50+ Years Old!!

[sensei8]

Sensei8,

I took judo from a 72 year old man that threw us around like rag dolls and was in better shape than most of us. My Sensei is 84 and has been in the arts for 69 years.

I am up there as well and find that the things I could so as a kid aren't as easy now.

I have high blood pressure and my joints are less than perfect after years of abusing them.

I teach 2 nights a week and take lessons 1 night a week and on Saturday and run with my dogs for 1 to 3 miles on my off nights. Right now is hunting season and were I hunt is pretty hilly. Nothing like draging a deer out a 1/4 of a mile to get your heart rate up.

I don't think age is the deciding factor of whether you can train for 30 minutes or more. It's you over all health thats the important factor.

I feel good and my body hasn't fallen apart yet so I continue to train. Of course I'm not going to try to do the same things I was able to when I was 20 nor could I. But I do what I can and as of right now I can still get out of bed the next morning without my wife helping me so life is good.

Thank you for your post!! I well consider what you've suggested/advised.

[ShakeyPaul]

Hi guys, I'm new here so please bare with me. I am 54yrs young, and a 7th kyu (green belt) in Shotokan Karate. I train with my karate club 3 times a week @ 2hrs each class, I also train at home between 30 -45 mins every day and know that this is definitely doing me a great deal of good. In fact I am now training harder than my 21yr old son. There are a few other members at are club in their 50's who train just as hard as me, the difference between myself and them is that I was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease on the 14th November 2010. At that time I was told I could not keep up my Karate training by my consultant and that my future was going to decline very fast. I did stop training for about a year and true to his words I went downhill really fast, I then met my Sensei a year later who encouraged me to return to the club,and said they would come up with a training plan which would suit my Parkinsons. This was the best thing I have ever done, I am now able to keep up with even the more senior ranks in the club and I am due to grade again in March. So what I'm trying to say is age is only a number , you are as young as you feel just listen to your body , if it needs a rest take one, if you feel tired but feel you can push through that bit harder go for it, If I can push hard with the young guys then so can you all. I would be interested to know if there are any other people with Parkinsons disease practicing a martial art and how it benefits them. Many thanks , Shakey

[sensei8]

Hi guys, I'm new here so please bare with me. I am 54yrs young, and a 7th kyu (green belt) in Shotokan Karate. I train with my karate club 3 times a week @ 2hrs each class, I also train at home between 30 -45 mins every day and know that this is definitely doing me a great deal of good. In fact I am now training harder than my 21yr old son. There are a few other members at are club in their 50's who train just as hard as me, the difference between myself and them is that I was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease on the 14th November 2010. At that time I was told I could not keep up my Karate training by my consultant and that my future was going to decline very fast. I did stop training for about a year and true to his words I went downhill really fast, I then met my Sensei a year later who encouraged me to return to the club,and said they would come up with a training plan which would suit my Parkinsons. This was the best thing I have ever done, I am now able to keep up with even the more senior ranks in the club and I am due to grade again in March. So what I'm trying to say is age is only a number , you are as young as you feel just listen to your body , if it needs a rest take one, if you feel tired but feel you can push through that bit harder go for it, If I can push hard with the young guys then so can you all. I would be interested to know if there are any other people with Parkinsons disease practicing a martial art and how it benefits them. Many thanks , Shakey

First of all...Welcome to KF!!

Secondly...Solid post; thank you for it!!

[Ninja Mom]

YOGA!!!

Low impact, improves circulation, flexibility, gives you a sense of well being, focuses on oneself, great for strength training (gently)... and have I said, it's great for circulation...

[sensei8]

YOGA!!!

Low impact, improves circulation, flexibility, gives you a sense of well being, focuses on oneself, great for strength training (gently)... and have I said, it's great for circulation...

I've been entertaining the thought to try DDP Yoga. Seems down my aisle!!

[Spartacus Maximus]

Sensei8

At 56 you are not even close to being a old man. I can tell you that I have seen many karateka who are that age or much older who could mop the floor with their young 20 something whipped-snapper students.

Whip em and snap em

My own sensei is in his late sixties and he can still outperform the fittest people less than half his age. If you don't ever change your training intensity and rythm since you were younger your body will adapt and follow. I have seen living proof of this many times. Unless you have some sort of very serious degenerative disease it is possible to prevent and overcome most of the age problems that slow down average sedentary life style people.

I have a lot of admiration and respect for people like you and my sensei. People who have spent decades of their life training and tirelessly trying to improve one part or another of their mental or physical beings. That takes a while lot more self discipline, focus and determination than most have.

[Archimoto]

In awe of you both Sensei8 and DevilDog!!!

[sensei8]

In awe of you both Sensei8 and DevilDog!!!

Thank you!!

[ninjanurse]

YOGA!!!

Low impact, improves circulation, flexibility, gives you a sense of well being, focuses on oneself, great for strength training (gently)... and have I said, it's great for circulation...

I've been entertaining the thought to try DDP Yoga. Seems down my aisle!!

Did you try DDP yet? I love it-it is great for us over 50's!

[sensei8]

Sensei8

At 56 you are not even close to being a old man. I can tell you that I have seen many karateka who are that age or much older who could mop the floor with their young 20 something whipped-snapper students.

Whip em and snap em

My own sensei is in his late sixties and he can still outperform the fittest people less than half his age. If you don't ever change your training intensity and rythm since you were younger your body will adapt and follow. I have seen living proof of this many times. Unless you have some sort of very serious degenerative disease it is possible to prevent and overcome most of the age problems that slow down average sedentary life style people.

I have a lot of admiration and respect for people like you and my sensei. People who have spent decades of their life training and tirelessly trying to improve one part or another of their mental or physical beings. That takes a while lot more self discipline, focus and determination than most have.

I thank you for your kind words!

At times, I feel really, really older than I truly am; as a MAist, I've been rode hard and put away wet, I'd have it no other way. I've not trained for belts or awards or self-aggrandizement; I've trained so that I can improve my MA betterment., therefore, I'll be able to help others improve their own MA betterment.

You are only as old as you feel, and in that, I suppose there's quite a lot of value to that.