I’m at a bit of a loss for anything to post this time. I’ll just keep typing and see what comes to mind, then put the title in at the end.

Last week I struggled at training due to a torn rotator cuff (for a group of muscles so small they’re a serious hindrance and disproportionately painful!) and had to sit out some of the drills. Being sprawled on was the thing of nightmares, but in fairness the lads were very soft with me despite my attempts to tempt Moose into a slugfest on Thursday (I got a little too into it). My shoulder really annoyed me as it’s been an injury that keeps coming back and has bothered me for a good 10 years now. The biggest frustration is knowing that I’m stuck with it in the meantime and will just have to live with it for a few weeks. Some idiot suggested I rest it… I mean, come on, really!!! (Tuts and rolls eyes)

Injuries are commonplace in MMA but personally I feel like I’ve got off quite light thus far. I rarely get bruises and black eyes and only ever one fat lip (Matt kneed me full in the face during ‘light’ sparring a week before a fight). In the last 2 years the injuries I can remember are: knackered wrists from weak forearm muscles, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow (can you believe that!?), a torn hip adductor which caused back spasms and sciatic pain, strained knee ligaments due to tight quadriceps, that really, really painful thing that happens to your toes when you catch them between the mats - no end of times, and also that even more painful thing when you mis-time a leg kick and damage your instep – again repeatedly. Now I’m not complaining, as I’m aware that this is how things are in a contact sport, but I am in a perverse sort of way disappointed. Why? Well, it’s because most of them have been caused by running, rowing and hitting pads and bags a little too enthusiastically. I’d be much happier if they’d been caused actually fighting… or at least sparring hard. It’d be that little more macho and… well… acceptable.

This has reminded me of one of the first essays I had to write at university. The title was ‘Is sport good for you? Discuss (1500 words)’. Good question really, 1500 words hardly does it justice. I saw an interview with Martin Johnson (ex England rugby captain) who said that despite top level rugby players being incredibly fit he didn’t feel many of them were ‘healthy’. I don’t think he was referring to their fruit and veg intake but rather the impact a contact sport and the necessary training placed on the body. The British Lions’ team doctor also said that playing an international rugby match was like having a “controlled 60mph car crash once a week”. I wonder, in the same context, what impact all those joint locks, chokes and blows to the body and head have?

I have been wondering exactly how this injury is going to effect preparation for my next fight. I do actually intend to prepare this time, rather than just rolling up on the day having had 4 days notice! It’s really tricky trying to guess when my shoulder will be up to sparring and training properly and it’s not something I still want on my mind in 3, 4 or 5 weeks time.

Fingers crossed my shoulder will be nicely healed up before then… that way I can have a nice, fresh, new injury to worry about instead!