To all you people thinking you're too old to start a martial art, I'm 47 and just started karate. Never done anything like it before, been training for the last 3 weeks and it's the best all round exercise I've ever tried and also the most addictive. I was totally unfit but already in just a couple of weeks, I'm starting to feel the benefits. I feel I can move easier, think clearer, reactions are sharper and as a fat slob wobbling around the dojo doesn't look good it makes you think about your diet too. Already, without a huge change in diet I've lost about 6lb. I found Squash is suicide, regular repetitive exercise, totally boring and not really any interest in other sports. With MA comes the discipline of pushing yourself, clearer mind, confidence, self defence, awareness and so on. Ok, I'm lighter than some of you at 190lb but I still consider myself more than 20lb overweight. It is hard but then I look at the experienced, Dan graded, younger guys and see how hard it is for them too - it's all relative to how much you put in. The main thing to remember when you start is nobody is expecting a Bruce Lee performance! Your age is just a number, it's what you do that counts. I for one am not ready to succumb to the middle-age stereotype man which is obese and inactive! So take that first step and get yourself to a dojo near you!