| The question I hear often is, "Am I too old to start | | | | The car hit him so hard that there was a huge |
| Karate?" Another concern people have is that they're | | | | impression (bump) on his front bumper. Although the |
| not flexible enough to be able to participate in a | | | | ambulance had to escort him to the hospital, he did |
| karate class. | | | | not suffer too sever damage. He admits that this is |
| What distinguishes karate as a discipline from most | | | | because of his karate training which allowed him to |
| other sports is its consideration for a person's current | | | | build that "body armour" needed to sustain most of |
| level. A good instructor will be challenged to hone in | | | | the shock. |
| on each student's current physical level and challenge | | | | People underestimate the importance of flexibility. |
| them at the same time without injury. The idea is to | | | | The older we get, the more we will depend on our |
| progressively increase that person's level each time | | | | flexibility to do simple things like getting up from a |
| they participate in a class. | | | | chair, climbing a flight of stairs, and walking with a |
| The fact that you think you have to be in good | | | | straight posture without pain. |
| shape before starting a class is wrong, but common. | | | | Make sure your goals are realistic and ask yourself |
| One of the reasons to commit to a karate | | | | the question if you're in it to improve your quality of |
| programme is to get in shape while learning how to | | | | life, or are you doing it as a sport and compete. If |
| defend yourself. Karate classes build strength, | | | | you are of a certain age, e.g. over 35 and you are |
| flexibility, endurance and cardio in a functional way. | | | | just starting, than competition should not be your |
| Cross training like weight training, and jogging can | | | | main goal. Your goal is to build a flexible and strong |
| definitely help, but it is not mandatory. You can get in | | | | body and mind in a progressive manner that will allow |
| functional shape by doing the normal exercises that | | | | you to age successfully and enjoy life pain free. |
| karate provides. | | | | I'm forty and practicing karate (both traditional and |
| I know this older lady (over 60) that told me a story | | | | competitive) for over 25 years. What I love about it |
| that she fell on a sheet of ice one winter. She tripped | | | | is the fact that it is an individual discipline that centers |
| over a wire and fell hard. She admitted that if it | | | | on continuously improving yourself. I also like the fact |
| weren't for her karate training (even at her level), | | | | that there is a partnership and camaraderie that |
| she wouldn't be able to get up from that nasty fall. | | | | motivates you to do better each time. |
| Another example is a story about a 39 year old man | | | | No, you're not too old to start karate training. Now |
| who had a nasty bike accident with an incoming car. | | | | stop thinking about it and just do it! |