First Hard Fall

So, I took my first really hard fall in 3 or 4 years of gymnastics training yesterday. At the time I was working on improving my set (jump) for backflips as a way to increase their height. Backflipping or 'Back tucks' as they are called in gymnastics is something that I had figured out how to do on my own years ago, but now that I am training in (and teaching) gymnastics formally, I thought it in my best interest to learn how to do them with correct form.

Basically, my problem is that I pull in my legs too early, and as a function of it, cut short the potential of my jump. To counter-train against that I'd been working on a trampoline to jump, and then wail until the last second before tucking. This time I'm afraid, I may have waited too late before doing the tuck because I came down right on my face. The right side hit, I saw a flash of lights, and then felt a rapid fire series of 'pops' in my neck.

At the time I was training on my own at work where I coach gymnastics, and thankfully no one (except for one little kid) saw it. Dazed as I was, I got to my feet, and went to the bathroom to see why my face was burning so much, and low and behold, I had taken off skin in more than a few places. None to comfortable.

In any event, I grabbed some ice for both my face and neck, and headed home. Needless to say, I ended up spending the day in ER (my first time in years!) before I was finally released with the happy news that nothing was broken and that I would retain function of all my limbs. Yay for that!

In any event, reflecting on the fall itself, it was interesting, because it didn't really hurt. It was just like being punched in the face (which I guess in essence, I was) and was just kind of disorienting and numbing in the same way. Strange as it may sound though, in a way, I'm glad that it happened, as now I know what taking a major fall feels like, and it isn't quite as scary. Kind of like my first kickboxing match, where I thought: 'That's it? That's not so bad...' Thus far, it hasn't seemed to deter my desire to keep improving in the least, and if nothing else, is simply irritating because I didn't feel like taking a break right now.

Anyway, I am not supposed to work out for the next two days (due to minor soft-tissue swelling))) and am really looking forward to healing up, so I can get back to hitin' it by the end of the week. It's true what they say! What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger!!