Setbacks.

So my recovery from knee surgery is going slower than planned, and I’ll be lucky to get released back to rowing and MMA in mid-January like I’m supposed to.
Also, my Muay Thai/ conditioning coach has left my home gym.
And my main coach (wrestling/bjj) has torn his MCL.
And the gym has delayed the opening of the new branch up where I am for college, so that sucks too.

The good news though is that when I do return to sports, I have someone to row with and compete with! One of the girls in the sorority I’m joining used to row and wants to get back into it, so we’re planning to row together and I’m super excited about that.

Gotta fix my knee first though.

5 months ago  /  0 notes

ACL reconstructive surgery tomorrow.

Doctor thinks I’ll actually be out of MMA until summer, bringing the total amount of time out of the sport to about 9 months.
I can begin rowing in February, which I’m excited about because the coaches want me competing in the regattas next season, even as a super-newb.
There aren’t words for how much I miss sports. I’m desperate to have this fixed so I can return at last.
I’ll be eating healthy and doing whatever light exercise I can (upper body and abs probably) for awhile until I can up the stakes.
Yep.
There’s nothing sadder than being an athlete that can’t train.

6 months ago  /  5 notes

I think I’ve decided what’s going to be on my custom mouthguard.

I have until christmas to officially decide, but after yesterday I think I know.

Something along the lines of “No fear”, in pink script on a white mouthguard.

How’s that sound?

8 months ago  /  6 notes

Advice.

ohhannahdear:

Yesterday, my coach gave me the best piece of advice I’ve gotten in awhile. 

He said:

“Attack college, and life, like you do your MMA training. Show no fear.”

I know it sounds cliche, or whatever, but to me it’s something I needed to hear. I’ve been too careful the last few years, and I’m done with that. Time to get shit done, and show no fear. If I can spar with guys twice my size, I should be able to handle what goes on outside the ring.

Come what may.

8 months ago  /  7 notes  /  Source: oh-hannahdear

This may seem obvious, but apparently some people need a reminder.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE PISS OFF AN MMA GIRL.

You will get fucked up. She is well-trained and not afraid to slap, punch, or kick you when you deserve it because you’re being a complete douchebag.

If you’re going to be an asshole, it would be smarter to be an asshole to someone who can’t beat the shit out of you.

8 months ago  /  9 notes

Leaving my gym today was rough.

It wasn’t just a fighter gym, it was like a family. And I’m going to miss these guys like crazy.

They got me into this sport. They were patient and worked with me even when I first got there and was “timid” about full-contact.

One of them was laughing at how I was when I first started, several months ago, and how I am now. His comparison went like this-

Me doing a takedown at the beginning- “*timid approach* takedown? *back away*”

Me doing one now- “TAKEDOWN RAWRRRRRR FEEL IT BITCH”

So basically about how now I have no fear of being aggressive and going for it.

I’m ending the summer injured. I do wish I could’ve finished out strong and shown them just how far I’ve come, but they know it.

They gave me the unique experience of being a newbie sparring in a cage with experienced fighters. Grappling with people twice as big as I am. Destroying new guys who made the mistake of assuming I’m timid and weak. Finding my “signature” move by almost dislocating my coach’s arm.

And I’m so thankful. I found my passion, and it was in large part thanks to them.

I miss it so much already. I’m already know I’m not going to find another gym like this when I move. I’ll be back to visit.

8 months ago  /  7 notes

I’m going to be honest.

I’m not handling the knee injury as well as I should be.

I got home from visiting the gym today, and pretty much had a meltdown.

Like just cried.

This is yet another setback. I finally find MY sport. Find something I’m actually passionate about. I start making progress and getting the hang of it, and then BAM! I had surgery on my nose. That’s how I started out the summer. Out for a few weeks for that.

And now, ending the summer with a torn ACL. I have 6-8 weeks of aggressive rehab, and if that doesn’t work, surgery. Even once it’s rehabbed, it’ll be a slow process of getting back into the sport. It’s looking like January before I’m fully back.

I had once again gotten back into the groove of things. My stand-up and muay thai game was improving fast, and I was even doing well sparring.

But no, my fucking knee does this.

I didn’t even get to finish out strong at my gym before I move for college. I feel like I let myself and my teammates down. I feel lost because this is what I spent all my spare time doing. If I wasn’t working or at home, I was at gym. Either training or just hanging out before practice. And now that’s a major gap in my life.

And competition-wise, I was originally supposed to start competing in no-gi by the end of this summer. Then I had surgery and a change in my coaching staff, so we pushed it back to this fall. And now this has pushed it back till the spring, and that’s if my comeback goes well.

My new gear will be here soon, and for months all I’ll be able to do is look at it.

My knee hurts so goddamn bad.

I miss MMA already.

9 months ago  /  3 notes