My favorite prescription...

The new school year is back in full swing which means kids are bringing "stuff" home in the way of runny noses, strep throat, and the usual ailments.  It seems like a lot of folks I know come down with something around this time of year, which means that I'll be answering the same question a few dozen times over the next few months: Should I train if I'm sick?

Most of the time, yes.  A runny nose or a little cough isn't enough to miss training.  A general rule that I've followed for over a decade now is that if I'm sick from the neck up- I train...without question.  If I'm sick from the neck down, there are other questions I should consider.  Often though, folks ask about training while sick because they're looking for permission to stay home.  In my years teaching in the dojo, I've only ever sent one person home because they were too sick to train.  I still remember that day...the teenage student was crushed.  Pretty awesome experience that he and I still joke about...

Obviously, if you're too sick to go to school or work, then you're probably too sick to train.  If anything is explosively leaving your body, please don't bring it into the dojo.  If you're a little sick, come train.  You may actually feel better afterward.  Oh, and don't feel like it's necessary to let me know you're sick and try to explain your performance and why it might be less than normal.  I know, and more than anything, I appreciate you being with us and training, especially when you're not 100%

​Osu!

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