25! Started karate at 9. Hated every second, left, vowed never to do martial arts ever again, nothing until 25 when I went to a tkd class "for a laugh" loved it. I think I would have been too mentally immature to do a MA properly until now.
my favorite is the "what would you do if I did this" then they try and hit you or rush you. I usually pretend to cry One person really tried to thump me and I managed quite a sucessful block (ie. I didn't get hit) but then they said I'd hurt their arm and I should have more control!!! Oh and that all MA's go "haiya!" I tell folk that we have to say "karate chop!" no one noticed I do TKD!
It's no bonus- I'm a newbie girl whos 6' and I keep getting the heck rattled out of me by a 5'2" red belt who says stuff like " it's like david and goliath" then lets loose. I nearly didn't go back cos of her. Well done on your weight loss, thats an amazing achievement!