Martial Arts?

[Pandra]

My daughter is very much involved in martial arts which means many hours for me at the academy whilst she is training. I have seen the adults training and it is something I would love to do.

However ...

Firstly, a large part of the training is sparring and I think someone coming over to hit me will set off a flashback.

Secondly, I have many scars from self harm mainly on my feet (however these can be easily disguised as a crush injury).

I know all the instructors at the academy and they have all asked at various points if I was interested in training but I have always said no. I am extremely overweight (but also really quite fit) so its not the exercise part of it thats worrying me. I would have to declare my PTSD and is it really fair to expect them to put up with me if its likely to trigger flashbacks. That also taps into not many people knowing about my PTSD.

I am currently in therapy but that is ending in 4 weeks time and I dont think weekly sessions are my thing and I dont think they really work for me. Martial arts may work as a way of me working my own way through issues, but can I really put those issues onto other people? Maybe I am just trying to substitute my therapist for another?? Hmm and now I am rambling.

Oh and sorry Hi, I am a newby.

 

[Stickler]

Martial arts helped me. I'd say go for it.

 

[illusionist]

Welcome.

I have always wanted to do self defence classes but feared flashbacks and everyone knowing about my Ptsd through my reactions.

As part of the job I'm in now I had to go through basic training on how to get myself out of a physical attack. It was hard to go through it......my reaction was to freeze initially and have the flashbacks when I got home...but it has given me a certain confidence which I needed. I'm now considering taking it further, not because I fear attack so much, but because of the confidence it gave me .

I say go for it.

 

[City Slicker]

it is something I would love to do

when you are that clear about something, it's worth listening to.

I would have to declare my PTSD

Is this part of the club intake process? I am very involved in martial arts and I have never been asked to disclose.

I have seen all kinds of reactions in athletes in martial arts from hysterical laughter to outright panic when they felt they couldn't get enough breath because something was coming at them quickly - ptsd or no.

Instructors, if they are good, understand how to guide a participant through that.

Best wishes with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Ronin]

Hi there, welcome.

Similar as previous posters I don't believe you have to disclose PTSD; if it's in the training's way, you could always just say you need a minute / can't do certain things & might react intensely to others, but that isn't really PTSD-specific.

Good instructors & respectful classmates will have more than fair share of experience with that & accomondation for you.

All I'd say is go for it. You may find a lot of composition where you fear to lose control, that you're not seeing through fears now.

 

[Suzetig]

I do martial arts, I hold a black belt in shot plan karate - it's been an absolute godsend for me. Honestly don't worry about your feet - most people are busy focussing on themselves and there are some truly ugly feet out there!

If you're worried about sparring just mention to the instructor - they'll be very used to people who find sparring difficult for all kinds of reasons and in junior belts they take it really slowly so you can test out how it goes.

Good luck!

 

[Friday]

Fighting is the 2nd most grounding thing for me. Sparring? Wish I could do it every day. It's centering/ grounding/ connecting/ :D happy happy

Second piece... You watch people "coming over to hit" your daughter on a regular basis. Range back in your mind to when she first started, to now, to the hundreds of lessons you've watched. You think you'll love it. I think you should trust that. Fear? Fear is a tool. It lets us know something may happen. Not that it's going to happen. Forewarned is forearmed... You know you may trigger. But you also know yourself and think this is something you could love. I think you should trust that.

As far as replacing your therapist? I view replacing good things in my life... As a good thing. ;) Adding more good things? Even better. The more good? The better. Sounds kind of duh, but if you're anything like me, I tend to forget that. That I don't have a finite number of good things allowed in my life. It's not 1:1. And I can feel free to replace something mediocre with something outstanding. Hell. I can even add 2, or 5, or 17 outstanding things.

 

[Ronin]

Other thoughts @heprxa, there's also a chance of adorable bonding moments with your kid over something she just loves to do, is good at, and can engage her parent in, which may open many perspectives even in that relationship.

 

[Pandra]

Thank you all so much for your kind and wise replies. I think I am going to have to at least give it a try out. I think the fear for me is showing vulnerability and I find so much shame in flashbacks which are occurring pretty often at the moment. I know I need to fight free of this, to make my own decisions and not ones based purely on fear.

I think I would have to forewarn the instructors as I quite often shout out during flashbacks (i am told) and end up in a corner shaking or even worse crying.

Yes am gonna have a go and start after the next gradings.

I hope

 

[Sammyiam]

I have done Martial Arts for over ten years, I have instructed kids and adults and it will be fine, when you first start so many have different hang ups about so many different things, no one will worry about it. Just have a word to your instructor and say you are a bit worried about ....... what ever you think will bother you. They are their to help you not scare you off, otherwise they would have no members. I haven't trained for over ten years and wish i could get back into but carnt anymore. if anyone says anything about your feet ( which i don't think anyone will ) say yea I did that breaking boards with my feet !!!
I think it would be great for you, thats how I got started into it, I watched my children and then got roped into holding a pad one night for them.
Good Luck and i hope you have a go

Sammy

 

[Changing4Best]

My husband, before he died, when we were young taught me a few Judo moves, but in my adult crisis, I didn't think of them. I was too triggered I think.

Later on in life, I took a self defense course, after the trauma, but my dyslexia made it impossible for me to learn. I gave up on the idea more or less, after trying to do the course for a month or so, once a week. I did learn a few things that I could do, and I am active physically, getting my exercise every day one way or another. I feel more confident if something like my trauma were ever to occur again. I would probably try to use those tricks.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Aikido helped me a lot in recovery, and it was great help in reverting from self harm. Martial arts are quite helpful, and people are mostly understanding. So, I suggest you give it a try.