Any of us who spar will have injuries with good stories.
It was my second week of class. It was my first sparring class. I had sparred with 6 or 8 different people when I ended up with one of the Black Belts.
At the start of each sparring class my Sifu explains that: 1: You are NOT allowed to get angry. 2: Anyone can hit hard, it takes more skill to hit soft. and finally, (and this is the important one) Don't hit anyone harder than you want to be hit.
This Black Belt will put his hands on his knees and give you a dumb look if you aren't on offense during sparring. It is a trick! It doesn't look like he can move fast from that position, but, don't be fooled. You know, like I was.
I was 285 pounds. He's about 155... I clocked him, big roundhouse punch to the jaw. Dropped him. Stood amazed, for a second. That guy hit the ground, popped up like a damn super ball and popped me! Right over the left eye. I was staggered, but, managed to keep my hands up. My Sifu yelled "STOP!" I stopped. I dropped my hands and could just feel everyone looking at me. I looked down, and noticed blood on the floor and wondered where it came from. Then I looked up into the wall of mirrors and was shocked. I looked like something out of a horror movie. Drenched in sweat, sporting a deer in the headlights stare, blood POURING out of a cut above my eye. The next few minutes are a blur... The next thing I know the Black Belt I was sparring had me sitting on the toilet in the bathroom and was applying pressure to stop the bleeding. Wow, head wounds really bleed, huh? Got me a bandage, and went back for the last 5 minutes of sparring.
My Sifu complemented me on taking it well. I did stay on my feet... and I drove home at warp speed to get my camera. This is about 45 minutes later:
Growing up, when I saw Rocky Movies I thought the guy getting by a punch was a bunch of crap. I don't think that anymore. 2½ years later, I am a Green Belt in Kenpo, and spar every week. The Black Belt that cut me? One of my best friends and yes, he still whips on me in sparring, but, he has to work harder now to do it. I think I actually made him break a sweat Monday night...
So, share your war stories! Lets see the bloody results.
It was my second week of class. It was my first sparring class. I had sparred with 6 or 8 different people when I ended up with one of the Black Belts.
At the start of each sparring class my Sifu explains that: 1: You are NOT allowed to get angry. 2: Anyone can hit hard, it takes more skill to hit soft. and finally, (and this is the important one) Don't hit anyone harder than you want to be hit.
This Black Belt will put his hands on his knees and give you a dumb look if you aren't on offense during sparring. It is a trick! It doesn't look like he can move fast from that position, but, don't be fooled. You know, like I was.
I was 285 pounds. He's about 155... I clocked him, big roundhouse punch to the jaw. Dropped him. Stood amazed, for a second. That guy hit the ground, popped up like a damn super ball and popped me! Right over the left eye. I was staggered, but, managed to keep my hands up. My Sifu yelled "STOP!" I stopped. I dropped my hands and could just feel everyone looking at me. I looked down, and noticed blood on the floor and wondered where it came from. Then I looked up into the wall of mirrors and was shocked. I looked like something out of a horror movie. Drenched in sweat, sporting a deer in the headlights stare, blood POURING out of a cut above my eye. The next few minutes are a blur... The next thing I know the Black Belt I was sparring had me sitting on the toilet in the bathroom and was applying pressure to stop the bleeding. Wow, head wounds really bleed, huh? Got me a bandage, and went back for the last 5 minutes of sparring.
My Sifu complemented me on taking it well. I did stay on my feet... and I drove home at warp speed to get my camera. This is about 45 minutes later:
Growing up, when I saw Rocky Movies I thought the guy getting by a punch was a bunch of crap. I don't think that anymore. 2½ years later, I am a Green Belt in Kenpo, and spar every week. The Black Belt that cut me? One of my best friends and yes, he still whips on me in sparring, but, he has to work harder now to do it. I think I actually made him break a sweat Monday night...
So, share your war stories! Lets see the bloody results.
