For the last 5 years I've mostly been teaching, coaching and refereeing but competing is a hard thing to give up. Especially when I got beat by one of my own students last December. To add insult to injury he beat me with a move I taught him. Mbiker, has given a great description of Judo, why people like to do competitive Judo and also all of the dangers of Judo. I don't so much get a rush out of Judo but almost have a compulsion about sparring. Unlike martial arts like Tai Chi, Kung Fu or even Karate Judo is primarily a sport and is mostly done for sparring as compared to doing Kata (forms). I've done Kata competition before but don't enjoy it as much as sparring and also there are much fewer Kata competitions. I agree with the weight training point and have been doing some of that along with a lot of calisthenics but even there my body is at the point of pretty much permanent injury.
I know some people who do Capoeira and there's no way I could do most of that stuff even 10 years ago and when I was fully healthy. Several years ago I used to do open martial arts competitions and I fought a Capoeira guy. He sprung one of those handstand double kicks on me which was just incredible. Until then I had never seen anyone do that outside of a movie.
Sishir, I wish I would have participated in Judo as long as you have. I started around 9 yrs old and continued off-and on until about 15yo. I was a brown belt by then and actually came in 2nd place in the junior Olympics for my age group. Alas. I tore a knee ligament and never regained the confidence to continue. In hindsight, I wish I would have as the stretching and workouts was probably the best thing I could have done for myself. Problem is, the desire to compete in the tournaments was so strong (and out of the question) that I just gave up. I would strongly suggest you stick with it (minus the tournaments) till such time that you can rebuild your confidence and strength. Have you had surgery on that shoulder? Mine used to pop out of the joint at the most unexpected times (putting on a shirt), but painful as it was, I could always get back in place till a few years back when I could not get it back in and had to go to the emergency room. The doctor said I was going to do permanent nerve damage less I had an operation, which I did. The surgeon tightened everything up and after a couple years it has never since given me trouble. good luck
You can stop, just as soon as YOU FIGHT ME CHANG! Ever since that day when you floored me with a perfect Ippon in the finals of the Kumite, I have been training with a singular vision, TO FIGHT SISHIR CHANG AND GET MY REVENGE. We don't have to do it at this year's Supreme Deadly Eagle Kumite Death Tourney. We don't have to do it as I strive to open a portal to the Underworld to allow the Demon Army to enter this realm from their dimension to fulfill my corrupt bargain with the evil Emperor Zeross. We can do it anywhere, anytime. From an abandoned factory in the Brooklyn waterfront, to the ancient forbidden Dojo, to your backyard in the Twin cities. It doesn't matter. But I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE. So quit or not, by the blood of my murdered Sifu, Chang, I am coming for you.
Thanks for the advice Win. The doctors have said its only a mild separation and doesn't require surgery. About 12 years ago I dislocated it and dislocated it 2 years later. At the time the doctors recommended operating but I did a ton of therapy and strengthened it up to where that wasn't needed. I would rather avoid surgery unless it was absolutely necessary because it will take longer to recover but at this point I figure I'm due for some work on either the shoulder, my knees or even my ankles where it feels like I'm developing bone spurs.
LOL! As soon as my shoulder heals I'll take you on in a Clutchfans Kumite and will match my T-Mac Tiger Claw and Mutum-DO vs. your Drunken Barkley and Bobby Sura fainting technique!
[dubbed voice] Your demon style is weak. I'm the only master that has the right to teach here. Just you wait until my students head over to your school, and defeat your school. Then I will show you who has the right to fight Chang. My tree sloth style might seem slow, and unaffective, but it is the only thing that can topple Chang. The Kumite will be my showcase. After that I will be the most powerful Sifu around. Two men enter, one man leaves.[/dubbed voice]
