Martia arts at 18

[Shorin Ryuu]

Sure, if you start at the age of five or six, have self-discipline instilled early on and have a great instructor, you will be great at whatever it is you are doing. Those factors don't necessarily converge every time.

I've met some people that have been doing martial arts since they were only this tall *holds hand up pretty low* and they weren't terribly impressive. And then there were some who I've met or heard about that were very impressive.

As some people mentioned, starting at a later age allows you to understand things more critically when you are first exposed to them (if you have that kind of mentality, anyway). It is the rare child who can do so.

For more "gymnastic" kinds of endeavors, starting young is more ideal simply for the physical formation required. In terms of combative training however, you can look at a lot of the "old masters" of karate and many of them didn't start until their teens. There are some things like makiwara training you shouldn't really start until you're around 16 anyway.

Do I wish I had the opportunity to start when I was younger? Yes. I didn't start martial arts until I was 17. Do I lose sleep over it? Never.

Let's say you start at age 18 and take it for 6 years. I can guarantee you in most cases you will be far, far superior to someone who is 16 and has taken it for 10 years. Most of those earlier years are simply a wash in terms of pure combative training.

In the long run, having more years of experience (spent properly) will always be better. There are always some things which simply require time to develop. However, the quality of your years spent will always trump simple experience. There is a vast difference between merely training on one hand and actually bettering yourself on the other.

There are two basic things you can do. You can always have it in the back (or front) of your mind that you would have been X amount better if only you started Y amount of time earlier. Or, you can train hard, train smart, and get better so much it becomes a moot point.

I'm a firm believer in the ability of one to continually better him or herself no matter what they faced or what they could've/would've/should've done. I wish I started earlier. I wish I never tore my ACL. But you know what? I don't care. I'm going to get better and that's all that matters.

[Bruce WillPete7]

Yea i guess you guys are right, it doesnt really matter when you start so long as you put your mind to it at any age, there is always the physical factor but my body will adapt even if i am 18, Thank all of you guys for your support.

[Sam]

you also have to maturity to supplement your training with other things as well so you advance faster