I'm Over 40. Is It Too Late To Begin Martial Arts Workouts?

When a man over 40 begins martial arts workouts they should have a special name: Kung Old Fool, Tae Kwon Old, Health Care-a-te or Senior Do. If anyone asks about my health I usually reply, "I'm aging too fast to get in shape."

I discovered taekwondo in my forties. A series of seemingly random circumstances took me to the school of the Grandmaster who would become my teacher, Byung Min Kim.

First, I was out to dinner with an old friend whom, I discovered, was a black belt in tae kwon do. He had been practicing, on and off, since he was a child. Also, I had a young son who I thought would benefit from a martial arts program. Finally, I had a chance meeting with my future Master. I am a retail real estate broker, and I had the good fortune of offering a store to Grandmaster Kim. I didn't sell him, but luckily he sold me.

The expectations of an adult male, no matter how old, when they begin martial arts instruction is the same as a child's. You wistfully remember David Caradine, James Bond, Bruce Lee or Napoleon Solo in any of the popular movies and television shows of the 1950's and 60's.

I just wanted to be deadly…and really handsome!

Shortly after beginning to this new martial arts exercise, I went to my doctor with what I was sure was an appendicitis attack. He assured me that I was just sore, from doing sit ups. I was out of shape.

Although I exercised regularly in my 20's, after marriage and kids, I put exercise on hold. Now in my forties, I was short of breath. I noticed I couldn't breathe doing recreational exercise like tennis and volleyball and I also noticed that I didn't have the stamina to dance with my wife.

I decided to do something different. Within the same week, I started tae kwon do and piano lessons (middle age is so confusing).

Martial arts is like a seed that is planted in your body. With the proper environment, it takes root and grows. If you've been on this journey as I have, you understand what this means. If you are new to martial arts, I can tell you that change both expected and unexpected, is coming. If you are starting late in life, I can offer you this equation:

Maturity = (patience + perseverance)-(flexibility + hair).

Work for the long run is the best advice I can give you. Listen to the needs of your body, not just your mind. I have witnessed many adults in class with the mindset of a 21 year old. They work too hard, push too far in order to get what used to be simple.

Instructors motivate an entire class, with a wide range of age and skills. Your mind will tell you that you can still do it, but your body may need a little more time. Short term, overachieving goals in taekwondo lead to injuries and injuries lead to quitting and acquiescing to the myth that you are too old for this sport.

No way!

You cannot comprehend the journey with a single step; you can only comprehend a single step of the journey, so stick with it.

If a teacher is asking too much just remember, you're an adult student and age has its advantages. A good master will see your limitations and teach you in view of that which is where you build trust. And shy of that, trust your inner master.

I know I'm too old for Rock-n-roll, but I'm definitely too young to give it up.