JANICE LUISE
was once ranked 3rd in New England in Karate in Men’s and
Women’s Division and in Karate Illustrated. She has earned
over 200 trophies. Janice is a professional
theatrical producer and director in the New England area
living with the love of her life, Dave in the New England area.
When I was young, I believed that to endure and overcome pain was an essential part of becoming a successful karate Master. Pain wasn’t just essential, it was glorious. An athlete’s pain either came through training, like handling a weapon or in the ring of fighting competition. For years, I found little to contradict this concept. I took many falls (mostly on my tailbone) but in the end my prize was to be ranked #3 in New England, over 200 trophies, and be on the cover of Karate Illustrated. I broke my ribs, feet, and finally my nose. The disfigurement of my face paused my karate career. In those days, there was only three women out of a room full of men. Competitors actually whispered when I walked into tournaments. I am barely 5’3” and 105 lbs.
Fast forward into my 40’s, I became intimately aware of another type of pain that exists in the lives of many athletes, a pain that is far less glamorous and certainly less sought after: the pain associated with injury and dysfunction.
This pain is insidious and neither temporary nor rewarding. It settles into an athlete’s life, constantly affecting mood, clouding thoughts, disrupting sleep and impairing performance. What was happening to me? I still worked out with the rigor I always did. People asked me to train at colleges, teach them weapons, rape courses, etc. (I was a weapon’s expert) yet some days I simply didn’t feel well.
Spots were clouding my eyes. Horrendous headaches plagued me. My PCP sent me to an impressive neurologist at UCONN who told me I had migraines of a “familiar nature”. What does that mean? Where’s the door? I had no time for this. I was building a business and doing really well. It seemed I had a knack for producing plays and actually selling them. I didn’t want to hear any of this.
Records showed my mother, sister, nephew, niece on both sides had migraines. My family never talked about these things. But with a bit of medicine, I’d be fine, said Yale Dr. Reike. Those visits grew into 15 years. I wasn’t living the life I dreamed. I was “waiting” for another crushing migraine. “Janice, live your life and don’t let anyone stop you; including this illness.” I had to accept I had a ‘disease’. “Don’t let anyone tell you it’s psychological, Dr.Reike said. It’s real and there is no cure. You must learn to live with it.” “No cure,” echoed in my hurting head.
Because I respected Dr. R (most people were afraid of him), he brought me further than other doctors I ever had. I had tears in my eyes when he retired.
The karate I was involved with was not what they do today. We had “no guards of any kind”. Karate people will understand this statement.
I learned two styles. For non-karate readers this might mean to you to you like learning two different languages. I began at age 14. Kun Tao, Filipino Style and Judo, Karate, Akido, Savate, and Ju-jitsu also known at Ketsu –Ka. Kun Tao was hand to hand combat which would never be allowed into’s society. It was rough, crazy, and I LOVED IT. There was one other woman. There I learned how to really injure the disc in my neck along with both of my arms. But Master Rossi’s techniques taught me to save my life one night against two motorcycle riders with knives. Yes, the police were called.
So, in closing, would I change anything? Absolutely not. However, I see the pain in my husband’s eyes. We could have had another type of life.
I must live my life honesty. I still want 100% out of life. I feel I am so very lucky. Someone always has it worse. My journey was supposed to be this way. I go one day at a time and Karate taught me that. Master Rossi taught me more techniques than any mediation guide could ever teach me. Truly I am Blessed. I will “fight” to get the most that I can until I leave this earth. But “yes” I still am quested as to if I simply “like” to be sick. How angry this question makes me feel and how said it is that our physician still infer such thing.
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom – Thomas Jefferson
