Martial Arts Workouts For Men Over 40

When a man over 40 begins martial arts workouts they should have a special name: Kung Old Fool, Tae Kwon Old, Health Care-a-te or Senior Do. If anyone asks about my health I usually reply, "I'm aging too fast to get in shape."

I came to tae kwon do in my forties. A confluence of circumstances brought me to the school of Grandmaster Byung Min Kim.

First, I was out to dinner with an old friend whom, I discovered, was a black belt in tae kwon do. He had been practicing, on and off, since he was a child. Also, I had a young son who I thought would benefit from a martial arts program. Finally, I had a chance meeting with my future Master. I am a retail real estate broker, and I had the good fortune of offering a store to Grandmaster Kim. I didn't sell him, but luckily he sold me.

The expectations of an adult male, no matter how old, when they begin martial arts instruction is the same as a child's. You wistfully remember David Caradine, James Bond, Bruce Lee or Napoleon Solo in any of the popular movies and television shows of the 1950's and 60's.

I just wanted to be deadly…and really handsome!

Not long after I started my new mens workout, I visited my doctor because I was certain I was suffering an attack of the appendicitis. He guaranteed me that it was just soreness from all the sit-ups. I was merely out of shape.

I had Exercised on a regular basis when when I was younger, but after getting married and having kids, I had pushed those regular workouts aside. In my forties now, I was out of breath. I had trouble breathing during recreational volleyball or tennis and I didn't seem to have the stamina to go dancing with my bride.

I made a decision; it was time for something fresh. That week, I began to study tae kwon do and piano (I know, middle age is really confusing).

Martial arts is like a seed that is planted in your body. With the proper environment, it takes root and grows. If you've been on this journey as I have, you understand what this means. If you are new to martial arts, I can tell you that change both expected and unexpected, is coming. If you are starting late in life, I can offer you this equation:

Maturity = (patience + perseverance)-(flexibility + hair).

Work for the long run is the best advice I can give you. Listen to the needs of your body, not just your mind. I have witnessed many adults in class with the mindset of a 21 year old. They work too hard, push too far in order to get what used to be simple.

Teachers will work to motivate everyone in class no matter the age or skill level. Though your head will say, "you can do this" your body will need more time to get there. In the short run, overreaching leads to injuries and those injuries cause you to want to quit, fulfilling the myth that this sport is only for the young.

Forget it!

You cannot comprehend the journey with a single step; you can only comprehend a single step of the journey, so stick with it.

The next time an instructor pushes you too hard, remember that you are an adult. Age has its privilege. A great master will understand your limits and push you accordingly, that is where trust is built. Short of that; listen to your inner master.

Though I may be too old for Rock N Roll, I'm too young to die.