Are you too old for martial arts? Ha! The short answer is NO. Don’t be ridiculous!
So, if you’ve been using age as an excuse to sit on your butt and play video games or bingo, get up! Go sign up for a class right now.
Having said that, I do have some advice for the slightly more—ahem—mature folks out there. Play the video or scroll down for that. 🙂
Are You Too Old for Martial Arts?
Look, I’m not going to lie to you. If you’re 30 years old, never taken a martial arts class, and your dream is to become a UFC champ or a gold medalist in Olympic Judo, it’s too late!
Sorry! I hate to be a dream squasher, but that ship has sailed… and sunk. If you truly have your heart set on becoming a champion or winning a medal, then I would suggest entering a pie eating contest.
But if your goal is to simply to improve your life—you want to get in shape, toughen up, learn how to fight back against a bad guy, develop your balance, strength, and flexibility—then don’t think twice. Go sign up for classes right now.
Which style of martial arts should you take? Don’t worry—I have a video all about that. What Is the Best Martial Art?
Just remember that wherever you go, even if you can only make it to class once a week, it will still be worth it.
Even a little martial arts makes life a whole lot better!
So, whether you’re 20 or 120, go for it.
There.
Feel better?
We all love a good pep talk, don’t we? Well, I’m not done yet.
Here’s the ugly truth…
Training in the martial arts does get a little trickier and more difficult as you get older. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be typing this with an ice pack on my knee!
In my teens, if I threw a few too many punches or kicks, I’d wake up sore… but it was no big deal. I’d typically recover over breakfast and be back to full power by lunch.
In my 20’s, if I woke up a little sore, it would take a day or two to get back to normal.
In my 30’s, it would take two or three days.
Now, in my later 40’s, it often takes a week or two to heal up. But that’s not the crazy part…
The crazy part is that I sometimes wake up sore and beat up… and have no idea why!
No kidding. This past week, I woke up and both of my shoulders were separated. Well, that’s how they felt anyway.
Was I doing cartwheels the day before? Was I hanging off a helicopter? Nope. I have no idea what happened. All I know is that it’s going to be a week or two before I can lift the coffee pot.
So, to be honest, I’m frightened to imagine what might be coming once I turn 50. I may never be normal again!
Wait. “Normal?”
Did I say normal?
Let me tell you something—the way you define “normal” in your 40’s is not the same as how you define normal in your 20’s. I mean, in my 20’s, it definitely wasn’t normal for me to carry bandages, braces, and Advil in my gym bag!
Don’t get me wrong—I can still hit hard. In fact, I can hit just as hard today as I could when I was 20… just not all day, every day. Which brings me to secret to success for older martial artists…
The secret to success for older martial artists is mindset.
The question really isn’t are you too old for martial arts, it’s are you too immature for martial arts!
Let me give you an example. My hair was white when I tied on a white belt to take my first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class. And in that class, there were a bunch of tough, terrifying 20-year-olds.
FACT: When a 40-year-old tries to match up to a bunch of tough, terrifying 20-year-olds, the 40-year-old will go home in pain and feeling like a loser!
But when I eventually grew up—when I stopped trying to be 20 again!—class got a lot easier. I just needed to change my goal to becoming the toughest, most terrifying 40-year-old I could be.
For the record, I still went home in pain, I just didn’t feel like a loser. Not all the time, anyway!
So, no matter what your age is, accept who you are. Accept what you can do, accept what you can’t do.
The older you get, the wiser you should be in knowing the difference.
So, now you know. Are you too old for martial arts? No—you’re never too old! I don’t care if you’re 20, 40, 60, or 100, if you’ve always wanted to try the martial arts, do it!
If you quit practicing the martial arts years ago and now you’re worried it’s too late to catch up, guess what? Every day you think like that is another day you fall even farther behind! Get back on the mats!
The point is life is short, my friend. If you want to do something, do it now. Otherwise, you’ll end up sitting in the same place five years from now thinking, “Man, I wish I’d started five years ago.”
Yes, as an older martial artist, the road may be a little steeper… your journey may take few more twists and turns… but I promise, the climb is still worth it.
I started TKD as a 67 year old female. I have a lot of frustrating days,especially when working on balance, but every day is still worth it. I’m now 69 and will continue in classes for as long as possible. My only regret is that I didn’t find this sooner. I also want to say thanks for videos that so inspiring and helpful.
Hi Peggy! You started at 67–wow! Was martial arts something you always wanted to try or was it a new idea? Either way, good for you for still being on the mats. You’re amazing! 🙂
Well, you know what they say Sensei Ando – if you’re over 50 and you wake up without any pains anywhere, you died in the night.
As you know, I’m still training at 63 without any problems. A lot of people would probably think I train quite hard too. The kids and I often do a 1600 kick class or a 1100 kicks with ankle weights. That’s non-stop kicks. We do a 2000 punch class. That’s 1 minute punching and one minute resting ten times. It usually works out to about 2,300 hard punches against a heavy bag for me and the older (14) student. Then we start training …
I know, just showing off to make up for my age!
HA! I had not heard that bit of wisdom… glad I’m still alive! Now, where the hell is my Advil? 😀
Wow– those numbers of reps are impressive… and intimidating! Bless you and your students for carrying on an old school work ethic. There really is no better way to build skill and self-respect.
Keep up the great work, sir!
Hi Sensei Ando,
Thanks to your video’s on youtube I decided to start with a Shotokan class this year.
I wanted to this for years but was afraid I couldn’t handle it anymore. I’m 34 years old and a bit over weight.
Done Taekwondo in my early teens (about 4 years). In my 20’s I did Wing Chun for a couple of years.
Now I’m going 4 times a week, a total of 5 hours. 2 classes: 1 with 15-25 year olds and 2 with 20-65 year olds.
Going for my 7th Kyu in November.
Best decision I ever made. Hope to this for a very long time.
Thanks!!
Jan
JAN!
You rock! 34 may feel old, but it’s as young as you’re ever going to get! 🙂
Just imagine how proud you’ll be 10 years from now for starting back up at 34. Very cool!
Good luck on your test in November, but really, you’ve already passed the big test!
Keep fighting, Jan!
Well Well I´m 62, unfit, broke both feet a few years or so ago and just started Karate last month. Love it. I play piano so I try to apply beauty and elegance in both fields. I not gonna be a wimp. You have to have a good mental attitude as well I think for martial arts. Strong mind, strong body and work hard use experience and age can be a benefit.
Hi Paul!
Yes, age is a benefit. You already know what it takes to be good at something– work! And you can definitely apply music lessons to your Karate practice… art is art!
Keep playing and punching, sir!
Sunday morning 67 yesterday after two new hips 24 months ago and completed my first year training in Shotokan, the most important message for seniors as you said “do you” the only one you need to impress is you and I’m already impressed lol! Thank you so much for your inspiration and training tips, know they make a huge difference to this young guy ! OSU
Hi William! I hope you’ll keep impressing yourself for years to come! 😀 Thank you for being you, sir!