As the grading approaches, training has intensified. I wanted to attend every class, keen to improve my techniques and Kihon Dosa. An additional Ukemi class was organised, mainly in anticipation of the Shioda Memorial which was even more imminent than the grading.

Everything was progressing well. I had completed several backdrops and was even managing to stand up straight after hitting the mat. However, this plain sailing wasn't to continue.

Eager to advance my Ukemi, and after attempting a few front drops from a kneeling position, I went for it and dropped from standing.

It was actually fairly scary, not in the sense of fear as such, but rather lacking the confidence to commit fully.

I jarred my neck during the first ten drops. I knew I was hurt but stupidly I continued; keen to prove I could do it. Sensei has always told us, there's a fine line between spirit and stupidity - I was unaware that I was straying into the latter.

I did five more drops, I wasn't committing properly to any of them and my neck snapped back every time.

I started to feel sick and my neck was aching badly but I decided to struggle on with the lesson taking only a short break before getting back on the mat.

The session finally ended and getting changed I found my vision was blurred and my head pounding. My stupidity had done this, which I had mistaken for spirit. I learned a valuable lesson that day and a costly one - I had to miss out on the next two classes, injured.

But I came back, even when it hurt, but this time took care not to over-exert myself and aggravate my injury. I had felt shame and defeat when I phoned Sensei to tell him I couldn't attend but when I came back, determined to go on in spite of adversity, something had changed. I was reminded of a quote from a better man than me, "Seven times down, eight times up," an adage that epitomises spirit.

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