Calmness vs Hyperness

[MatsuShinshii]

I hear you on that. I always thought I would get wiser and need to do less. But alas all I am is older and find myself more winded trying to keep up with guys and gals half my age.

The worse part is it was an old guy that told me that line. Not fair, just not fair.

What was that gibberish anyway, a poem?

[Alan Armstrong]

I had a compliment from a CI 1/3 my age.

He said "I want to be like you as a martial artist, when I get old"

He seemed to be trying to say that, I don't fit into the old guy stereo type of getting out of shape and giving into mediocrity or living in the comfort zone.

Funny thing is, I don't feel like an old martial artist, I just feel more capable, confident and aware.

Doing flying kicks, single, double or triple, was thinking that was martial arts, just a phase, a fun time but as time passes, so now enjoying many other phases and hopefully many more are awaiting to be explored.

My advice as an old guy. Enjoy all the phases on your martial art journey, some will be more difficult than others, but if you ever wanted easy, then you would have never chosen such a difficult and challenging "Rocky" path.

[bushido_man96]

Doing flying kicks, single, double or triple, was thinking that was martial arts, just a phase, a fun time but as time passes, so now enjoying many other phases and hopefully many more are awaiting to be explored.

My advice as an old guy. Enjoy all the phases on your martial art journey, some will be more difficult than others, but if you ever wanted easy, then you would have never chosen such a difficult and challenging "Rocky" path.

This, I agree with. Young folks should do all that wild and wacky stuff for as long as they can, and enjoy it. There's plenty of time to get old later!

[LLLEARNER]

My experience is to watch out for the old guys. Old guys know how to do things very efficiently.

I have noticed this in all disciplines.

My father-in-law for instance has been a worker all his life, starting out on the family chicken farm, and eventually taking it over. He has always been very handy with motors, carpentry, electric, plumbing, etc. I always feel I have to work twice as fast as him to get the same amount done. He is simply more efficient.

I like to watch "Forged in Fire" on the history channel. Many times you can see the old smiths seem to hardly move and the younger ones run their butts off to get the same work done.

Experience and age breed efficiency.

I would rather spar younger, stronger and faster people than old guys. a younger guy might hit harder, but an old (more experienced) guy will do more damage.

[Alan Armstrong]

There was a term used when I was a young teen, they called it "Old man strength" also described as "A gorilla grip"

There is something very interesting for an aged or mature maist, that can, as you describe cause more damage.

Sometimes trying to be less gorilla can actually be more damaging, as softness was how martial arts was practiced instead of the hard way usually practiced today.

It has alot to do with having a "Heavy hand" this includes having a heavy foot, elbow, knee. the list goes on.

Look at for example when doing breaking, being calm is better than being hyper; as this thread is really on knowing when to be one way or the other in the right time and or place.

There is also a coordinated strength that the oldies have developed, that can feel what they are doing instead of searching for the right way like the younger ones do.

Another martial art element for the older maist is the quality that they have developed within.

In Chinese this quality is called "Pung" bouncing; similar to when pressing into a ball and its innate quality pushes back without any effort.

Another quality is using gravitational forces and sinking/rooting skills; similar to trying to move a waterbed that still has some water in it, again it is the quality of the water bed that makes it very difficult to move, a type of heavy strength.

[Shizentai]

What was that gibberish anyway, a poem?

Read it to the tune of "Modern Major general" from Pirates of Pinzance:

"You are the very model of two novel-writing gentlemen

You share information martial, cultural, and spiritual.

You know senseis of England, and you quote the fights historical

From China to Okinawa, in order categorical."

[JR 137]

My experience is to watch out for the old guys. Old guys know how to do things very efficiently.

I have noticed this in all disciplines.

My father-in-law for instance has been a worker all his life, starting out on the family chicken farm, and eventually taking it over. He has always been very handy with motors, carpentry, electric, plumbing, etc. I always feel I have to work twice as fast as him to get the same amount done. He is simply more efficient.

I like to watch "Forged in Fire" on the history channel. Many times you can see the old smiths seem to hardly move and the younger ones run their butts off to get the same work done.

Experience and age breed efficiency.

I would rather spar younger, stronger and faster people than old guys. a younger guy might hit harder, but an old (more experienced) guy will do more damage.

Yup.

At 41, believe it or not, I’m one of the younger adults at the dojo. When I was in my 20s during my first stint in karate, I’d have looked down on the dojo in a sense. I’d think “how am I going to get good sparring with a bunch of broken down old guys?” Not exactly that way, but more or less. I’ve learned far more in my going on 3 years there then I did in my 7 years of sparring at my former dojo. In my former dojo, we were a bunch of college aged guys who used to go at each other. The guys I spar with now sit back and wait. They let me bring the fight to them, and punish my mistakes. They’re not trying to out muscle me, blind me with speed, out kick me, nor anything else; they just stand there and pick me apart. They move minimally, yet they’re harder to hit than anyone I’ve sparred with previously. When I do connect, it’s like they got hit with the lesser of all evils; they’ll block/evade the important stuff and take a minor hit in a calculated way. The faster and harder I go, the more I just end up wearing myself down.

