Do What You Can

As we go through our training journey it is inevitable that we will encounter injuries of many kinds. Bumps, bruises, strains, sprains...even tears and fractures. The important point to remember is that when you have an injury you can still train. If you have a broken arm you can still kick or do squats. Sprained ankle? No problem, work on hand strength, punching power in a stationary position, or even abdominal exercises. What seems to happen most of the time is the athlete is not only in pain but also demoralized or depressed about his/her condition to the degree that any motivation is lost. Don't fall victim to that sort of thinking. Studies show that even with an arm in a cast you can work the other arm and achieve some unexpected results - the arm in the cast stays more toned too. Imagine someone laying completely off training for 8 weeks with a broken arm. Compare those results with the person that stayed busy that entire 8 weeks working on calves, quads, hamstrings, glutes, low back, and abs. At the end of 8 weeks you will have either a little catching up to do or A LOT! In martial art training you also have to understand that the possibly exists you may be hurt or injured during the course of defending yourself. How do you know what that would feel like unless you practice while you are hurt. Find out how to balance differently, how to punch with one arm immobilized, how to kick with back pain, etc. Learn your way around your own body - even injured - and you will be farther ahead in the long run.

P.S. When training while injured you have to really be careful! Don't make the injury worse by being careless.