After weeks of fighting an old knee injury, I've been told by my doctor I should quit my Tae Kwon-do training. I'm currently under outpatient care of a physiotherapist at the local hospital, and we should know the extent of the underlying damage within the next two months (Yay for NHS waiting lists - shouldn't complain though, private care would cost a fortune). I can walk and drive, but the majority of the kicks at my grade cause me a lot of pain.

My physiotherapist's guess is that the original injury (I was deliberately hit around the right knee with a hockey stick during a match when I was 14) didn't heal correctly in the first place and there's a lot of scar tissue. If things don't look great on xray and scans, I may have to have surgery, but hopefully I'll get away with orthopaedic supports and a guided exercise plan to build up tolerance.

I don't want to quit, for the first time in a long time I've had a lot more confidence in myself, and feel I could surprise an attacker for long enough to get the hell away, but if it results in surgery, I'd be stupid to risk undoing the repair job.

I guess time will tell. Bah.