I was out because I had to have surgery done on my hip. I have deformed hips and Martial Arts have not been kind to them, so it was part of the cause of my surgery. I know that it isn't the safest sport, but I have been doing it for many years, I believe I will be coming up to my 8th year. I am in love with it. Thankfully my kind isn't as pushy and as hardcore as some of the others, so I don't have to push myself as hard.