I started in my current system as a fat 33 year old, because my instructor was willing to let my 5 year old join his adults only class (except for his two kids, a bit older) as long as I joined. I always said taekwondo would never be for me (I'd done a bit of Okinawan karate and judo in and after college but always dropped out).
Well, now 15 years later I'm a 4th dan master instructor testing others to black belt. That includes a few 30 and 40 something year old women (and a 50 something year old guy) who are doing things they never imagined they would when they started.
What I lucked into was a very good, strong system, and actually much more than taekwondo: hapkido, military combat techniques, and even the opportunity to separately train in korean sword arts. But, there is still typical taekwondo in the mix, with high, jumping and spinning kicks, and breaking with all kinds of kicks. The art I said I'd never be interested in has captured my life.
That's a long way of saying sometimes what we want isn't what we need and what we need isn't what we want.
Forget age, abilities, dispositions. Check it all out, use your best judgment. And maybe, just maybe, the one for you will be the one that makes you say "Nah, I don't think that one." But the teeny voice inside says, "c'mon, maybe . . ."
I just came across this thread and wanted to add my 2 cents. I started taking karate 3 years ago when I was 39. I was concerned about being the "old lady" in the class and was wondering if I was too old to even be attempting it. The first school I went to was a McDojo and very well-known in my area. I only went there because I was a complete newbie to MA and didn't know any better. It was crazy expensive but the first month was free so I tried it--and hated it. They had 13 year old kids in the 'adult' classes, required everyone to sign a contract, and some other things I didn't care for. So I left there after my free month was up and then started doing a lot of research on various MA styles. I discovered there was a karate school right nearby that had a good reputation and had been in business for about 10 years. I took a free intro class and the other people in the class were around my age and some were even older so that's when I knew it was the dojo for me, and I never looked back. I've also taken some Filipino Martial Arts which are amazing too and I recommend that if you have a good teacher in your area.
I don't think it matters what style you choose, just as long as you choose something you like and feel comfortable with. For example, I would never take judo or BJJ because I have no interest in rolling around on the floor. I wouldn't take TKD because I know I can't kick that high (and don't think it's necessary anyway), so you really have to do research and see what's available and also research the instructor. There are too many MA guys who start their own styles and say they are the 'grandmaster' of some style that no one's ever heard of. Make sure your instructor has a good reputation and a lot of experience. Also, choose a style that has a school near you. If the style you like only has a school 60 miles from you, chances are you'll never go. And don't let age be a factor because it really doesn't matter. There are people in their 60's in my karate dojo. Good luck!
I wouldn't take TKD because I know I can't kick that high
How high is "that high?"
We kick low, too! And you only have to kick as high as you can, anyway.
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Originally Posted by piper
. . . (and don't think it's necessary anyway)
Depends on what one is wanting to kick . . . plus, it can be fun, and a challenge to shoot for.
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Originally Posted by piper
There are too many MA guys who start their own styles and say they are the 'grandmaster' of some style that no one's ever heard of.
Often also known as students of Grandmaster DVD, since that's often where most of their instruction has come from . . .
Just ridin' ya a bit.
Good post and good points, Piper. I'm glad you've found something that drew you in and keeps you in! Just curious, is your school/art a generic American karate school, or is it a particular traditional style?
The OP sounds like he's talking more about bar fights than self defense. Having been in and seen my share over the years those last all of 1-2 punches usually. The key to winning: know when the fight is inevitable and be the first person to strike.
Nowadays I would always say the best thing to do is walk away in these situations. Even some drunk kid who is frustrating you can still be calmed down. But, if you must strike someone a swift punch to the stomach or proper kick to the thigh will most likely take down someone with little long term injury.
As to self-defense, that's a different topic. It's about being prepared when someone puts your life in danger, and unfortunately it seems that it's most often something that women seem to need.
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Depends on what one is wanting to kick . . . plus, it can be fun, and a challenge to shoot for.
I like to kick, but kicking high is just not my thing.
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Good post and good points, Piper. I'm glad you've found something that drew you in and keeps you in! Just curious, is your school/art a generic American karate school, or is it a particular traditional style?
Seido (kaikan) usually has a good rep, and is often pretty rough so I'd think it'd be good for self defense. Kyokushin shodan tests (at least in Japan) and the macho stupidity involved is another matter however
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The key to winning: know when the fight is inevitable and be the first person to strike.
And keep striking until it's over - otherwise known as the straight blast. That's the reality Bruce Lee impressed upon the dogmatic martial arts crowd at that famous tournament in 1964.
Beauty in simplicity.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
As to self-defense, that's a different topic. It's about being prepared when someone puts your life in danger, and unfortunately it seems that it's most often something that women seem to need.
