This is your ACL... This is your ACL on Krav Maga

Well crap... I managed to destroy my ACL in fight class last week. In the last few seconds of one of the most entertaining rounds I've ever fought I threw one last left leg round kick at my opponent, but my right foot didn't rotate on the floor, and "pop" there went my ACL. Oddly enough, there was no pain at the time, just the "pop" that I felt and heard. Afterward a dull ache and the disturbing feeling that my knee was going to give way. The only real pain, which is more of a discomfort than real pain, was from the swelling that started sometime after I went to bed that evening.

Anyway, I had it checked out by a sports medicine doctor, and he sent me for an MRI. At the follow up appointment yesterday he confirmed that I'd ruptured my ACL... which is pretty much what everyone already knew. So, in three weeks the surgeon will take a hunk of one of my hamstrings and go in and replace my ACL with it. Then after two weeks of crutches, and six months of physical therapy, I may... check that... I WILL be back in action with Krav Maga. Maybe even earlier, but then probably just light work in heavy bag class. Unfortunately I may never feel comfortable going full out on kicks which really blows since they're the only combative that I felt I was really good with.

I'll say this, when I do get back into action I certainly won't be wearing shoes in class anymore. Well, maybe specific martial arts shoes, but certainly not regular shoes or the indoor soccer shoes that caused this problem. I was wearing a pair of Adidas Sambas which, I'm sure make excellent indoor soccer shoes. I'd read a lot of on-line recommendations that they're also great martial art shoes and for the last six months I would have agreed. They've got this nice big circular piece of tread right under the ball of your foot which makes an excellent pivot point when you spin for a kick. With my previous shoes I had to cheat and make a little pivot-step at the start of my kick. Unfortunately, if you keep too much of your foot down on the rest of the tread they stick to the mat like they're welded in place... especially when you weigh 220lbs. That's what happened to me in this case.. I was hopped up on adrenalin, yet also tired, and when I rushed that last kick my form went to shit and so did my ACL. So, let this be a warning to all of you out there.