To Fellow Martial Artists

Many years ago I took a form of Hung Gar Kung Fu for 3 years. I enjoyed it greatly. I leveled up twice. And was halfway through to the next level. However, I was forced to quit because of a clumsy teenager who punched me full force in the eye during form practice (I repeat...FORM practice). Anyways, this caused a detached retina and I had to have surgery on my eye to prevent loss of sight. 6 weeks later my vision had thankfully returned to normal. However, the close call forced me to quit my formal training. I could not justify the risk of practicing and sparring with clumsy people. The instructor offered one-on-one instruction so I wouldn't have to worry about being accidentally punched in the face or anywhere else. But at the time it was too fresh of a wound and I turned down the offer.

Now it is years later and I really miss it. But the only way I would even consider formal training again would be with one-on-one instruction from a seasoned master. Have any of you had one-on-one instruction? If you were me, would you be able to trust another person with such a task?

I still have a passion for this deep down. And would like to in someway continue. But it may just be a dream I can't feasible realize.

Thanks.

I know this has nothing to do with Martial Arts but there was once a girl who was an amazing surfer and she got her arm bit off by a shark. She still surfs. I think you know what I am getting at here . . . :D If its something you are passionate about dont let your fears keep you from doing it.

I would recommend that you visit a couple of your local Dojos and visit with the Master Instructor and let him/her know what has happened in the past and ask if you can watch when they do patterns or when they spar. This will give you a level of comfort to see the students and teacher interact and how aggressive or passive they spar. We have people in our school that go full on all the time and can only spar certain people. We also have people that truly want to help others get better and teach others the true art. If it something you truly would like to get back into I would recommend it, it is a great form of exercise and stress relief.

Wife = Black Belt
12yo Son = Black Belt also a Judo Player
11 yo Son = Advanced Brown going to Black, he is also the State Judo Champion for his age & weight class
Dad = sparring and training dummy

If you love it that much you can always get some sort of face gear. Only thing that jumped in my mind was those clear face things like NBA players use, not sure of how much those are, but that sort of thing is what I am talking about.

Also, I was in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I absolutely LOVED it, but did my knee in and had to have surgery on it and now I can't put weight on my knee so no go for me, but I KNOW the owner who taught the class would have been perfect to work with on a one on one basis, I just think 95% of the "masters" are just like that though.

nut up, or shut up! lol

I say go for it chris! You only live once. In 30 years when you look back do you wanna be regretting that you didnt take advantage of the oppurtunity?

(and if you end up being like a hundred year old dude doing martial arts then youre like my hero).

I'd say go back into it, but get some kind of eye protection (if any is availible). I'm just starting Karate back up after 3 years off.

There's plenty of similar activities and other martial arts with reduced risks. Don't be dead set on sparring with strikes and do some research into options that fit the risk level you are comfortable with.

Discuss your choices with a doctor for sure, as well as potential teachers, don't let anyone on the internet persuade you to barrel headfirst into something that might lead to blindness.

I appreciate the replies. But some of the arguments don't hold up. The odds of getting hit in the eye in a place that punches are regularly thrown doesn't are much higher than getting attacked by a shark in the ocean.

Anyways, my greatest fear in life is losing my sight. I have poor eyesight. It a miracle I see as well as I do. So I don't take it for granted.

I was bullied a lot in school and learned how to defuse situations that could have turned violent. But I've always had a fear in the back of my mind of not being able to talk my way out or run away and be forced into conflict. That's why I took martial arts to begin with. I always wore head gear in sparring and so it wasn't an issue. But I never expected someone to go full contact on a damn form.

Anyways, it's just something I think about sometimes.

I'm a blue belt turning purple in bjj, and i also do kickboxing and practice MMA.

I honestly think this was more of a freak accident. I dont think the chances of this happening again are very high. In MMA guys guys go really hard, sometimes too hard, and this isnt an issue we deal with very much. I think youd be safe to go back.

Ok so you didn't tell me this but if you want your wife's opinion, I say go for it hon. I remember how much you loved it and enjoyed class. Who knows what will happen if you never try?!:rolleyes:

I have my 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, took me 10year
s to achieve. One time during a normal spar, I was swept by my opponent and while trying to catch myself, I snapped my collar bone, and both bones in forearm. I was unable to workout, spar, or lift anything for 8 months. But after rehab I got right back in continued to spar. It was my passion.

