Jonathan Forrester, Chief Instructor of the Dawsonville Martial Arts Center in Georgia, just sent me an email about my “Learning the Hard Way” post featuring my bruised foot. Mr. Forrester, a 3rd Dan in Shuri-Ryu, had just trained with Hanshi Ridgely Abele and kindly passed along Hanshi Abele’s opinion of injury:
If you get a bloody nose, a broken finger or toe, a bloody lip, or some teeth sticking through your lip - this is NOT an injury. This should be considered “Body Conditioning”. If a bone is sticking through the skin, then you can claim an injury.
Body conditioning it is, then! I love it.
on Jun 19th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I love it, bro!
Missed ya at Hypericon 3 this year.
Take care,
Troy
P.S. Where’s the third part of the trilogy?
on Jun 21st, 2007 at 8:25 am
I always remember what one of the senior masters of my program used to say:
“Pain is just weakness leaving the body.”
on Jun 21st, 2007 at 10:45 am
Troy — Hey man! Sorry I couldn’t make it this year. $$$ don’tcha know. As for the trilogy, I’m working on it! I’m even taking a vacation day soon to make some real progress.
Nate — Man, I forgot about that quote. I remember that from wrestling in high school. What style did you study?
on Jun 21st, 2007 at 11:04 am
Shaolin-Do. Sort of an all-encompasing, animal style kung-fu. Haven’t been to a class in probably two years, and I’ve forgotten half my katas, but I still own all my weapons. Guess that’s got to count for something!
on Jun 21st, 2007 at 6:01 pm
We missed ya. It was OK this year. Just isn’t the same without BK there. What with him punching vans and all.
Take care and me want to read part 3!
Troy
on Jun 22nd, 2007 at 11:43 am
I’m working on part 3 as we speak! You need to talk to Tod — he’s been emailing me about it, too.
Mike