My Age Is Showing

A couple of weeks ago, I went and watched the finals of the PGF (Pro Grappling Federation) in Decatur, AL. It was a good time with some good matches.

On Saturday, one of the grapplers, Sam Barbosa, came and taught a special class at 10th Planet in Decatur. He did a great job. I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, my knees can’t say the same.

These pictures were taken a couple days ago before I finally went to a doctor. (What can I say? I’m a guy and figure I’ll just suck it up and rub some dirt on it).

I got a hellacious case of mat burn. After about 10 days, my knees wouldn’t scab up. They had gotten infected or something. The doc gave me some antibiotics and an ointment and after just a couple days, they are doing much better.

What I’ve Learned

This isn’t the first time I have skinned or burnt my knees on the mats. It’s definitely the worst. On the occasion, I wasn’t wearing spats. It is too hot and humid for that. But even sometimes when I wear spats, I end up with abrasions or burns on my knees.

What i’ve learned so far is not how to prevent this from happening, but that in my old, frail age, my skin is getting thinner. LOL. I can’t count how many carpets and other things I’ve crawled over in my younger days without so much as a red mark and now it seems every time I get on my knees, my crispy-paper thin skin cracks.

I did get some advice from a not-so-old buddy. He’s mid-twenties and said he sometimes gets mat burn too, but using a lot of moisturizer has helped him with that. So, as soon as I can get some moisturizer on my knees, I’ll try that out.

Oh! Another thing I learned!

Before anyone says or thinks, what an idiot, I will admit, I often learn things the hard way.

After class that day, I realized how bad my knees had gotten. It was obvious during class. My partner actually asked if I wanted to stop, at least to go get some alcohol wipes to make sure my knees didn’t get infected. By that time, skin was hanging down.

I told him I was okay and we finished the class. Afterward, I had to get one of my critters from the vet. So, while I was waiting, I saw they had a bottle of germy gel…or whatever the heck it is. Hand sanitizer. I thought, I forgot to get the alcohol wipes. This should work.

I pumped a couple squirts into my hands, rubbed my hands to get some on each and them slepped them on my knees to try to keep from catching staph or something else.

WOW! That huuuuuurrrrrrttt!

Lesson learned: Never put germy gel on an open wound.