It was like playing soccer with my stepfather when I was younger. He played one level below their top pro level in Peru. He’d have the ball, and I’d chase him around, running in circles while he seemingly stood still and chuckling at my brothers and I. Even when we were in our 20s and 30s. He wasn’t old and out of shape, he was just so skilled and smart that he didn’t need to waste energy and was in constant control of the game. The guys I spar now are the same way.

Looking at it all, I’m the same way when sparring lower ranks and kids. I let them come at me, blocking what’s necessary, and target practicing the openings. I’m not swarming them and overwhelming them.

There’s a yondan at the dojo who’s one of my favorite sparring partners and one of my favorite people to just be around. He looks like the stereotypical broken down old man that I used to think would be a waste of time sparring with. He’s in his early 60s, has had a few accidents that’ve lead to several neck and back surgeries. He genuinely moves like Quasimodo. Nothing I do is very effective. I get close, and he makes me carry his weight and punishes me. I keep my distance and he just tags me every time I try anything. I try to get him with speed and movement, and all he does is let me tire myself out. And no matter where I am, we both know he could sweep me at any moment. I call him the custodian because of that fact alone It’s pretty humbling when we both know the broken down old man can take me out whenever he feels like it. And not to pat myself on the back, but I’m not slouch by any means.

The best part of the people in the dojo is that they’re always positive and constructive. They’re always telling me how to improve. There’s always a smile on their face and a “try this or that.” No one’s trying to keep secrets so they can stay at the top of the pecking order. It’s like everyone wants me (and everyone else) to be better than them. Even the 3 or 4 guys who are a few years younger than me.

[LLLEARNER]

My experience is to watch out for the old guys. Old guys know how to do things very efficiently.

I have noticed this in all disciplines.

My father-in-law for instance has been a worker all his life, starting out on the family chicken farm, and eventually taking it over. He has always been very handy with motors, carpentry, electric, plumbing, etc. I always feel I have to work twice as fast as him to get the same amount done. He is simply more efficient.

I like to watch "Forged in Fire" on the history channel. Many times you can see the old smiths seem to hardly move and the younger ones run their butts off to get the same work done.

Experience and age breed efficiency.

I would rather spar younger, stronger and faster people than old guys. a younger guy might hit harder, but an old (more experienced) guy will do more damage.

Yup.

At 41, believe it or not, I’m one of the younger adults at the dojo. When I was in my 20s during my first stint in karate, I’d have looked down on the dojo in a sense. I’d think “how am I going to get good sparring with a bunch of broken down old guys?” Not exactly that way, but more or less. I’ve learned far more in my going on 3 years there then I did in my 7 years of sparring at my former dojo. In my former dojo, we were a bunch of college aged guys who used to go at each other. The guys I spar with now sit back and wait. They let me bring the fight to them, and punish my mistakes. They’re not trying to out muscle me, blind me with speed, out kick me, nor anything else; they just stand there and pick me apart. They move minimally, yet they’re harder to hit than anyone I’ve sparred with previously. When I do connect, it’s like they got hit with the lesser of all evils; they’ll block/evade the important stuff and take a minor hit in a calculated way. The faster and harder I go, the more I just end up wearing myself down.

It was like playing soccer with my stepfather when I was younger. He played one level below their top pro level in Peru. He’d have the ball, and I’d chase him around, running in circles while he seemingly stood still and chuckling at my brothers and I. Even when we were in our 20s and 30s. He wasn’t old and out of shape, he was just so skilled and smart that he didn’t need to waste energy and was in constant control of the game. The guys I spar now are the same way.

Looking at it all, I’m the same way when sparring lower ranks and kids. I let them come at me, blocking what’s necessary, and target practicing the openings. I’m not swarming them and overwhelming them.

There’s a yondan at the dojo who’s one of my favorite sparring partners and one of my favorite people to just be around. He looks like the stereotypical broken down old man that I used to think would be a waste of time sparring with. He’s in his early 60s, has had a few accidents that’ve lead to several neck and back surgeries. He genuinely moves like Quasimodo. Nothing I do is very effective. I get close, and he makes me carry his weight and punishes me. I keep my distance and he just tags me every time I try anything. I try to get him with speed and movement, and all he does is let me tire myself out. And no matter where I am, we both know he could sweep me at any moment. I call him the custodian because of that fact alone It’s pretty humbling when we both know the broken down old man can take me out whenever he feels like it. And not to pat myself on the back, but I’m not slouch by any means.

The best part of the people in the dojo is that they’re always positive and constructive. They’re always telling me how to improve. There’s always a smile on their face and a “try this or that.” No one’s trying to keep secrets so they can stay at the top of the pecking order. It’s like everyone wants me (and everyone else) to be better than them. Even the 3 or 4 guys who are a few years younger than me.

I am jealous. Wish I was at your dojo. It sounds like a great learning environment.