Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on April 27, 2012 at 3:21pm

I studied Tae Kwon Do for a while and would tuck it in between my belt? The academy had the doboks (gi) w/ ties and the sort of angled "cut" that was really ideal for the tube to snake out and be protected enough by the weight of the belt.

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Permalink Reply by busymom on April 27, 2012 at 5:58pm

Thank you - that's a good idea! I could try to place my omnipod on my lower back and my belt could provide the padding/protection I was looking for. Thank you!I took my first class in years and it went well. Blood sugars were ok throughout the class - made it through, not low til the end. I am comfortable in the studio - 4 out of 5 of my kids take classes there and I work in the office so they all know me. I just know I am the only diabetic there and just worry about my pump getting bumped or pulled on. But, the worry isn't enough to stop me from trying. I taped the sides of the pod down too. Thank you for the suggestion! Did you like Tae Kwon Do?

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on April 27, 2012 at 6:05pm

I loved it! Two weeks before my black belt test, my office closed and I had to move for work so I stopped. It made a huge impact on me and diabetes and really helped me get focused and turn a few things around. Since we moved, MrsAcidRock has been working more so I'm making up for the years when I was out @ the dojang 5-6 nights/ week and have switched to running. I fell on it hard once too, as I was doing a jump spinning kick, struggled, somebody pointed out I need to snap my hip more, I snapped and totally flipped over and fell on it but that was about the worst shot it took and it survived. I think it's a great thing. I looked around at places where we moved and tried Kung Fu for a while but the geography isn't as conducive as it was like 20 minutes to drive to class to work out for an hour and then driving home and it seems more productive to go run.

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Permalink Reply by busymom on April 28, 2012 at 11:30am

Yes, it is time consuming - Between all the classes and me working in the office we are there everyday from 4:00 to 7:00 but the kids love it and I do really appreciate the attitude there - that if something is hard you work at it and keep going. Through many years of pregnancies I had very tight control of my blood sugars. For the past couple years I have been running a little on the high side - 140 to 160. This became comfortable to me: I do a lot of driving with kids, spur of the moment runs after the dog who escaped the yard, etc. and I liked the extra buffer of more sugar so I didn't always drop low. But, now it's slipped a little more into 160 to 180 average range and I know I need to tighten up, record my BG and pay more attention. That's why I am so grateful I found this web site. And, why I am getting back in karate. My oldest son has his 1st jujitsu fight this weekend (he's in a MMA training program) so that will be fun but I think hard for me to watch. We'll see how anxiety and BG goes then! On my page I have a pic of my youngest son with his latest trophy. Proud mom! Thank you for responding to my question - your getting to a black belt level really encourages and inspires me!! That is so awesome!! Thank you!!

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Permalink Reply by Asma on June 25, 2012 at 3:31am

Can't thank you enough for that belt tip. Stays put, stays safe and out of the way.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on June 25, 2012 at 6:06pm

I'm glad it has helped you and that the sun never sets on my friends from Tu!

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on June 8, 2012 at 9:05pm

Hello busymom:

Given I am a professional kara-te teacher for a long time, I might have a thought or two on the subject. Technically Okinawan karate is a very different creature than TKD. Jujitsu (Japanese koryu), MMA, Karate all have very specific technical preferences, presentations and often unique clothing. Which you study will make meaningful difference in placement and where it can be placed for that matter.

So let's start with the easy part... what art exactly do you study and go from there?!

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Permalink Reply by busymom on June 9, 2012 at 8:28am

Thank you for helping! It's American Freestyle Karate. We have the uniform top that wraps around and ties on both sides but now in the summer when it's so hot we have t-shirts with our studio name on them that we can wear instead. My youngest son is 6 and he is a Tiny Dragon - gold belt, then I have a 10 yr old daughter - green belt and 13 yr. old son - purple belt - they also take bo staff and bokken classes plus they are on an extra sparring team and then my oldest son 19 yrs is in the same studio but with another instructor for a MMA program. I go to the family class with the kids and I got some Coban wrap and have been trying that to help secure it when my omnipod is on my arm (underside of upper arm). I can't partner with my kids for self defense or one steps because they are higher belts than me. I have always loved forms the best and that I can do without contact so my pump isn't a problem then. Honestly, I think I am just a little scared - I know the more I go the more I will be comfortable and less focused on my pump, right? Thank you so very much for your response and your help!

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on June 9, 2012 at 10:49am

The other thing to consider is that the people with whom you'd be sparring *are* martial artists who should be able to miss your pump or aim somewhere else? I know about the heat of the battle and all that but I don't recall ever hitting anyone anywhere "embarrassing" and I'd be embarrassed to blast someone's pump? I'd be embarrassed to hit anyone really hard anyway? I looked at it as sort of like "tag" as it's just as challenging to tighten your muscles to "tap" someone, they know you hit them but you don't injure them or yourself trying to blow them away?

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Permalink Reply by busymom on June 9, 2012 at 1:30pm

Ummm....technically a student is not required to spar until a blue belt so I can put that part off for a while because I am still low in the belt levels. But, you do spar other students so some are better than others at control and aim and different students have different personalities. I watch the sparring classes and I know pretty much all the students: kids and adults and have reads on most of their sparring styles. If your hands are down then you get hit in the head, I accept that and luckily my kids are really good at keeping their hands up and my pump will never be worn on my head. :) I think when you enter the ring to spar you have to be prepared to not get "tapped". I think I just need to just do it - what's the worst that could happen anyway - if my pump gets bumped I'll check and change it if necessary, right? It's just a new thing for me to get back into so I need to figure out how it effects my bg - exercise and anxiety wise. I love my studio and I don't want to fail. I just have to adjust to being older now and dealing with my bg. I think I am letting things get the better of me...

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on June 14, 2012 at 8:58am

Hello Busymom,

Good to hear you're not just thrown into the meat grinder, that's good. Takes a certain amount of time before things get absorbed enough to use them credibly. Before then its pure impulse not a technical response. Very different critters...

BG with any intense activity, you need bloodsugar for energy. You'll have to keep things higher and use it for fuel. Anxiety, like fight or flight stuff? Or what to do with the shakes when you are allowed encouraged to spar. Technically by then you should have the ability, some credibility. The trick is belief... experience will prove you have skill. With time you will believe...

The fear everybody has... and should. Our limits, our fear is THE value of training. Understand them, face them, work on them and keep fighting anyway. Diabetes, martial arts the same goals...

Stuart

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on June 14, 2012 at 8:29am

Hello Acidrock:

Hummmmmngh... is there be no fear of being hurt IYV? Concern and the epiphany wow I have power, or hey this stuff does work... all at the same time. But tag is a game... is martial practice?

Does hurting someone in practice require malice?
Stuart

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