Lets get this cleared up, this is for the people who think you're to old to join.

[Ein]

This is for all you people who are thinking about joining but your to old...It's never to late to join..well maybe if your 60 you might want to reconsider some meditation. I know, most of you know this...but this is for the people who think they're to old to join. I'v seen people join at 40, and make it to a black belt, Canada's Taewando (yea i think i spelt wrong) nation champion (not to sure if still is havn't kept up in that type of martial arts) joined at 16 years old. She beat people that started at 5, I'm just saying If you want it enough join.

Feel free to add you opinion.

[Saz]

I agree Ein

Age is no barrier to martial arts. Sure, don't join at 40 and expect to keep the same pace as a 11 year old, but don't let how old you are put you off. We have a guy in our class who joined in his mid 30's, and got his shodan after 10 years of training (a good length of time in our style). The last few tournaments/grading I went to, I noticed a lot of beginners who where about my age.

[zun]

Obligatory disclaimer:

Always check with a physician or GP before performing any strenous activity.

As long as the GP hasn't signed a death warrant, chances are good that you can enjoy full benefits of MA. Just ensure you regularly change your diapers.

[Kwajman]

I started TKD when I was 40, have been training for 3.5 years and am a high brown belt (3rd gup). Except for a few broken toes, ear surgery, have done quite well. But you were right, DON't try to keep up with the teenagers....

[Capt Ann]

Yup, I agree.

Started TKD at age 42 after serious health problems (middle-aged, overweight, graves hyperthyroidism, myasthenia gravis). Almost didn't make it through my last of three successful childbirths.

Since this Feb, I've lost about 20 pounds, and I feel great. I have a lot more stamina, and I don't collapse in bed at the end of every day, just barely making it with no physical or emotional reserve.

We just had a gentleman who started at 50+ years young earn his 1st dan black belt two months ago. Truly an inspiration to all us in the OTH (over-the-hill) gang.

Yes, don't expect to keep up with the twenty-somethings, but you can keep up with and pass the youngsters, just by taking your training more seriously than they do.

[Sauron9949]

I don't knw about being in forties or fifties but i'm in my late teens and i constantly kick myself for not starting martial arts when i was a,lot younger. I enjoy them so much, over the past year my cnfidence has wnet up, physical health, mental strength. I can feel myself improving every day since i started, but i agree that as long as the doctor says it's fine then everybody should start regardless of age for the many befits they will recieve through hard dedicated training.

[Matt_Bernius]

Originally posted by Sauron9949
I don't knw about being in forties or fifties but i'm in my late teens and i constantly kick myself for not starting martial arts when i was a,lot younger. I enjoy them so much, over the past year my cnfidence has wnet up, physical health, mental strength.

I posted previously on MAP that the hearing excuse

"that no matter how hard I try, I will never be as good as I could have been had I started with I was 20 rather than 40."

is one of my biggest pet peeves. I've seen people both use this to stop themselves from joining the art or to beat themselves up about their progress in the arts.

Here's my response to this falicy:

Originally posted by rockOn_Matt

<rant on>

I have worked with a number of people who have made similar comments and it really bugs me. Mainly because I think it's built on a false assumption and people use it as a crutch. Taking myself as an example, I've been involved with the martial arts for almost 11 years. I began at 18 in college. Effectively my first five years were in many ways a waste. I was learning in a less than desirable environment. When I finally found my current teacher and convinced him to take me as a student, I had to spend the better part of a year relearning just about everything. Five years later, I'm studying in a phenomenally nurturing and challenging environment with other great students. I'm in a period of terrific growth and discovery.

And sometimes, I can't help but think: "how much further along would I be if I had found this when I first started." Other days I think "Why didn't I start in the arts in my early teens when I first got interested in them?" And realistically I have to admit the answer to both is "not that much further, if at all." Even though today I have less free time than ever before, I'm less flexible, and less fast, I'm in this period of rapid growth because I've matured to the point that I know how to train effectively and diligently. I didn't have that when I was 18 (or 26 for that matter). I was immature and way too full of ego. I needed those 11 years or so to truly get to a point where I could make the commitment and do what it takes to really learn.

So when ever someone mentions this "I could be so much better if I had just started eariler", I usually ask "But were you really ready to learn then? And would you have stuck with it?" Typically the answer is "No", which of course is why you were not doing it then. I think we all know lots of people, even prodigies, who burnt out at early ages. I've met people who had more natural skill than I can describe who walked away from the martial arts (or other life pursuits) simply because they ran out of passion or were initially pushed into it or sometimes because they felt they had gone as far as they could. Would you rather have started young and not been ready and failed, or started at the right time and found a life long learning pursuit that you love? I’ll always take the second option.

