Dealing with injury
Martial arts training is largely a physical activity. In this, it can be compared to any other high-intensity sport. What that means is that martial artists are just as prone to getting hurt as other athletes.
Aside from the usual soreness and bruises that can come from any intense physical activity, most injuries in the martial arts are caused by overuse. If you are at a reputable school with a responsible, intelligent instructor, sparring-related injuries - cuts, broken bones, and such - should be virtually non-existent. This is true even in schools where a lot of emphasis is placed on realistic training. So if you train hard, you'll likely develop tendonitis, or sprain an ankle, or pull a muscle, or something like that.
Of course it is vitally important when these happens to rest, relax, and listen to your doctor. An overuse injury is a sign that you are either working too hard, have a glitch in your form, or both. You should listen to your body and give it a rest. It can be very tempting to keep pushing for fear of being left behind or losing your edge. Don't worry; it takes a long time for the edge to be dulled, and it's not that hard to get it back if you're fully physically recovered. On the other hand, if you try to train through pain inappropriately, it can lead to unconscious glitches in your form as your body continually braces for pain or looks for a way to avoid it. I know of one teacher who had hurt his hip and started training too soon. As a result, he would wince every time he threw a certain kick with his right leg. Even after his hip healed and his form returned, he would nevertheless wince - mostly unconsciously - while doing that kick. (Amusingly, his students subconsciously mimicked him, so they all wince for no apparent reason while performing that technique too!)
However, that does not mean that training has to stop altogether. You can train with your mind as well as your body, so your off time doesn't have to be a total waste. For example, critically evaluate your form to see if it contributed to your injury. For instance, the classic wing chun centerline punch can place a lot of stress on the elbows if there is even the slightest bit of tension in the arms during training. If you've hurt your elbow, perhaps you should try to determine whether or not you unconsciously tense up while training. This could go a long way to helping you make progress when you can start training physically again.
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