Martial Arts for the Over 40 Crowd

[Kicks]

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community.

 

As we grow older, we become more sedentary. We spend more time at work and less time at play. This means less energy and a loss of efficiency in our biological system (slower metabolism). We gain weight and our muscles become weaker. At times we try all sorts of diets and exercises to get back that youthful look. But we get tired of those fad plans and return to the habits that got us out of shape in the first place. A fad diet or exercise gimmick will not give us the healthy life we need. We need to develop a whole new lifestyle that includes proper nutrition and exercise. The Martial Arts has been just the lifestyle change that thousands of adults over 40 have discovered and succeeded at.

 

People over 40 all over the world have become involved in the Martial Arts for many reasons. Some get involved in Martial Arts to get in shape, lose weight, along with family members and their children or to learn self defense. For whatever reasons they join, they are able to benefit from the physical activity and become healthier adults. The increase in activity level equates to an increase in the body's metabolism (burning calories) and lowers blood pressure, improves strength and flexibility and enhances the mood of the participant.

 

Metabolism

 

Metabolism is the process where the body converts food and oxygen in order to maintain the body or deposit them as energy sources. Your metabolism slows down as you get older due to a sedentary lifestyle. An active metabolism keeps your body functioning properly and healthy. A high metabolism helps those over 40 maintain a healthy weight. Some activities an over 40 person can do to increase metabolism are brisk walking, hiking, stair climbing, aerobic exercise, calisthenics, resistance training, jogging, bicycling, rowing, swimming and sports like tennis, racquetball, softball and the Martial Arts.

 

Blood Pressure

 

Normal blood pressure is 120/80. You have high blood pressure if you are at 140/90 or higher. HBP is caused by stress, inactivity, obesity or simply just heredity. Martial Arts activities and a regular exercise program can help reduce high blood pressure when combined with medication and a proper diet.

 

Muscle Fitness

 

There are three types of muscle fitness: strength, flexibility and endurance. Strength and endurance can be increased through the breaking down, and repairing, of muscle tissue. Some exercises encourage the breaking down of muscular tissues and through proper rest these tissues are recovered stronger than before.

 

Strength

 

Maximum strength in adults generally occurs between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. Then there is a natural decline of muscular strength at a rate of about 3-5% per decade. The more sedentary a person over 40 becomes the less active muscle tissues become due to a loss of muscle protein. However, with regular physical activity this loss can be recovered. The Martial Arts provides a variety of exercises to promote muscle fitness.

 

Developing sheer muscle strength can be done though resistance training. Usually this is done with the lifting of heavy weights and low repetitions. However, this type of training will not promote muscle endurance, another attribute that is vital to the Martial Artist. Muscle endurance can be developed by using lighter weights with many repetitions. Martial Artists should find a middle ground that best works for their needs.

 

Endurance

 

Endurance is the ability of the muscles to work continuously without becoming fatigued. There are two types of endurance that are important to Martial Artists: aerobic endurance and muscular endurance. Aerobic endurance is the ability to perform over an extended period of time, such as through a training class or being able to compete several times in one day. Muscular endurance is the ability to repeatedly perform intensively for brief periods of time, such as flurries of kicks and punches during a sparing match.

 

Aerobic endurance depends on the body’s capacity for oxygen delivery, which is controlled by the heart, lungs and vascular system. The heart is the most important muscle in the body and needs to be healthy in order to continue any exercise program, such as the Martial Arts. As early as age 30 our maximum oxygen consumption and endurance begins a steady decline to as much as 35% by age 65. The heart's ability to pump blood decreases about 8% per decade as the maximal heart rate declines with aging. However, studies show that middle aged adults who maintain a regular exercise program show virtually no loss in aerobic capacity. Aerobic exercises, where oxygen is being used during prolonged exercise, are good for maintaining an efficient and healthy heart.

 

A good weight training program to develop endurance would be to do several sets of 10 to 12 repetitions of weight lifting light enough to complete the set but with the last 2 or 3 repetitions being challenging. Other aerobic exercises include running, swimming, cycling, rowing and aerobics class (dance, step or cardio-kickboxing). Martial Arts aerobic type exercises include intense forms practice, light sparring, footwork drills and prolonged heavy bag workouts (over 90 seconds).

