Karate Camp Day 1 and Injury Report

Day one of summer training camp was today.  I had an opportunity to train with Hanshi Miguel Ibarra in Aiki-Jujitsu and Kyoshi Bill Hayes in a style of Shorin-Ryu Karate.  I also had a training session on some sword techniques from a 6th Dan, and another session with another Kyoshi and two 6th dans. 

I am one of only about four brown belts at this training camp.  The rest are all varying degrees of black.  There's nothing like a training camp with that kind of company to make you feel completely insecure about your own skills. 

I did learn some really cool things.  I'm just worried I'll have to go back to camp in a complete body cast tomorrow.  This skinny bod of mine just doesn't bounce back in a day the way it happens for kids and young men. 

I realize this post is rather disjointed.  I'm going to blame that on the bell ringing that took place today when I was dropped on what felt like my neck/head during the aiki-jujitsu session by an aiki-jujitsu black belt candidate.  I've got a brush burn on the back of my neck to prove it.  This post will also serve as a public service announcement to anyone out there thinking that they can wear their wedding rings while doing martial arts.  When I was dropped earlier today, I must have landed badly on my left hand.  After the static spots cleared, my diamond looked more like a ruby and my fingers had blood on them. 

As of tonight, the injury report is as follows:

• Two cut fingers from wedding rings (pinky and middle finger)
• One jammed middle finger
• One bruised upper pinky knuckle
• An entire hand experiencing some hurt (yes, you should totally thank me for even trying to write a post)
• One extremely stiff neck that is spreading into the back, my shoulders, and all around my neck (front, back and sides). 
• One brush burn on back of my neck that hurts like you know what when I'm in the shower.
• One foggy brain that saw spots after being dropped in what I will call a rather unfriendly manner.

Tonight, I got to watch black belt testing.  I wanted to watch so I know what to expect.  It was exciting to watch and gave me some good ideas of things I need to work on. 

I'm not the only one who experienced an injury today.  Today, Lil C through her head back into Big I and broke what appears to be a blood vessel on top of her nose.  Her nose is bruised and was bleeding quite a bit today.  I'm just hoping the poor kid doesn't have a broken nose because she already has so much going against her in the genetic nose department in this family that I'm not sure any of us can handle a broken nose.

I'll be heading back to camp tomorrow and am going to hope that I am able to turn my head from side to side and bend my fingers a little better.  I did natural child birth right?  What's a jammed finger? 

Enter ibuprofen and tub full of ice.

Edited to Add:  There will be no more karate camp for me except for observation only (Maybe the dinner if I'm not too loopy from the muscle relaxers.)  I saw a doctor this morning (Saturday) after waking up in agony.  I have a severe case of whiplash/neck sprain that will require physical therapy starting next week.  I've been prescribed muscle relaxers, some pretty heavy duty pain medication, a soft collar for alternating with ice application, and some gentle neck strectches.  Someone please remind me to never try aiki-jujitsu again.