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by: MasterAlanZuckerman
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If you begin martial arts workouts when you are over 40 prepare for the jokes: Tae Kwon Old, Senior Do, Health Care-a-te or Kung Old Fool. When someone asks me in the locker room about getting in shape I joke, "I'm aging so fast, I can't see my shape let alone get in it."

I discovered taekwondo in my forties. A series of seemingly random circumstances took me to the school of the Grandmaster who would become my teacher, Byung Min Kim.

The first event occurred while I was having dinner with an old friend. He revealed that he had studied martial arts since he was a boy and had earned a black belt in tae kwon do. My son was young at the time, and I considered the benefit for him of studying some form of martial arts. Finally, I met the Master of my future school. I work as a retail real estate broker, and happened to offer a store to Grandmaster Kim. I didn't close that sale, but fortunately he sold me on tae kwon do.

Your expectation when you practice martial arts as a full grown adult are no different than those of any starry eyed kid. Expectations sculpted by legends like James Bond, Bruce Lee, Napoleon Solo and David Caradine in the television and movies of the 1950's and 60's.

I yearned to be deadly...and great looking!

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 decided to do something different. Within the same week, I started tae kwon do and piano lessons (middle age is so confusing).

Tae kwon do has been a seed planted inside me. When I give it what it needs to grow, it takes root. If you have started this journey, you know what I'm saying. But if tae kwon do is new to you, I guarantee you that great changes are coming. Should you be starting later in life, like I did, I want to give 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.

Instructors motivate an entire class, with a wide range of age and skills. Your mind will tell you that you can still do it, but your body may need a little more time. Short term, overachieving goals in taekwondo lead to injuries and injuries lead to quitting and acquiescing to the myth that you are too old for this sport.

No way!

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.

You might be too old for rock and roll, but you're too young to die.

About the Author

Before you decide if your too old for martial arts, see Kalynn Amadio's great martial arts website Taekwondo-Network and find out more regarding mens workouts in tae kwon do when you're over 40. Keep in mind that, age is only a number.

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