One-punch Death

You probably heard about the soccer referee Portillo who just died last night after being punched ONCE in the face by a 17 year-old soccer player.  Portillo had issued a yellow card warning during a soccer game in Taylorsville, UT held at Eisenhower Jr. High.

Portillo

 

You can't hardly be a fan of the martial arts without having seen more than one Bruce Lee movie where each lightening-fast punch or kick is accompanied by a loud wooden slap from sound-effects. 

The enemy or hero gets hit over and over before they finally are knocked out or give up.  That's the movies, not real life.

In real life, you have just a moment to react and yes...one punch can kill you.  It's much more common than you think.  In just one county:  King county, Washington (includes Seattle) has 4-6 one-punch deaths per year.  In Aikido the technique is always important, but getting OFF-LINE has got to be one of the most important things you will ever learn.  Getting off-line has a new significance to me after reading about this poor man.  You never know how things might escalate in a moment.  You never know if someone thinks they're in an old Western movie and will try to punch you through the saloon doors into the street. 

Preventing a Tragedy

I'm not sure whether I will ever use an Aikido technique to defend myself.  Personally, I believe that a big part of Aikido is learning the many ways to respond to conflict.  See Aikido In Everyday Life by Terry Dobson.

Yesterday, CNN had a short viewing of the courtroom where George Zimmerman chose not request a hearing to determine whether he would be immune from prosecution per the Florida Stand Your Ground law allowing a person to defend themselves where their life is threatened.

Young, 15 year-old Trayvon Martin was taking a short-cut home through a private community on the way home from a 7-11.  George Zimmerman reported Martin to the police, but before police arrived, there was a confrontation and scuffle.  Trayvon Martin was accidentally shot and killed.  Now two lives are ruined.

I can't help to wonder what would have been the outcome if Aikido were involved instead of a gun?  I'm not against guns, but somebody grabbed somebody first before the gun appeared.  What if an Aikido technique were used in response to the first grab?  Would there be a trial today?  Would two lives be ruined?  I have colleagues who conceal carry in the classroom.  That's their choice and OK for them.  I prefer Aikido.  Too many times in the past, for me...having a gun would have ended up badly.  I'm going to stick with Aikido.

Coming up this Fall 2013, it will be five years that I've been privileged to be part of our small dojo.  I really enjoy Aikido.  No matter how many times Sensei runs through a technique I've done before, I always learn something new.

This last semester has been challenging health-wise.  I often get bumps and bruises from my role as Uke.  The pains that persist are the ones that you can't see.  In particular are what are called soft tissue injuries.  Sankyo techniques (for me) in particular cause inside elbow joint (medial epicondyle) discomfort that can last for weeks. The area will become tender to the touch without any outward signs of bruising.

A posting that I read by Tony J. Wilden, a 4th Dan from England, recounts his injuries and how some soft tissue injuries kept him from his loved practice sometimes for months.  There is a tenancy to suck it up and keep practicing, but repeated action against a soft tissue injury can further weaken the tendons and muscles that protect the joint--prolonging the healing time.  What should you do?

Several articles recommend PRICE for treating soft tissue injuries = Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Exercise.  Protecting the area means using a brace or putting red tape on your gi so Nage knows you're giving that area a break.  Rest is in the same neighborhood.  Immediately following the injury, resting the joint and applying cold is a good course of action to reduce swelling.  When applying ice, place the cold in a plastic bag and never apply for more than 20 minutes at a time.  The area where ice is applied will first get cold, then warm, and then will grow numb.  Frost bite follows numb, so you don't want to go that far.  Massaging the area will increase blood flow to the injury and should be encouraged.

Compression can be provided by wraps.  Tubigrip is one self-clinging wrap that can be used.  Of course wrapping a joint too tight will restrict blood flow and movement.  It should be comfortable.  Do not wear the wrap on the joint at night while sleeping.  Exercise must be done very slowly.  Start with 25% of normal resistance at most.  Jumping right back to that 40 lb dumbbell Arnold Curl is too much.  If it hurts, you probably are doing too much.  You could try using very light resistance exercise bands paying close attention to exercise form.  Slowly building the muscle strength will protect the joint and tendons in the future.

Spring Break

Hello! Just a reminder that we won't be having club this coming Tuesday and Thursday, March 12th and 14th.  See you after the break!

Ukemi Saturday!

Hope everyone that went to the Logan Seminar had a good time! We learned a lot! If you have a favorite new technique, or anything learned you would like to share, please post it as a comment so that everyone can benefit!

This Saturday, February 9th at 9:00am, Jeremy is coming to visit and give us ukemi lessons.  It will be in PE 221.  Hope to see you there!

Logan Seminar

Hope everyone had a good break! Practice has resumed, as usual, Tuesday/Thursday 4:00-5:30 in PE 221.  Also, there is a seminar coming up! It will be January 25 – 27, up in Logan.  Here is a link to the flyer: http://www.aaa-aikido.com/Seminars/2013/Logan,%20UT%20-%20January%202013%20edited.pdf

Winter Break, No club until January!

Hello everyone!
This past Tuesday was our last club meeting before the winter holiday.  We are sorry if you missed it, but hope to see you when we reconvene on Thursday January 3rd, 2013.  Have a great break!

Practice poll

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday...oh my!

Click the link above to go to the poll.  Please vote for the time that would work best for you.