[harriettvanders]

So after a rather painful clash of toes on Wednesday my foot looks like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42139296@N00/528233529/

The question is do I still attempt the Bowden on Saturday with my team?
It's been strapped up and it does not hurt to put weight on it. It's painful only to touch, in the right place. I will be at practice on Wednesday and see how that goes, probably still have it taped up but what would you do? I don't want to let the team down...

[Tainlyferfara]

Since it's your right foot, you won't be pushing off on it much, unless you're going backward.

I had the exact same injury, only on the left foot. Needless to say, it was painful, but because I had surgery on my right hand the next week, I was off for a couple of weeks, which gave it plenty of time to heal, but it still hurt when I walked around.

I think that if you really want to participate in the Bowden, you probably can do so.

[BorBitExatini]

Toughen up ;P

I think if you tape them up well enough and dont do any sprinting over the next few days you should be fine. Just got to wait and see how it is on the day really.

[Flirigor]

So after a rather painful clash of toes on Wednesday my foot looks like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42139296@N00/528233529/

The question is do I still attempt the Bowden on Saturday with my team?
It's been strapped up and it does not hurt to put weight on it. It's painful only to touch, in the right place. I will be at practice on Wednesday and see how that goes, probably still have it taped up but what would you do? I don't want to let the team down...

you have another one.. just hop
idle soldier you

[Herimoisige]

And by the way .. thanks for that little bit of information
If we draw your team i will get one of my big thugs to stand on it

[YabbaIn]

If it's not broken, strap and don't worry. You can rest after Bowden

[baronaaba]

will it jeopordize your team's chance of winning? if not, go for it.

~taganahan

[catermos]

I was going to have a nice Sandwhich and a glass of milk, but (ulp!)
I'll pass....
(yeeeecchhhh)

[fgjhfgjh]

The question is do I still attempt the Bowden on Saturday with my team?

If it hurts and doing kendo on it will make it worse then no.
Kendo is not about being macho.

[somasideff]

your toe nails are still intact.. that's good. last time that happened to me, it ripped off half of my toe nail.

pete

[ForumMasta]

As long as you can still wiggle your toes, strap them up and go for it.

[qp0yfHOf]

will it jeopordize your team's chance of winning? if not, go for it.

~taganahan

I dunno, they may have a better chance if I wasn't competing altogether
Thanks for all the advice, I will see how Wednesday goes and then. I can't imagine having more than two bouts [unless it's an immediate knockout match for the first one] anyway so I should be able to cope with ten minutes, thugs or no thugs...

[Deribasov]

No! No! No! No!

Do NOT go into the shiai with the thought you're only going to last two bouts. If you do, you have already defeated yourself.

Seriously, kendo is about self-improvement, and if you're doing your best, then it isn't fair to yourself to prepare to lose. It's not about how many bouts you win, it's how hard you work to improve your kendo, your self, and your self-confidence.

Okay, off the soapbox, I think the advice that everyone else has given is valid, but it's your decision in the final analysis.

If you decide to participate, then I wish you the best!!!!

Gambatte!

[HexcewlyRette]

"I'm/we're going to win."

That's the though you should take in.

I mean... don't be to upset when my team wins, but it's good to have that attitude anyway.

[truportodfa]

Actually with the toe injury I'd felt a bit more relaxed about it and thought if I compete I can just go and enjoy the experience to the best of my ability. Now you've gone and said "I'm/we're going to win." the nerves are back.

I will certainly give it my best shot but I'm not gonna delude myself and think some Karate Kid style win will appear out of thin air.

And yes I have heard about a Glasgow team and the relative Dan grades therein. Whether it's yours I don't know and it shouldn't make any difference but experience is worth a few bob in this game methinks.

[Domovoy]

aye go for it
if its likely to get worse (i.e its fractured/broken) or impede our teams chances then perhaps rest it
or just use the pain and focus it etc etc
...and take lots and lots of codene
enjoy ad good luck

[Smeaphvalialm]

Well I survived toe intact. Apparently a few people were asking about me to my team captain - my toe is internationally famous. Anyway I took a load of blurred photographs and a couple of 'keepers' and videod both our teams so I'm sure I'll get those up at some point because y'all want to see how we lost in style.

Our A team was drawn against the Kodokan B team and it would seem I had the honour of facing Kazuyo Matsuda 5th Dan and BKA National Ladies Coach, the highest graded lady kendoka in this country. Of course my captain didn't tell me that beforehand. I believe she scored a kote so I lost but I survived the full three minutes and my first ever shiai [proper]. I will look forward to competing again next year.

[klubneras]

Do you think it would've gone as well if we had told you who she was before you fenced her though :P

[Mboxmaja]

One time I saw a guy dressed in full bogu at a kendo tournament.
With a cast on his leg and crutches.
How he competed is beyond me (my parents and little brother wanted to leave).
If you can walk, you'll probably be fine XD