 

Anaerobic training is activity where there is a lack of oxygen, usually during short burst of high activity. Energy comes from the phosphate compounds stored in the muscles. A build up of lactic acid from anaerobic exercises will lead to muscle fatigue and some discomfort.

 

Muscular endurance is a must for those Martial Artists intending to participate in tournament competition. One should focus on short duration anaerobic exercises that work the muscles all out for 30 to 60 seconds at one time. If the exercise goes beyond 90 seconds the body switches to aerobic training. The muscles need to build up a tolerance to the lactic acid that builds up in the muscles during anaerobic activity.

 

Interval training is a good way to develop muscular endurance and simulates the energy needed for sparing competition. An example would be to work the heavy bag all out for 30 to 60 seconds, followed by active rest (walking, stretching or breathing exercises). This cycle should be repeated five times going all out each round.

 

Martial Arts anaerobic exercises include focus pad drills, speed drills and interval heavy bag training. It is good to mix both aerobic and anaerobic training. Competitive sparring combines both aerobic and anaerobic training. There are periods of bouncing and moving (aerobic) mixed with brief intense flurries of punching and kicking (anaerobic).

 

Flexibility

 

People also lose flexibility as they grow older. Their connective tissue, such as ligaments, cartilage and tendons, becomes more rigid. Joints become less flexible. Much of this decline is due to inactivity (that sedentary lifestyle I keep mentioning).

 

Flexibility is achieved when you work your muscles regularly and extend them through a full range of motion. In the Martial Arts you should extend your kicks and punches to the proper extension, but not so far as to hyperextend the joints. Stretching after the muscles are warmed up can help regain and maintain flexibility.

 

An over 40 person involved in the Martial Arts receives many benefits from the practicing of the skills. When practicing the wide variety of kicks or working on forms the student is also developing flexibility, strength, reflexes (neuro-muscular), coordination and endurance.

 

Get in a Better Mood

 

Another benefit an over 40 person has by following an exercise program such as Martial Arts is the better mood it puts them in. A better mood is developed due to the release of brain chemicals catecholamine and endorphins. Catecholamines are adrenaline related compounds in the brain that help elevate a person’s mood. Exercise increases the amount of catecholamines in the brain. Endorphins are produced by the body to make pain more tolerable. Some exercises, such as resistance training, break down cells in the body. The body releases endorphins to cover the discomfort, leading to an elevated mood.

 

Weight Management

 

One of the high hopes of adults joining the Martial Arts is to lose weight. We all know that we have to watch what we eat and limit the number of calories we consume. But, do we know what the right number of calories is just to maintain our weight? To maintain your weight just multiply your current weight by 15. This is the number of calories you should consume daily to stay at the same weight. If you wish to lose weight you have to create a caloric deficit. You either have to eat less calories or burn more. Multiply your desired weight by 15 and that will give you the number of calories you should be consuming.

 

With an increase in activity level comes an increase in a person’s metabolism. An elevated metabolism continues the burning of calories even while the body is at rest or sleep. Regular attendance of Martial Arts training is a very efficient way to increase one's metabolism.

 

The type and duration of an exercise can have a big impact on the number of calories that are burned. Martial Arts training is a good choice for an exercise program to burn calories. Martial Arts techniques use the large muscle groups of the legs, arms and trunk. Since bigger muscles burn more calories, it's these muscles you would want to develop if you wish to burn calories. Movements like kicking, punching and grappling engage the whole body and burn more calories than exercises with smaller range movements.

 

The duration of a workout can also determine how many calories are burned. Studies show that exercising longer at a moderate pace is better than exercising briefly at an intense level. The intense workout will leave you fatigued sooner than a moderate workout, thus allowing for less time to work the muscles and to burn calories.

 

Diet and Nutrition

 

The way a person eats can have a big impact on how well they perform and succeed in their Martial Arts training. A casual or recreational Martial Artist will basically have the same nutritional needs as any adult involved in any other activity. But, if they train often and have intense workouts, their nutritional needs have to be adjusted to meet the needs for the required energy sources.