Morale of the story, if you love something, no matter what obstacles you face...always follow your dream!!!

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Originally Posted by OzzyNR

I dont think the chances of this happening again are very high.

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More than one high school pitcher in the history of the sport has quit playing because of a line drive hitting him in the face and causing a detached retina. The odds of being hit in the face by a line drive are pretty darn low, but we're this isn't an injury with a year-long recovery, this is potentially an injury with absolutely zero recovery and complete loss of function from an eye.

Sparring is going to have a higher risk of having a force contacting your face than pitching has.

Good luck to the OP, whatever you pursue, certainly go and find SOMETHING you love to do :D
You may be able to find some kind of eye protection to limit any further risks when being active in a sport that might be dangerous to your eyesight.

I practiced and taught TaeKwonDo for almost 8 years. I never went any further than my 1st degree by my choice but wish I did and wish I wouldnt have quit. Life kind of took over for me, my son was born right before I turned 18 so I had to get a place for us to live and I had a family to take care of.
He is 17 now and to be flat honest with you, I really wish I could start it over again and work my way back up but financially I cant and dont think I will ever be able to.
Most people hink they are fake belts hanging on the wall of my snake room and that is fine by me BUT that old black belt with my name embroidered on it meant the world to me. I might have scrapped all the trophies but that belt will be with me to the end of my time.
The mental stability TKD gave me was more rewarding than almost anything I have ever done.
At some point you will have to go full contact, if you are not ready for that then you might want to think your choices over?
That is an issue that only you can over come, or a fear as it may be. If you are wanting to go back to training for fitness and as a sport then by all means do so. If you are wanting to be able to defend yourself should the time come and you still have this fear then you might have more problems than you are planning on. I know I am going way out on a limb here but when push comes to shove there cant be a second guess or thought.
Im just starting to ramble a little but I hope you understad what I am getting at.

I love the martial arts and started at age 15. Stopped training about 5 years ago because the place i trained at closed down. Because i work 7 days in a row, 10 hour days and three different shifts, it's hard to find a good place. The old place had two adult classes a day...noon to 1pm and 7:30pm to 9pm monday to friday and open classes on the weekends...when there were no formal classes, i could go in and train and if there was someone else there, well, it was all good.
A friend of mine at work checked out a place near work and the guy wanted over 2 hundred dollars a month...good ab workout with all the laughing i did.
Now i am stuck with a heavy bag, upper cut bag and mounted targets in my basement...not the same as getting thrown around and kicked in the head though. It is extremely hard to find a good place and now at 43yrs old, it's a little harder to get motivated to find a new place.
If you find a good place that works for you, go for it...and good luck

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

More than one high school pitcher in the history of the sport has quit playing because of a line drive hitting him in the face and causing a detached retina. The odds of being hit in the face by a line drive are pretty darn low, but we're this isn't an injury with a year-long recovery, this is potentially an injury with absolutely zero recovery and complete loss of function from an eye.

Sparring is going to have a higher risk of having a force contacting your face than pitching has.

Good luck to the OP, whatever you pursue, certainly go and find SOMETHING you love to do :D
You may be able to find some kind of eye protection to limit any further risks when being active in a sport that might be dangerous to your eyesight.

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I can somewhat understand what you are trying to say, but a hit by a line drive in baseball to the eye is a lot more of an impact than you will ever get hit by in training. The comparison doesnt really hold much weight. In everything in life you will have some aspect of danger, but that doesnt mean to just fear the worst.

Well, all this is really a "what if" type of thing. Right now, if the house goes through as expected, and will at least start training on my own again. One of the problems I had when I took Kung Fu was I came in to it out of shape completely. Classes were 90 mins and I was always drained by the 60 minute mark and just somehow managed the rest of it. If I were to go back I want to make sure my body is ready for it first.

The other thing is that the school I went to was a branch school which closed 4 or so years ago. The main school is in ATL which I am not gonna drive that far for. There are still some former classmates in town. I may door some stuff with them. I don't know. It's all hypothetical right now.

I say go for it, I wish I could train every day but I moved away from my dojo and I miss the environment, even the pain sometimes :) If it is on your mind then I think it would be worthwhile to get back into it. Time only makes it harder to get back through the door. I hope you find a place that you are comfortable with and enjoy!