<rant off>

Hope this might help when you talk with people who have these concerns.

- Matt

[Jim]

No way, Ein. There should be a cull at 30. People over 30 are just useless. ;)

[Kwajman]

Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyy now....wait a minute Jim, aren't you like 34 or something?????????? Matt, that was ME who said that about 40, wished I'd started at 20.......took me to the woodshed if I remember correctly.....

[Matt_Bernius]

Originally posted by Kwajman
Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyy now....wait a minute Jim, aren't you like 34 or something?????????? Matt, that was ME who said that about 40, wished I'd started at 20.......took me to the woodshed if I remember correctly.....

Yup Kwajman! I just figured I wouldn't bring your name into the post. And I didn't take you to the woodshed, though we had a long talk in the backyard! :-)

- Matt

[P McNeil]

Greetings!

Recently, I have become interested in studying a Martial Art.

However, I am 32, and very non flexible.

So, I am wonder what you all would suggest as a starting point.

Yoga to get my flexibility to a point where i dont pull a ham string when trying to bend in a L shape before I get into anything more active?

Or just jump right in with some other discipline and take my lumps?

Thanks

Phil

[Kwajman]

Your right Matt, that turned into a pretty good dialogue...

[Jim]

Yeah, guilty as charged y'honour! :D Just thought I'd be pervocative...

Phil, just jump right in. Your body (and hopefully the instructor) will cater things for you. Don't 'deliberate/procrastinate' it too much - like Nike says...

[Ein]

Well actually, with previos training if you start earlier, it seems that 40 is the prime age in martial arts.

[Stingrae789]

I started karate at like 7 but everything i learned was completely thrown out the window when i started kung fu at 14. I guess u can always learn something new and better.

[cybermonk]

Since you guys brought up the age dialogue I will tell you a story I found very interesting and very motivating when I was younger. I must have been 15 or so when I used to train in my mother country when an old man was brought into the club. It was surprising to everybody because at that time the oldest person in the club besides the sifu was around 20 something if I remember correctly. This guy was around 50, in a pretty bad shape compared to all of us and with horrible flexibility, a lot of us were thinking he wasnt going to make it past his first class and many others were surprised to see him come back again and again. To make a long story short, it took the average 14-18 student at the club around 8-10 months to achieve a full side split and this 50 something year old man with pretty bad flexibility and not in the best shape in the world a little under 7 months. Of course he was the sifu's brother and I know that from being around him his mental attitude helped a lot in his training, but none the less it proves that it is physically posible and that there is no reason why you shouldnt attempt it.

Just remember to leave the excuses with your shoes at the door and reminding someone to slap you everytime you lie to yourself. :D

[Dojo]

We train for different reasons and have different goals. There are people who train to become champs, there are people who train to be instructors one day, there are people who train just for the joy of it. There are young people very good and hard working, some lazy, people with many birthday celebrations who just want to change something in their life. As long as they are doing their best, but at the same time listen to their body's needs .. it's OK. There are people who started late and became champs .. they are the exception as there is an "ideal" time to start. This doesn't automatically mean they are out of date, just that sometimes it's a lot of work. There are also youngsters who would meet all the requirments to become great and still they are not too proficient. They haven't trained as hard or as smart.

The idea of the long rant is that nobody should give up this idea just because of the age thing. See a doctor and start training. Do everything in your pace, be careful, be smart (age comes with wisdom ... most of the time :cool: ), enjoy it, set small goals and reach them, don't overtrain and again ... enjoy.

Congratulations for all those who took the MA path when society would have said "no way". You are the true champions and deserve respect. Good luck and many happy moments :Angel:

[2PAC]

This is for all you people who are thinking about joining but your to old...It's never to late to join..well maybe if your 60 you might want to reconsider some meditation. I know, most of you know this...but this is for the people who think they're to old to join. I'v seen people join at 40, and make it to a black belt, Canada's Taewando (yea i think i spelt wrong) nation champion (not to sure if still is havn't kept up in that type of martial arts) joined at 16 years old. She beat people that started at 5, I'm just saying If you want it enough join.

Feel free to add you opinion.

im 16 and starting kenpo jujitsu next month. can u giv me advice with it any1 plz?