 

During moderate workouts the body uses body fats and stored carbohydrates as it's fuel for muscle contractions. If the workout is prolonged the muscles begin to fatigue because the stored fuel is being depleted. "Low carb – high protein" diets are not a good solution for the Martial Artist because the lack of carbohydrates can lead to early fatigue during workouts and an overall negative energy balance. By eating 5 low-fat meals a day the body speeds up its metabolic rate to handle the steady intake of food and blood sugar levels are controlled (more energy) and protein is being supplied to the muscles throughout the day to aid in recovery and growth.

 

Carbohydrate intake can be increased just prior to intense periods of training or competition to provide extra muscle glycogen. An adequate amount of rest between workouts can also help replenish depleted muscle glycogen stores.

 

Some nutrition tips for the over 40 Martial Artists:

 

• Eat five small meals a day about 3 hours apart.

 

• Eat complex carbohydrates and fiber.

 

• Include fish, chicken breast, fruits and vegetables in your diet.

 

• Avoid eating processed foods and fats.

 

• Drink plenty of water. Weight x .55 = the amount of water you should drink in ounces on a daily basis.

 

• Limit alcohol consumption.

 

• Don't smoke.

 

Medical Concerns

 

It is important for anyone, especially those over 40, to see a doctor before beginning an exercise program. Things to be cautious of are: previous joint surgery, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, family history of heart disease, chest pain, dizziness, rapid heart rate or murmur and claudication (pain when moving a limb). Some medications limit activity levels. Consultation with a doctor is advised before increasing any type of activity level.

 

An over 40 person should be aware of what activities may be harmful and avoid those if they have had a serious injury or pre-existing condition. They should choose activities that are enjoyable and not too stressful or strenuous. It’s good to add variety to avoid “burn out” and to remain interested in exercising. It’s important to find an exercise program that fits into a person’s busy time schedule and maybe even one that puts the participant and family together. Many Martial Arts schools have classes that allow both child and parent to attend together.

 

A Sensible Plan for the Over 40 Martial Artist

 

An over 40 person in the martial arts should only have to work out four to six days a week. Two or three days could be dedicated to Martial Arts training and the other days to "cross training", such as jogging, weight training, swimming, rollerblading or bicycling. Depending on the intensity of the workouts, one or two days a week will be needed for rest to allow the muscles to recover. However, an over 40 person may not always have that much time to train, due to work and family demands on his time.

 

The intensity of the workouts should switch from high intensity one day to low intensity or rest the next day. The muscle cells broken down on the high intensity day can have time to repair and recover stronger. One can also alternate between working their upper body one day and lower body the next. This works a different set of muscles and allows the other muscle group to rest and replenish its glycogen (energy) stores. For example, do high intense cardio workout on Monday and high intensity drills, heavy bag and sparring on Wednesday and Friday. Then do forms and self defense (Hapkido) on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Each workout should be 30 to 60 minutes. The duration could increase as a person’s physical conditioning improves.

 

Cross training is fine to help improve and maintain an overall fitness level, but does not replace specific Martial Arts training. If a person wants to be able to kick high he has to do more than stretch and weight train the legs. He has to practice kicking high. This builds a neural-muscular memory connection. When a person wants to kick high the brain sends a signal to the muscles that they recognize and react in the desired manner. So if you want to punch or kick fast, you have to practice punching and kicking fast. If you want to be able to spar in competition and fight round after round, match after match, you need to practice sparring to gain the benefits of both the aerobic and anaerobic workout.

 

Martial Art schools have set curriculum that students must follow to advance. Many people over 40 can't always "keep up" with the younger crowd. But, not everyone in the class can do some of the things other students can do, no matter what age. Martial Arts are for the individual. The individual person has only to set his own goals and strive to achieve them, no matter what others are capable of doing. Everyone improves at their own pace and not everyone will respond the same way to a particular training program. If a person finds he has limitations he should discuss this with his instructor so he can help him with a plan to achieve his goals and still be in line with the school's curriculum.

 

Martial Artists should be cautious not to over train or "burn out". They shouldn’t take off from training for too long of periods if not necessary. It is estimated that once a training program is abandoned, the gains made through that program are lost within five to ten weeks. If a person has to take a leave for some reason, it is important that they reenter their training gradually to avoid injury. Also, if they don't train often enough they should not go "all out" when exercising since their body is not conditioned to handle the stress. This could lead to serious joint or muscle injury.

