Martial Arts

[DJW]

I remain hopeful that the current flare I've been in for more than 2 years will end after I start Remicade. I'm considering taking up one of the martial arts. I'm sure I'll need a really good ostomy guard.

Is there anyone out there how does this and if so, what were the challenges you had to overcome.

Thanks

 

[RCJ]

Hello! I have shodan (a 1st degree black belt) in judo and am also one short of that grade in kendo (traditional Japanese swordsmanship). I passed both of these grades with Crohn's (and before I started remicade).

However I have found doing martial arts with Crohn's tough. I have never been totally in remission, even during my first (and best) nine months of remicade. I have to deal with anemia as well, which made it hard to keep up at times in class. It was always frustrating putting in lots of extra training, but not being able to build that much stamina. I failed the black belt test for judo first time around too!

Dealing with extreme temperatures was also a challenge. Judo was always hot, while kendo could range from very hot to very cold. My gut never liked doing kendo in winter.

An understanding instructor helps, but it's your training partners that really matter. But another issue is how many people do you really want to tell about CD?! It can be hard to make excuses at a dojo! My judo instructor knew I had some thing going on health wise, but I always tended to play it down. I probably should have been more upfront about it!

It all depends on your own health situation, but martial arts are totally doable. As with any sport, you just have to take care of yourself. Go for it!

 

[DJW]

Thank you for the input. I play hockey and cycling to name a few but nobody is trying to hit me in the stomach lol.

 

[timbo267]

Hey I used to do karate before crohns got really bad. My instructors know about my condition so allways advised me just do what you can in class don't push yourself so hard that you start too feel ill. In terms of someone hitting you in the stomach just spar with the higher grades that have full control of what they are doing and they won't hit you in that area. I am looking froward to going back after I get my ileostomy.

 

[DeniseE]

I've been able to continue with traditional tae kwon do since being diagnosed last December (I'm also on remicade). For us the training is non-contact - although accidents do happen at times.

I had a long talk with my Master Instructor about what the diagnosis meant for my training and he understands when I have to sit out of class for a while or if I don't make it at all. He also understands that I have a reduced immune system and will watch out for me in the upcoming cold and flu season.

The only change I have made is that I no longer instruct on my own at a branch - I felt I couldn't make that level of commitment to students, but I've become an assistant instructor at another branch which is working out well.

For me the main challenge has been managing fatigue and accepting that there are going to be quite a few days where the training isn't working out the way I want it to but this is what my journey has now become.

 

[brooklyn23]

I've been doing taekwondo for 2 years, but since I've been actively not well since the beginning of this year I haven't gone that often. I pushed myself to go for my high green belt test on the same day I had a colonoscopy (I'm a total genius right?) I've been such an active person and the last two weeks or so I've been wiped out complete.