Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts Blog

Rest is Not Weakness -- Lessons from a Glute and Groin Injury

health and recovery Apr 03, 2025

Two weeks ago, I did something bold, brave, and totally against the martial artist’s natural instinct.

I rested.

It wasn’t easy. I didn’t want to do it. But my body made the decision for me.

I had tweaked my left glute. I'm not sure how I didn't, I just know I didn't do it the fun way. But it quickly became one of those annoying injuries that doesn’t seem major at first, so you try to push through it. “It’s just a little pull,” I told myself. “I’ll work around it.”

Sound familiar?

But martial arts doesn’t always give you the luxury of working around a pain that affects your core stability. Tai Chi, Xingyi, Bagua — all require strong, coordinated lower-body mechanics. Even walking the dog became a lesson in humility.

Pivoting on my left leg, pushing back into a couch or recliner, bending over to tie my shoes or pet the dog -- everything sent me into a spasm of agony, like a knife was stabbing me in the butt!

And sneezing! Don't even get me started. We are so connected inside our...

Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts

Rest is Not Weakness -- Lessons from a Glute and Groin Injury

Author - Instructor

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