Martial Arts

[THECATINTHEHAT]

I think martial arts are awesome for both your body and your mind.
I recently started a Kung Fu course (shaolin and tai chi chuan) and it teaches you discipline and also how to have a more focused and calm mind as well as a more elastic and strong body, not to mention the fact that after like some years of practive you can learn to use chinese weapons like blades, chains etc.
it's badass and not only is good to learn to fight but also for you as a person, I think it's great.

Agreed with all of that. When I started kickboxing I realised just how unflexible I was, but within a couple of months things changed had changed really quickly. The stretches at the beginning of class were more painful than the fucking sparring . Could get my foot behind my head when I was still training, which is pretty good for a 6'5" male.

 

[Another Brick In T]

I'm not sober. Practised Krav Maga for a while. Just wanted to know how you guys cope with the pain of practising MA while living a sober life.

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

Dislocated my shoulder a number of times through MA whilst clean and had to pop it back in myself. Hurts but you just get on with it. Only been one occasion I couldn't get it to go back in myself and had to go to the hospital.

Managed to not panic and get a pic the last time I did it if you want to see!

 

[whiteroom67]

I'm not sober. Practised Krav Maga for a while. Just wanted to know how you guys cope with the pain of practising MA while living a sober life.

Your body adapts over time and your neurotransmitters regrow after you've been sober for awhile. They will also adapt to extra pain too. So when you have been experiencing the added pain from working out your muscles and/or getting hit, you will grow even more endorphin receptors and develop a higher tolerance for pain and it won't even bother you like that anymore. Right now it doesn't seem like you would be able to handle it because every time you stop your DOC you feel every little annoying and/or painful thing because your body isn't doing what it is supposed to be doing on it's own. That changes with abstinence.

 

[Another Brick In T]

@whiteroom67- Thank you for the post.

 

[ixtab]

Great thread. I've been clean (used only once) from anything non-psychedelic for the last three years and have recently started wing tsun and qi gong. I meditated often to help get clean but it began feeling stale and became more difficult. However, lately martial arts has been helping my meditation significantly. It's a lot more effortless when body and mind work together towards a common goal.

I find that it's so much more than just exercise too, that it satisfies a desire within me that I once used drugs to satisfy. I have noticed this with a number of other ex addict friends as well, they do muay thai (forgive my spelling if that's incorrect). I think whilst getting clean and in order to stay clean, a goal that you can continually work towards, like fitness and spiritual growth, is important. Really cool to see other people with similar experiences

 

[whiteroom67]

I got so much from judo beyond the physical. Unfortunately I did not keep it up (brown belt in my twenties) and at my age I am not likely to start again; but it is the whole metaphor of using what the opponent is throwing at you, actually using all his force and turning it around that has helped me internally so much. When I say metaphor it is because I have translated this from a physical self defense tactic to a mental self defense tactic. When your own thoughts feel like the enemy don't run from them, turn and face them and use what they are throwing at you to strengthen yourself. Agility, balance and flow.

@ Space_firebird--I think I will investigate tai chi at this stage of life.

That's awesome... A great way to look at it.

I really wish I could start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu again but it's just so damn expensive. Martial Arts is great though. Once I move out I'm gonna see how my budget is and maybe try to figure something out. I'm just glad I'm finally weightlifting and running again at least.