Not sure whether this should be in the injury column or the training one.
A few weeks back, while skiing, I took a bad tumble and fractured the Greater Tuberosity of my Ulna(shoulder). Needless to say this put a quick end to, not only skiing, but just about every other physical activity I like to engage in. What with my arm being strapped to my side for two weeks, even putting on a t-shirt was an experience in agony and clumsiness. Have just today started to do a bit of Tai Chi and therapy to try and work out the kinks. Range of motion is starting to come back but just a bit too much shoulder joint and shoulder muscle movement can really make me cringe in pain.
I mention this because I seem to recall reading(Cheng Man-ch'ing I believe) a story he told about not being able to get the hang of push hands until one of his teachers told him to fight like his arms were broken. Figuratively of course. This, for him, was the key to breaking through to the next level. Not that I am practicing push hands with a broken shoulder but I can assure everyone
that it is another feeling altogether, doing Tai Chi, without the use of my left shoulder muscles and minimal joint movement.
Not sure how any of this applies to anything but just thought I'd share the story.