#57 I Couldn’t Walk Yesterday

I've had SI problems off and on for a while.  If you’re not familiar, the SI is a joint that's on the lower part of your hip.  It grooves right between your spine and kind of that big fan that's by your hip bone.  Sometimes it will lock up due to a moment of instability.  When this happens, it becomes very difficult to hinge from the hip and more difficult to walk.

The First Time

The first time I had this issue was when I deadlifted 600 pounds in the 181 class.  My left side locked up.  It was a terrible feeling.  From here, I dug into the research in order to better understand SI dysfunction and how the joint works.  This could pose a significant issue with my jump performance if it got out of hand. 

I’m embarking on a journey to dunk the basketball by the time I turn 42 years old.  My weight was down to 185 and I was consistently going to the gym.  I’m jumping with 50-pound dumbbells, squatting with no issues, and my knees are feeling good.

And Then…

Without weight, without warning.  It just locked up.  You know how fucking frustrating this is?  Everyone is going to deal with injuries throughout their career.  It’s just how it is if you push yourself. 

But here's the deal.  I still woke up on fucking fire today.  Why?  It’s because I realized that if I want to do something extraordinary, then these are things that have to happen.  There wasn’t time to feel sorry for myself.  I thought, "All right, I've got a weakness.  I have to attack it."  The other one doesn't do that anymore. Why is the right one doing this?

I went to see Dr. Kelly.  I worked on more isometrics.  I thought about the programming.  I thought about my recovery.  I thought about my sleeping patterns.  My taper to jump day.  At the end of the day, it's all a challenge.  

I See It

I can see the result.  When I can experience what I know is possible, it’s going to be an amazing feeling.  At the end of the day, yeah, motherfucker, I couldn't walk.  I was trying to pay my taxes yesterday.  I'm deloading my spine with my legs up on my couch, hobbling my ass around like an old fucking man.

I felt 20 years old two days before that.  I felt 70 yesterday.  You know how fucking humbling and frustrating that is?   When I say I felt 20, I'm telling you, lean.  The mobility and strength were clicking.  Then, bang!  Roadblock.

How Bad Do You Want It?

The power is asking if I really want it or not.  It would be easy to throw in the towel and say that I’m too old for this.  Motherfucker, no.  I don’t believe in that.  Here’s what happened…  

I could barely walk all day.  I had plenty of business stuff that I had to handle.  I didn’t lunge because I could barely get out of my truck coming home from the gym.  Now it’s 4:30pm.  Time to train AG and some of his buddies.  I started hitting some isometric and balance work to help loosen up.  The guys were about to launch their 400 meters.  I was like, "You know what?  Fuck it.  Here I go."  

I got loose enough to lunge my 400 and felt good for about two hours.  Following that, I sat in a chair wrong, and boom, it locked back up again.  Got up twice during the night, boom, locked up.  I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to jump today.  I have some ideas on how to loosen up, so we’ll see what happens.  I have to keep moving.

Dealing With Shit

You’re going to go through your own version of this.  When shit is thrown at you, it is imperative to figure out how to adapt, fix, and overcome.  Were you dehydrated?  Are you taking in enough aminos?  Are you sleeping enough?  Are you flexible enough?  Start to check the boxes.  

At the end of the day, you have to get it together.  Doing so will allow you to have the body and numbers you want.  Wake up for the challenge.  Don’t let it beat you.