Seniors

luv2flyjrn · White Belt

I enjoy the older students as well. The importance of footwork and positioning really stand out. When younger one can over come such deficiencies through flexibility and strength. The old we get the exactmess of the move becomes ever more apparent.

On a side note it is near impossible for me to read this forum on a phone without my glasses.
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Rank does not matter. If you can't learn from a white belt you are probably not deserving a black belt.

Bulltahr · Brown Belt

aurik · KF Sempai

I understand this all too well. I'm now 46 and getting back into the martial arts. Over the past few years, I really neglected my health while I tried to focus on completing my PhD while also maintaining a healthy relationship with my wife and 6 year old son. Now I'm overweight, inflexible, and have minor arthritis in the knees.

I'm having to find some alternative exercises and find out how far I can push myself before the recovery time outweighs the benefit to pushing myself harder. After the first month, the knees are doing much better at recovery, and now I'm down to the standard muscle soreness. I'd kick myself for letting myself get this far out of shape at this age, but I'm not flexible enough to do that.

Oh well, the only thing I can do is try to do better today and tomorrow.
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Shuri-Ryu 1996-1997 - Gokyu
Judo 1996-1997 - Yonkyu
Uechi-Ryu 2018-Present - Nidan
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Alan Armstrong · Black Belt

One might consider or contemplate the difference between chronological age and biological age as they are very different.

To stop doing what once did when younger, is in many cases not due to getting older but stopping to do them on a regular basis and therefore losing that what once could do.

Nothing wrong or sinful in getting older, not playing and staying youthful in the process is.

I personally dislike seeing stereotypes of retired couples dancing slowly on a cruise ship, looking like they are enjoying themselves in their later years but why not having these same couples kicking boxing each other instead.

I have known retired couples that skydive together, also as my grandmother was cliff diving while at retirement age, point being, that older isn't a reasonable answer to stop doing anything if still in good enough shape and health to do it.

Melau · Yellow Belt

I'd say work to the best of your abilities, but keep on pushing and testing yourself.

Guy at my Dojo went for kumite tournaments quite recently, he's 62 years of age now. Yes he has injuries, had shoulder operations recently, you know, the things that come with age. But he enjoys tremendous respect for just fighting with the younger guys and testing himself.
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"The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of its participants."

Gichin Funakoshi

Alan Armstrong · Black Belt

sensei8 · KF Sensei

PhilExpat · White Belt

Im 53 and I just exercise - besides 2 times karate a week I do 2-3 timey gym - and I stretch a lot.

And whats the problem in beeing not that flexible anymore if your technique is good ?
I mean I dont get my legs that high in sidekick anymore, but I dont need to kick that guys guts when its same effective to go for his kneecap - right ?

Alan Armstrong · Black Belt

Martial arts is more interesting when older, as in it becomes more multidimensional.

If need to turn the heat up, being very aggressive it is possible or just to be deflecting and defending with good humour for the experienced, it is also possible.

Yet the younger ones just seem to have an on and off switch with their tempers, that haven't managed to control their own thermostat dials; bless'em!

JR 137 · Black Belt

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