I got involved with Martial Arts at the ripe old age of 42. At the time I felt ten feet tall and bulletproof. Fast forward ten years and health issues came into play. Fast forward ten more years and aging came into play. Facing the reality that I could no longer physically do a lot of the things that are associated with Martial Arts. Do I leave the dojo and stop doing what I have come to love? It gave me purpose and a way for me to stay productive.
Fortunately, my Grandmaster sat down with me. He said OK you can no longer do the fighting and the throws like before. But you can bring all that experience to the dojo. My pride and yes, my ego had to be set aside to adjust my focus on instructing and bringing my experience to our students. I went to work and focused on technique, working on Kata’s open hand and weapons. I taught more classes and helped with tests. All the while still competing in tournaments, forms, and weapons. Judging is also something I love to do.
Sparring was always the competition that I enjoyed the most. It was something that came naturally to me, a chess match of sorts. That was the hardest thing for me to give up. I still remember asking the doctor, “If you do all this can I still fight? ” Can you still fight? She exclaimed. No way, not even a little. My wife explained to her how much I loved the sport. The passion I had put in sparring had to put into making my forms better and it worked, they got better not perfect but better.
Then that little voice of doubt that we all have raised its ugly head. What kind of Black belt are you? You can’t do a full test anymore, there are a lot younger, stronger, and faster students in the dojo. You’re not needed. We can fall into that trap. You see martial arts are so much more than physical. It’s the honor the respect the discipline the very things that help me be the type of man my family needs. I found that I still have so much to give my dojo and the arts. So back to the question, can you still make a difference in the dojo given your limitations?
That depends on what type of martial artist you are and yes there are different types. There are the athletic ones that are there for the competition and the challenge. Some are there for the exercise, let’s face it, it’s cheaper than a gym membership. And some have watched The Karate Kid, or their parents watched it. We welcome all of these stages.
You may be like me and have health and age issues. If you get up from your chair and say I get to go to the dojo or the tournament or help in the test. You are the ones who spend time with that student who’s having trouble with the roll or a hold or form. To me that’s what it came down to, it’s so rewarding to see it click for a student, to see them stick with it because of something you said or did. The answer to the question is yes you can be a value to the dojo. I take pride in being one of the instructors that the Head instructor goes to when they need backup or to teach a class.
We are the Sensei’s, the Renshi’s, the ones that are there when no one else is. We need to know we are needed and looked up to. I will stay and adapt and keep making a difference for as long as I can. When it is time for me to step aside and hopefully it will be further down the road I want to look back and see my footprint. That I know that I influenced the ones that have come behind me. I will keep loving and living this lifestyle, always trying to help, always trying to get better, always a martial artist.
- Aging, health issues and Martial Arts. - August 15, 2024
You gave a great explanation of adaptation, passing it forward and how to be a master really well. Great article.
Great Read! I recently started my journey at 46 years old with Legacy Martial Arts – Temple . On 8/25 I attended my 1st (of hopefully many) belt graduations and received my Gold belt! As a Disabled Combat Veteran, martial arts has helped me tremendously with not only maintaining and gaining more mobility but my PTSD as well!
The journey continues, I have discovered that my goals seemed to shift over the years. I started as a teen wanting to learn self-defense and fighting. That morphed into competition and a bouncer job in my early 20’s. I then bought a karate school in my mid-20’s for a couple of years before selling to a buddy. I trained for full contact but no insurance and family needs limited my karate at that point.
I’ve always stayed active, going to the dojo for black belt tests to keep the new students honest by sparring and judging. By the time I got to my late 50’s I did not spar as often and took a bunch of my old students and taught then a mix of karate and HEMA until covid shut us down.
Now as a retired senior citizen I focus exclusively on self defense and don’t teach much anymore. So I’m back to full circle.
I’ll say the hardest part has been coming to terms with life changes including health issues. Good luck to you!