. My question is, has anyone ever been hurt like this and how have you gotten over your fear of taking ukemi from a throw that resulted in injury? Hope you can help.

[Victor]

I've experienced a very similar injury in June just grabbing 'morote dori' (katate ryote tori). I couldn't even move my thumb.
Even now I'm afraid being called to the centre.

My advice is:
If your thumb's OK now, just try to forget that breakfall, but be careful next time you are making ukemi! If you are practicing Aikido for a short time, please tell your tori to apply a technique slower.

[guest1234]

i'm more clumsy than most, with a broken nose from an incorrect block/movement to shomenuchi, and a broken rib from (incorrectly)anticipating a backfall, and needing to take a breakfall. each time i did the other side (but with correction) right away to at least remind my body it was the mistake, not the action, that gave me a painful lesson. i guess i'd suggest keeping in mind that it was not the correct nage/uke actions that caused the injury, but a mistake, and tell yourself you know how to avoid that now. then get a partner you trust, who is willing to go slowly, and just start building your confidence back up on that side, like when you first started to roll/fall. and end that kind of practice on a positive note, like when you've taken a roll and it was OK, don't push until it hurts and then stop due to that. anyway, that is what i do.

[adriangan]

I've had my share of injuries, the most severe has been a hyperextended elbow from a hijikime (hearing my elbow clicking thrice), I wasn't able to practice for 2 months, but I guess that's part of it, no pain no gain! But the important thing is that both the uke and nage learn from these "accidents", I can say that now I'm a better uke because I'm more sensitive to my nage's movements, and in turn my nage is more cautious because he knows the damage/consequences that comes from such carelessness at my expense, tough luck! :eek:

How to overcome your fears? I guess you first have to acccept that in this line of training it's impossible to avoid such "accidents", then the next step is to face your fear, it doesn't get any simpler than that. :D Like CA said: "...get a partner you trust, who is willing to go slowly, and just start building your confidence back..."

Best of luck!


-Adrian

[akiy]

The two worst injuries I've gotten in aikido have been a minor concussion and a seriously jammed/hyperextended elbow. The first came from an elbow in the forehead during morotedori kokyunage and the second came from my inadequate ukemi skills for the version of iriminage we do in our dojo.

The first injury took about a week to get over its "physical" symptoms of lightheadedness, dizziness, and nausea. I'd say it took about six months before I was able to resume my "normal" ukemi routines, though, as my mind and body had become wary about taking ukemi.

The second injury took probably close to a year to heal. I was off the mat pretty much completely for three months after it happened. The elbow would send sharp pains for such simple movements like closing a door behind me or reaching behind to get the seat belt. Mentally, I'm still unable to take iriminage ukemi as well as I used to due to this injury and it's been over a year.

-- Jun

[Horselord]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I will keep it all in mind while my thumb recovers. Cheers!

Paul

[BC]

I gave myself a very similar thumb injury a couple of months ago when I came down on a breakfall with my thumb under my torso. It's healed fully now, and I kind of think of it more as a learning experience on awareness of my hand (and other body parts) placement and positioning during ukemi. I also had my elbow start to hurt during shihonage, and it's almost healed up (seven months later). When it occasionally bothers me during training, I tell my partners I have a sensitive elbow and to please take it easy on that side. Everyone has always been sympathetic in that regards.

[Yo-Jimbo]

no matter how advanced or injured one gets, it seems to me that solo ukemi work is a good way to gauge if one is ready or to get ready to train with others