Tough Decisions

[KC Elbows]

For a good time now, I have been solely devoted to learning my style(six elbows kung fu), and have been learning from two different teachers out here, both of whom are excellent fight teachers. I love the style, and the main form is a beautiful and brutal internal form. However, the teacher who brought six elbows over from hong kong had trouble teaching the system, so he made a bunch of external forms based off of the internal form in order to bridge to the more precise internal form. I have been learning the last of these forms, which has far more internal aspects than the previous forms, but is still, overall, an external form.

Unfortunately, I have recently been having health problems, doctors are not entirely sure where the problem is, but something has caused a swelling of my gall bladder, which in turn has pressed into my kidney, and, at least once a day for the last few days, I am doubled over in pain, especially in the morning. I can't spar, as I feel a kidney shot would cripple me at this point. I can't do any hard workout, or I feel worse afterwards. Lots of chi kung does not seem to have any adverse affect, so I've been doing that, but external forms are WAY out of the question at this point.

I am going to talk to my teacher, and see if I can start learning the internal form ahead of time. However, if that doesn't pan out, I need a regimen of chi kung exercises for my workout, and I need to learn them right. However, my teachers are not chi kung masters per se, and do not call themselves such. The bulk of their chi kung is the internal form, and I may not have access to it.

So unfortunately, I might have to leave six elbows for a time, which sucks a whole hell of a lot, and my best option appears to be one of two wu dang schools in the area. Their arts are very cool, but I've done so much work with six elbows, and I don't want to give up, but I need to be able to workout in some form until I get better, and can resume a more strenuous workout.

So, to make a long story even longer, I'm at a possible crossroads. Anyone been in a similar situation? It sucks to have to back off from sparring when I'm just starting to feel like a kung fu man, but its better to be a healthy kung fu man.

Ah well, I'm just ranting. Rant back if you like.

[Cody]

I can understand your disappointment. You need as much information as possible about what is going on and options. I think there is much lacking in both departments here. Being ill is no fun and when it infringes on something you love to do and is part of who you are, that is about the worst thing that can happen. By the way, your post didn't sound like a rant. More like a person who is trying not to be sad.

I have some advice/suggestions. For one thing, what is the mystery with the gall bladder? You taken blows to that area? Have you had any viral illnessnes lately? I'm sure docs are doing their best to diagnose. As soon as this is resolved, you will have a time frame for recovery, which is not available now. It's kind of hard to make plans when you don't know what will be required, and it's easy to get depressed and lose a lot of ground. Been there. Am there. Am down and and don't think I can get up. Take care of yourself.

Next, please do not think that if you are not granted access at this time to the internal form, that you are at a (temporary) dead end. I would tell the teacher the health situation and about your commitment to his art. I would impart that chi kung exercises are not causing pain, and you would like to continue and build on your internal work (which it seems you have begun), and resume external development, including sparring, when you are well. It is possible that the teacher might suggest your working on elements of the internal that appear in the form you refer to, or begin work on the form itself. You win either way. So, I would not think of this as an all or none situation. You might not have immediate access to the form at this time, but you might be given the tools towards a better mastery of it when you recover. I don't think that you necessarily need to leave six elbows. It isn't as if you just started. You might find that the near future is brighter than you envisioned.

I think your attitude is good, and I hope that you recover quickly and completely. If your docs remain in the dark much longer, I would find another specialist, even if I had to get on a plane to see this person.

Best,
Cody

[Budokan]

I had a pretty bad kidney infection late last year and it really scared me off from not only sparring but working out. I didn't want to aggravate any internal problems by stretching the wrong way or something and bring back that pain.

Eventually, one day I just started working out from long-term habit and after the session I realized I hadn't once been worried about my kidney. After that I just went on as if nothing was wrong and delved back into my old regimen. I think that after a while you'll find yourself trusting yourself again and much the same will happen to you. Besides, it might be a nice change for you to concentrate on this other style for a while. Sort of like cleansing the palate by eating a cracker between wine tastings...

[KC Elbows]

Cody, thanks. No blows to that area in a long time. Unfortunately, most of the chi kung in my style is the internal form, and, my teachers not being chi kung masters, they do not have the background to choose which techniques from the form are best for my health problem. However, they might surprise me. Sorry to hear that you are so down. What's wrong?

Budokan,
I figure that is how it will work for me, one day I'll be over this and I'll be able to continue. Hovever, right now, I'm waiting for the results to see how far away that time will be. It might be a nice break to take some of the wu dang stuff, I'll se how things go.

[straight blast]

So, to make a long story even longer, I'm at a possible crossroads. Anyone been in a similar situation

Similar, yes. I was about 3 months off gaining my Muay Thai black singlet, an achievement that I had literally shed blood sweat and tears for, when I was told that I had to stop kickboxing or else my hip injury would most likely worsen into arthritis or worse, a hip replacement. I am 24.

For a long time (8 months for me is a long time without training) I was hugely depressed, because I loved Muay Thai & had worked so hard to lose it all. I was faced with the possibility of never training again due to my body, not any fault of mine. I have trained in one art or another since I was six. So I know how you feel about your six elbows.

But I was able to find another style that fulfilled my needs as a martial artist, and fulfilled my body's needs as well. My advice is give it time. Listen to what your body is telling you. I hope that your six elbows will be able to continue but, if not, remember that it's worth leaving something you love for the benefit of your health.

So I totally sympathise with you. I'll pray for you too.

OT, what are the principles/ideas/moves of 6 elbows? I've never heard of it, but my time with Muay Thai has made me fond of elbows!

[respectmankind]

I didn't read the whole post, but I have come to many crossroads in training, switching styles, trainers, effort, method.