[JWH]

I guess I better chime in on this one. I started TKD at 46, I could barely touch my shins with my fingers, now two years later I can put my forehead on my shin, and I can do a front split. I paid my way through college rodeoing which resulted in lots of injuries. I have broken both ankles, fractured my back, dislocated both knees, I have no cartilage in my right knee and it comes out of place at will, I have a torn rotator cuff, hiper extended elbows, and dislocated fingers, five concusions, and on and on. I can easily do head high roundhouse and side kicks. Age is NOT a factor, if you are not afraid of working for it you can do anything you set your mind to. The most important thing is to set your own pace, don't worry about what anyone else is doing, your not doing it for them, listen to your body and expect the gains to be slow and don't rush it. I look at it this way I could "wish" that I had started when I was a kid, but when I reach the black belt level it will have been a much greater accomplishment at my age than it would have been as a youngster.

[Taliar]

In our club one guy started TKD at 56, at 63 he has just passed his 2nd Dan. He works as hard as any in the club to make up for the difficulties presented to him as a result of his age and is a great inspiration. So as long as your healthy enough to train you are never to old to start.

[d33pthought]

Oldest guy in our dojang's 77...Jr. Black Belt, too. Don't know when he started, but he's been barred from testing for black belt till he learns how to tie his own belt. That means he coulda been training for 20 years or so! :p

[Humblebee]

You guys should check out the thread martial arts and the aging process started by MAP member Oldie.Oldie is truly inspiring and the thread is very inspiring and encouraging.Your age will make a difference but it can't stop you,If your spirit is strong you can do anything.
ps you'll find it in the general discussion area.

[La Mancha]

No way, Ein. There should be a cull at 30. People over 30 are just useless. ;)

And you can go straight to the hot place Jim. :p

I started Iaido at 51, it was quite funny seeing the young students faces when I walked in the first time.

David

[DonDuuk]

Doesn't matter how old you are when you start as log as you enjoy it and get what you are looking for from it.

[Shortfuse]

hmm.... is there a reason to think that 30 is old or that being old is so bad? you're making aging alot scarier :p

[bcullen]

In class a couple nights ago in the advanced class we were practicing a series of jumping kicks. A very strenuous and difficult routine to say the least. I noticed that the people doing the best at it were the ones over 35. I guess that sometimes attitude matters more than age. ;)

[Kwajman]

Well I started at age 40. I was by far the oldest in my "rookie" class of 15 that started approximately the same time. My son and I are the only ones in the group who is still in MA's after almost 4 years. I may not be the strongest or fastest, the most graceful or perfect of form. But as long as I can go I'll try harder than anyone in the dojang. I don't have a lot to brag about, but I'll be one of the first on the floor and the last one to leave. I may never make black belt grades, but it won't be for trying.

[d33pthought]

If your avatar is anything to go by, you'll be a black-belted penguin of perplexity sooner or later

[ClubbellTrainer]

One of the biggest excuses I hear for not getting started is, "I'm not in shape." That's like saying you need to get in shape to ride a bicycle, or do aerobics, or lift weights, or whatever.

If you are not medically prohibited from training, get started. The training will get you into shape if you progress incrementally and don't kill yourself trying to keep pace with others who are already in better shape than you are. As your conditioning improves, you can step up your efforts.

If you have a nagging injury that won't quite go away, get some professional guidance to rehabilitate the injury or condition first. I've rehabbed some pretty serious injuries, and have gone on to compete in NAGA qualifiers against semi-pros.

If your doctor says "No way," then seek a second or third opinion from someone that specializes in sports medicine and pursue alternative activities until you can take up the training you want.

If you aren't willing to take some action on it, then you probably don't really want to train and it's time to stop talking about it and find a TV channel you like better. If that idea ticks you off, good! Maybe you DO want to train and don't know where to start.

For information on recovering from injuries and building up your physical capabilities, check out my web site, www.ClubbellTrainer.com

[Jang Bong]

I don't have a lot to brag about, but I'll be one of the first on the floor and the last one to leave.

My claim to fame was when the 3 kids at our class were trying to hold their nunchaku at both ends and jump over (like a skipping rope) without letting go. Some of the older students were trying as well, but because they thought it couldn't be done they were chickening out.

ME - one big jump - knees to chest - full commitment - PERFECT :)

I started aged 40 like yourself (and that's less than 2 years ago).

[axelb]

I have many friends in their mid-20s who say they are too old to start MA :bang:

I really think they are just digging up another excuse to stay sitting on their rump and being able to whine about how bad their life is.

[cybermonk]

I have many friends in their mid-20s who say they are too old to start MA :bang:

I really think they are just digging up another excuse to stay sitting on their rump and being able to whine about how bad their life is.

The couch is dangerous man...when it gets you there is no escape :D