As a guy who’s about to turn 61, the answer is no.
Americans consider aging a debilitating process. But for eastern cultures it’s the opposite. They study martial arts daily. It’s a way of life, and let me tell you, they’re in much better shape than us. During one of my trips to Korea, I was invited to go rock climbing with a group and scale down a waterfall. It was majestic. The jagged rocks were slippery and quite dangerous, but these Korean men and women (who had to be 89 years old) were jumping from rock to rock like mountain goats. Just by watching the way they moved, I could tell they studied martial arts.
Most older people who approach me are concerned with being out of shape. They’ll ask me, “Will I get hurt? Am I going to look stupid?” I’m quick to tell them that my oldest student started martial arts classes at 64 years old, trained until he was 73, and became a second degree black belt in the process.
The idea is this:
- Are you ever too old to be healthy?
- Are you ever too old to be in better shape?
- Are you ever too old to keep your mind sharp?
- Are you ever too old to defend yourself?
- Are you ever too old to enjoy life more?
- Are you ever too old to feel better about yourself?
- Are you ever too old to feel more confident and focused?
- Are you ever too old to fight?
There is no age limit to become strong and study martial arts.
How you train, though, will be different. A 64-year-old will not be jumping over five or six people and breaking boards in the air like a 19- year-old. That would be stupid and dangerous. I look at each individual uniquely and design a program geared towards that person. So no matter if you’re young or old, our facility will accommodate you.
I’m a big believer that we need to keep moving. In life, you have to keep fighting, keep training, and stay fit. It’s like that saying, “You don’t stop doing things because you get old. You get old when you stop doing things.”
Master Gorino’s Tae Kwon-Do offers a trial program for individuals and families in Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas that allows you to get a feel for the different classes, meet our instructors, and experience our dojang. It’s a great way to see if Tae Kwon-Do is right for you. To learn more or to sign up, register online or call (716) 836-KICK (5425) and a member of our team will follow up with you on next steps. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals. Pil-Sung!
