When The Training Is All But Over

[sensei8]

No matter the style, no matter the practitioner, sometimes, the end of ones time on the floor ends, for one reason or another. I'm speaking about those who've been on the floor for 30 or 40 or 50 solid years. Then, WHAM. They're forced off the floor for one horrific reason or another!!

My end is NOT at hand, at this time!!

But when one has to walk away from the floor, what's for the MAist to do?

Walking away, isn't a thing that one wants to think about, especially after having been on the floor for so long. Practitioners like this knows every inch of the hardwood, they know every smell, every nook and cranny of the floor.

Quitting isn't in the paragraph of any long time resident of the floor. They've bleed, cried, and sweated buckets trying to answer that old question..."What's next?"

Does one write, host, teach on the side, fish, bowl, golf, garden, rock on the porch, punt, or kick??

Age creeps up uninvited, and what once was polished, now needs polishing, more now than ever. The creaking is no longer that loose floor board in the corner, but it's ones aged knees instead.

Does one fight on, or does on finally have to admit to a more lesser schedule, or bow off the floor all together for the last time??

Your thoughts, please!!

[lowereastside]

Nice post Sensei8 - A good friend of mine in Chicago - a Martial Artist since the age of 8 got a stroke about 3 years ago at age 53 - his whole left side is paralyzed - End of Martial Arts practice and teaching as he knew it. However, he still practices his forms/kata at home. I know of another individual who developed bad knees and completely stopped his practice of Martial Arts. Its up to the individual - some continue their practice with modifications and others just quit. Look I'm 60 years old - I've made some adjustments in my practice - the thing is to find the key to take it into our old age. My classmate who is 86 years old found the key and still teaches privately. My Grand Teacher pushing 87 in a few months - while dealing with heath issues - still gets on the floor correcting students while the seniors teach. We have to make some adjustments. Again - just my 3 cents.

[BlackKnight]

When I started training I never thought I'd still be at it 30 years later.

Now, I can't imagine a life without training. In five years I can retire. I am now planning my next stage in life which is to have my own dojo.

As far as physically capable, I've walked away from things I've loved, like the SWAT team. While I miss it, it just gotten too hard to maintain the level of fitness required for the assignment. I have no regrets.

In karate I should be able to continue long into old age, but if I have to walk away from it so be it.

One must learn to put ego aside and accept the things we can not control.

[ninjanurse]

I tell my students, "When you think you are done, you're not!".

[IcemanSK]

I figure if the best gymnastic coaches in the world is Bella Karolly, a guy who has never done most of the things he teaches these kids to do, I plan to teach until I can no longer walk on the floor. I will be able to contribute to the teaching of my tradition to future generations.

[cheesefrysamurai]

I figure if the best gymnastic coaches in the world is Bella Karolly, a guy who has never done most of the things he teaches these kids to do, I plan to teach until I can no longer walk on the floor. I will be able to contribute to the teaching of my tradition to future generations.

Smart answer

I think that in a sense you will be even MORE valuable, why??? Because other teachers can teach the rote techniques, you don't have to waste your time with that anymore, instead, you give the pearls of wisdom it took you all those years to cultivate!

I'll give you the perfect example! Remember the show "Kung fu"? One of my favorites. Anyway, those profound lessons were not taught by athletes, instead by a blind elderly guy. He was imparting what others could not.

I think time spent with a Sensei of that caliber is a rare gift, not a good workout.

[Zaine]

Just because you can't train on the floor does not mean you cannot train.

[sensei8]

Just because you can't train on the floor does not mean you cannot train.

That's not always the case, imho!! Physical reason(s) might force one off the floor. Emotional reason(s) might force one off the floor. And these two considerations might not allow one to train ever again.

[IcemanSK]

Just because you can't train on the floor does not mean you cannot train.

That's not always the case, imho!! Physical reason(s) might force one off the floor. Emotional reason(s) might force one off the floor. And these two considerations might not allow one to train ever again.

Yes, sadly that does happen to many people. Dealing with loss, especially of our own abilities as we age, can be devastating for some folks. For some, that can be an impassible barrier that they never conquer.

I was born with Cerebral Palsy that affects the use of my right hand & leg. When I started training at 14 in 1982, my physical learning curve was huge. 32 years later, I'm still training & teaching.

Like most of us, I've had MA heroes that I've looked to for inspiration. They've fueled my workouts during the hardest times in my training. A few years ago, I learned a lesson that I never expected. For a few years, I trained at a boxing gym where a friend also ran a TKD program. Every day, he'd show up with his then 8 & 10 year old sons in tow. They came straight from school, a quick bit to eat & then to train 5 nights a week. Four years ago, I got an email from their dad saying the oldest was going to be a student at West Point, & I had a part in that. He said that his boys often hated training back then. But he pointing me out to them & told them, "see, that's what dedication is. You show up, and you work hard every day." The oldest graduates from West Point later this month & the youngest in a Sophomore there as well. I was one that they looked up to, and I didn't even know it.

I think if we can shift our focus from "what motivates me" to "who can I motivate?" it can breathe new life into our experience.

[Zaine]

Just because you can't train on the floor does not mean you cannot train.

That's not always the case, imho!! Physical reason(s) might force one off the floor. Emotional reason(s) might force one off the floor. And these two considerations might not allow one to train ever again.

What I mean to say is that the physical side isn't the only thing to consider. There is also, for me, a mental part of training, such as I might obtain from books and meditation.