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Martial Arts Mama : Starting karate as an older adult.


Starting Martial Arts as an Adult?

Have you been thinking of starting martial arts, but think you are too old? Already in your 30's ? 40's? Don't worry about it, just start! It does not matter if it is jiu jitsu, taekwando or any other flavour of martial arts. Here are the top 6 things I've learnt in my 2+ years.


1. Find/Keep the courage

It is not easy to get started and/or it is easy to talk yourself out of the idea. I mean, how many adults do you see now starting out? (Not many.)

I started in my 40's and there were only a few adults learning karate. I believe it is more common for practictioners to start as children and continue through to adulthood rather than start as an adult. I am part of a family program of a mix of adults and children so I can do the class with my kids, in addition to separate "Adult" classes.

(In the adult class,  I appreciate not having to do extra pushups because a student didn't say "Yes Sir" or "No Ma'am" or just wasn't fast enough, was acting sleepy or just looking around!)

2. Find the right sensei

Martial arts training is physically demanding. If you have physical  restrictions or get injured in the course of life it is important you have a dojo and an experienced sensei who can help you modify and improvise and allows you to continue to train to the best of your ability and within your limitations.

3. Flexibility? Yeah? What about it?

So what if I can hardly do what my 7-year old classmates can do? I have accepted that is my fate. My kicks are not as high, in fact far from. But that is ok, I do what I can. I focus on good technique then improve.  It is a big effort for me to kick above the belt, forget about hitting to the head like the kids do. Not.Part.Of.My.Repertoire.

I need to identify the techniques I am likely to use and would be successful for me. Since I am a small adult, it means I can maybe kick someone in the shin or knee - that's my target!

4. So...what was that technique again?

Maybe because of chemo brain or not, I may understand a technique perfectly, but if I don't write it down, it will just disappear from my brain. I have also had to develop humility and ask my 9-year old, "Can you show me how to do that again?" And I practice. I have to practice twice as much as my kids do. My brain and my body just does not work like theirs or even like mine used to.

I have no shame in that. Bottom line - write it down and...

5. Practice, practice, practice

The answer is in the repetitions. The more I practice my technique, the smoother, easier and more instinctive it becomes. And that is the goal. Not to think but to act, react and modify as the situation demands.

When I am discouraged, or don't feel like practicing,  I try to remember the quote: "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war." by U.S. General George S. Patton Jr. (1885-1945)*

 
learning martial arts 30s 40s 50s
Practicing my side kick - because it needs help

6. Know your limitations

Aside from obvious physical issues or injuries which prevent you from doing certain actions, as an adult I have additional challenges. Spinning techniques and rolls usually get me more dizzy than my kids. So, I do fewer repetitions in one session.

For me, because of my breast cancer and surgeries, a lot of repeated throws or falls on my right side, becomes painful, so I don't do as much each class (and I practice between classes).

When sparring I wear a bit of extra padding around my ribs on my irradiated side because I am just a little bit worried about accidentally getting a hit I cannot block and end up with a bruised or broken rib! (I have not yet so far!)

As I have progressed through the program, the techniques have gotten more complicated - rolls and flips. I take it easy and take my time. They look scary and then I try...carefully. And they are still scary! It may be that there are some things you may be unable to do.

Sparring martial arts
All geared up and sparring


Finally

It is a challenge to learn anything new, and martial arts is no exception. I enjoy it even though it is hard for me and it is a big commitment if you want to continue to progress and do well. It may turn out that you try it and decide it is not for you.

I enjoy it, and I get tremendous satisfaction in being able to see what I can do. I marvel when I realize I can only now do something that I first learned 2 years ago!

At the end of the day, it has to be something you enjoy.



*The saying “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war” is supposedly an old
Chinese proverb. It has however increasingly been attributed to U.S. General George S. Patton Jr. You may also see attribution to Hyman G. Rickover.


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