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I had
bilateral resurfacing in 2001 (left) and 2003 (right) with Mr. Ronan Treacy in
Birmingham. I had been referred to him by a friend, Bob Poynton, a former member
of the world champion British karate team in the 1980's. Bob had been resurfaced
in 2000 because of a broken piece of bone in his hip joint.
My martial
arts career began at the age of 9 when I studied judo and karate for two years.
I quit for about five years after that to take up surfing (I grew up in Durban,
South Africa) and I then started karate lessons again in 1970. My first pain in
the hip/groin area happened in 1973 when I strained a muscle (I think) while
lifting my knee during a warm-up exercise. The pain never really went away after
that.
In addition
to the karate, I also did long-distance running, completing a marathon in 1983
while preparing to take the California Bar Exam. I had immigrated to the USA in
1978. The training was a nice distraction but the pain in the hip was
ever-present. It finally became so bad by 1993 that I stopped running completely
but continued with the karate.
A brief
summary of my karate career can be viewed by clicking here and then clicking on
"Instructors.":
Click here: USA
Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Seiwa Kai
In 1992,
the pain in my left hip became quite severe. My right hip seemed fine. An
orthopedist told me I’d need a replacement within five years. I won’t repeat
here what my response was. Instead of going under the knife, I started taking
Glucosamine Sulphate, which seemed to provide some relief, but after initially
subsiding, the pain eventually worsened.
In 1999,
during an exercise at a karate seminar in Los Angeles, I experienced very sharp
pain in my left hip. I visited an orthopedist again, who told me I was overdue
for a hip replacement and prescribed Celebrex for the pain.
In
Christmas, 2000 I received a card from Bob Poynton in the UK who told me he had
been successfully resurfaced. While attending a karate seminar in Oxford in
February, 2001, I went to Birmingham and consulted with Mr. Treacy, who told me
he could resurface my left hip but I’d need to do it soon. I was scheduled to
take the test for my All Japan Karate-do Federation Goju Kai 5th degree black
belt in June, 2001 in Tokyo. Mr. Treacy advised me to take the test before the
surgery, which I did. Although it was agonizing in spite of a cortisone
injection into the hip, I passed the test.
I had my
left hip resurfaced in October, 2001, and was back training lightly within 7
weeks after surgery, and with no restrictions after 10 weeks. In the meantime my
right hip started to bother me. I decided to take no pain killers this time, and
had my right hip resurfaced by Mr. Treacy in May, 2003. The previous weekend, I
attended a karate seminar in Portugal, but was not able to do much because of
the pain.
I followed
the same post-surgery regimen concerning the resumption of training. In June,
2004, I celebrated my 50th birthday by going to Japan and training at karate for
8 hours a day for 10 days. In July, 2005, I won two bronze medals at the USA
National Karate Federation Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina, one in
fighting and one in kata (forms.) In the forms competition, it was an open
division and the next oldest competitor was 20 years younger than me.
Since being
resurfaced, I am able to kick more efficiently and with more flexibility than I
could at any time in my karate career. My hip movements, essential for the
close-fighting style of karate I practice, are fluid and quick. I routinely spar
with karateka in their teens, 20's and 30's and can hold my own in sparring with
all comers, including national and international level athletes.
In July,
2007, I will be attempting the test for 6th degree black belt under the All
Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF) Goju Kai. The JKF is the only karate
organization recognized by the Japanese government Department of Sport. Very few
people pass this test and it can only be taken in Japan. No-one with resurfaced
hips has ever attempted any test under the JKF Goju Kai before.
Wish me
luck, and for those of you who practice martial arts, resurfacing is an
opportunity for you to excel!
Best wishes
to all,
Des Tuck
July 2007
Des Tuck at Oomagari, about 3 1/2 hrs. north of Tokyo in the dojo
of one of my instructors.
I passed my test for JKF Goju
Kai 6th Dan in Osaka on July 27, 2007.
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