 

Some exercising tips for the over 40 Martial Artists:

 

• Properly warm up before exercising.

 

• Know your target heart rate and don't go over it.

 

• Slow down, or stop, when you feel fatigued. Build up to prolonged and/or intense workouts.

 

• Adjust the intensity of your workout based on your current condition.

 

• Surround yourself with highly motivated people.

 

• Workout with a friend or family member.

 

• Take progressive steps to improving. Be patient with your training.

 

• Don't compare yourself to others. Be realistic about what you can do.

 

• Allow sufficient recovery time between workouts.

 

Quite often we see that involvement in the Martial Arts involvement by people over 40 leads to an entire lifestyle change. To maintain your health you not only need to eat right, but also be consistent in some activity and develop a healthy lifestyle. People involved in Martial Arts become more aware of their health condition and are serious about doing something to improve it. They want to achieve their goals in the Martial Arts and being physically fit and healthy is important to doing so. The over 40 Martial Artist benefits in many ways: fitness, self-esteem and confidence, self-defense knowledge and social involvement.

 

Source: Martial Arts After 40 by Sang H. Kim, Turtle Press.

[Patrick]

Thank you for the submission.

[italian_guy]

Very good article from a very good reference book.

I'm an over 40 MAist and I discover MA relatively recently. After doing no physical activity for more than 20 years I joined a gym. I exercized for a couple of years in weight lifting and aerobics. Then I saw a kickboxing class and one week later I joined... That was my beginning in martial art journey (March 2003 at the age of 41 almost 42).

Now I really enjoy it and I experienced many of those benefits you are talking about in your article and follow the advices you give (that I also learnt from your reference book.

Congratulation once again for the article.

[pineapple]

I am 50 years old and I can't imagine what kind of condition I would be in if I weren't into martial arts.

[Venrix]

Definately some great material. It's worth pointing out that 98% of what's written doesn't (or at least shouldn't) solely to the over 40's. Any adult who has passed the 'growth' stage of their Biological development would benefit from the principles given in this article.

This article really shines in that it demonstrates:

"Being over 40 is no excuse for avoiding physical exercise and it certainly isn't too late to begin the process of 'self-development' (mind, body and soul)."

I immediately think of a guy at our Dojo that constantly uses the excuse of 'I started to late in life'. He's 43. Makes me sad really.

My old boss (he was a psychologist) had a simple philosophy that I adopted at a very early age. It suited him, it suits me and will suit anyone regardless of age:

"Where the body is in need of devolopment, where stagnation has set in and 'getting started' never seems to happy, begin by first improving the mind.

Where the mind has become lazy and getting off the ground academically seems impossible - begin first by improving the body."

An active mind will not tolerate a lazy body. An active body generally results in a stimulated mind.

This 'rule of thumb' applies to all ages. In the Martial Arts - age presents neither advantage nor disadvantage. At times, it simply presents a different set of obstacles and a different set of tools with which these obstacles can be overcome.

Again, great article.

-V-

[Fish]

Very interesting article. It just goes to show its never too late to start. I was told by my sensei recently that a lady in her 60s recently took her shodan test!

The only thing is that its important to start off slow, and be realistic about expectations - after a certain age the body just naturally is not as elastic and resilient as when younger, and it takes that little bit longer to learn techniques. But this can be overcome with patience, application and the mental determination to improve oneself and succeed.

[pineapple]

One of my best students is someone in his mid 50s. He is the most consistant and puts 100% effort in what he does. He also loves to spar.

[AnonymousOne]

I am 48 . I train twice daily and take absolutely no notice whatsoever of my age.

I am fitter, faster, stronger and have more endurance than I had 30 years ago as a young martial artist.

Age is in the mind.

[aefibird]

Excellent article Kicks.

Martial Arts can be for everyone, regardless of age, race, sex, ability/disability etc.

Your only limit is yourself!

[ninjanurse]

Nice article. My body reminds me everyday that I'm no spring chicken anymore!