I can no longer stickfight... :(

[Spadaccino]

For the past couple of years, I've been dealing with a thinning retina in my right eye--apparently, it's something that can happen with age (though I'm trying to find out more about this).  The eye doctor had told me that a heavy blow to the head could possibly detach it, but, like with so many things, doctors tend to be rather vague...

Anyway, I recently had my yearly exam, and now I have a thinning retina in my left eye too, and the doctors at my eyecare center are recommending that I give up stickfighting, and everything else that may cause a hard blow to the head.

This has come as quite a depressing shock to me.

This means that I should not engage in:

1.  FMA full-contact stick/sword sparring.  

2.  My experimental English singlestick sparring.  

3.  Any standing grappling involving high-amplitude throws.  

In addition, I had wanted to someday try my hand at jukendo (Japanese bayonet fencing), but I suspect that the thrusts from a ridgid dummy rifle/bayonet could be very jarring, and should likewise be avoided.      

This leaves me with conventional Western fencing, and BJJ groundwork (both of which are good, albeit limited on some level).  

What I want to know is, given my situation, what are my current FMA options, if any?  Would I just be limited to drills, or maybe sparring with hard rubber knives?

Any input would be appreciated.

Don't get me wrong--no activity is worth risking my vision, but I really love stickfighting in all it's incarnations, and so this news has understandably bummed me out.

Bigtime.

Peace,

Dave/Spad/TFS

[Anonymous]

Whate kind of gear are you using when stick/sword fighting?

[Spadaccino]

Whate kind of gear are you using when stick/sword fighting?

Protective gear?  For FMA we use WEKAF-style headgear, body armor, & street hockey gloves.  For English singlestick, we use modified (padded) 3-weapon fencing masks, fencing jackets, & fencing gloves (though we were gonna add medical neck braces to the panoply, as we currently pull our thrusts).

[Crafty_Dog]

Woof Spad:

Bummer dude.

I suspect the lack of response is a matter of not having any solutions to offer-- I know I don't.   You've probably named your options-- BJJ-grappling; knife; fencing, etc.  

So, not much to say except "Bummer dude."

Crafty

[Arkangel]

Hey, sorry to hear about the retina. While I am still young, I can now fathom the idea of losing battles simply because of age. This does hang over my head. My senior student was born without the spur that hold two vertabrae together, in the pasthe was able to overcome this with muscle. I guess he has fiannly passed the cusp if youth and now he cannot fight. Or run. Or drive longer than 3 hours. This is a major blow for uncle Rich.
However he has a great deal to offer the younger guys as far as experience and skill. I have talked to him about turning the preceding qualities into coaching skills. His martial life is not over. Instead of being a young brave on the war path, he is now becoming a chief. Someone to teach the young guy's. This is a little lame and probably not the direction you wish to go, life's a bitch. I wish I had more to say good luck.

[Spadaccino]

Guro Crafty, Arkangel, et al.,

Thanks for the moral support, folks--it's definitely appreciated.

I know it's a rough deal--what do you tell someone who just told you something along the lines of what I posted?  There's apparently little recourse at this point.

In any case, I'll keep you all posted in regards to my condition.

Perhaps I can no longer take the "harder contact" (to the head, at least;)), but I want to at least maintain the "higher conciousness" aspect, to the best of my ability.  

Thanks again,

Dave/Spad/TFS

[Anonymous]

Woof David:

How goes it with this chapter of your adventure?

Crafty

[SUNHELMET]

How different is a thinning retina from a detached retina in terms of treatment?

Another suggestion is looking for firearms training.

Good luck David.
--Rafael--
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[Spadaccino]

Woof Guro Crafty, Tuhon Rafael, et al.,

Hello folks!

I haven't been on this Forum in a while, but here's the latest news.

I saw a retina specialist, and my condition is known as "lattice degeneration".  They do not know what causes it.

However, I have some good news--this condition can be corrected (or minimized) with laser sugery--they basically use the laser to cause scar tissue to form, so that the retina is reinforced.

My doctor tells me that, if I get both eyes done, I should be able to resume stickfighting!    

I'm getting the left eye zapped at 2 P.M. today--please keep me in your prayers (as there is some margin for complications)!

I'll keep ya's posted of my progress.

Thanks again for the input and moral support,

Dave/Spad/TFS

P.S.  Rafael--the firearms bit wouldn't be good for me--at least not yet--guys that shoot in indoor ranges often suffer from detached retinas, due to the concussion of the gun going off, I guess.  FWIW.