I'm not entirely sure women's needs are in reality that much greater then men's, considering most statistics I've seen show much higher rates of violence against men (at least in the US).
Seido (kaikan) usually has a good rep, and is often pretty rough so I'd think it'd be good for self defense. Kyokushin shodan tests (at least in Japan) and the macho stupidity involved is another matter however
I'm not a shodan (yet) so I can't comment, but from what I hear, the shodan test isn't like what you're describing. In fact, the grandmaster of Seido left Kyokushin and started his own style because he was tired of the macho BS.
I just came across this thread and wanted to add my 2 cents. I started taking karate 3 years ago when I was 39.
Good for you for getting out there.
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Originally Posted by piper
I don't think it matters what style you choose, just as long as you choose something you like and feel comfortable with.
hate to say that it doesn't matter- but actually in general I would agree with you. Then you can adjust when you have enough info/experience to make a more informed decision on what you want/need and how much you can commit.\
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Originally Posted by piper
For example, I would never take judo or BJJ because I have no interest in rolling around on the floor. I wouldn't take TKD because I know I can't kick that high (and don't think it's necessary anyway),
I think that is a common impression, but I think that most arts are more rounded that non practitioners imagine. As for TKD, Chris (TKD Master Chris Correia)and I have talked a bit about this. I would not imagine myself kicking much higher than above the knee or to the groin in "real life". However, I actually do not anticipate any real life confrontations. If I actually expected to be assaulted I would probably carry a weapon. Kicking is also fun. But more importantly developing your high kicks also helps with your low kicks. As I get more proficient, I do see the possibilty of a head kick as the "3" in a 1, 2, 3. combination in real life (but if I were to follow with a 3 kick I probably would still go lower.
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Originally Posted by eastcoastsurfer
The key to winning: know when the fight is inevitable and be the first person to strike.
Nowadays I would always say the best thing to do is walk away in these situations.
good point, and better point!!
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Originally Posted by Gradstudent78
I'm not entirely sure women's needs are in reality that much greater then men's, considering most statistics I've seen show much higher rates of violence against men (at least in the US).
Yes, but even a quick look at the stats shows a a different ratio of assaults against men from stranger in public places than for women. One might guess that some of these are avoidable bar fights. Additionally there is a much higher incidence of assaults against women from people know to them which suggests these are less avoidable. Now obviously that too is a superficial analysis
cheers
Peter
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
Last edited by diamondpete : 01-04-2009 at 10:01 PM.
I know Seido is an offshoot of Kyokushin and what I said was the Kyokushin shodan test in Japan is known for being rather ridiculously macho.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I know Seido is an offshoot of Kyokushin and what I said was the Kyokushin shodan test in Japan is known for being rather ridiculously macho.
Sorry Chris, wrong Chris
I meant TKD master Chris (will edit that)
I am sure you are right about the "Kyokushin shodan test" beign very macho. I had a friend who did some "hard core" karate in kagawa. Full contact ( except groin strikes and direct straight strikes to the "nose triangle". The shodan test included going down a line of ten opponents and going full out, down the line. Of course these guys were all shodan to san dan and "fresh" so when you get down the line you need to show that you can really defend your self. The other macho item that caught my eye was having to punch a ping pong table board 5 or ten times in a row (don't remember exactly) with each hand....
Cheers
Peter
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
We cross posted there Pete. I was responding to Piper. But yeah when I was in Japan some Kyokushin shodan tests were even worse than that.
My shodan test in Shorin-ryu included having to go against a number of people, and you failed only if you gave up. Didn't matter if you got knocked down, as long as you got up. Everyone gets knocked down in their tests.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Yes, but even a quick look at the stats shows a a different ratio of assaults against men from stranger in public places than for women. One might guess that some of these are avoidable bar fights. Additionally there is a much higher incidence of assaults against women from people know to them which suggests these are less avoidable. Now obviously that too is a superficial analysis
cheers
Peter
If you look at the data again you can see that males are victimized in all instances except rape more then women, and their incidence of robbery is twice as much. If you combine the incidence of rape + robbery the numbers are pretty similar, with women coming out only a little on top.
Even if some of the remainder of the stats are "avoidable" obviously there is a large lacking of skills to avoid such things.
Point is both males and females can use self defense training.
^ I agree, and training to avoid a fight might be more beneficial for some people who get angry easily. A good way to train for that is to take martial arts, rather than just specifically self defense. The justification I tried to use earlier, that self defense is necessary to be a hero of sorts, to protect others, was more for seeking recognition and acceptance than having the sense of duty be the main focus. I think that shows that in my case martial arts would be more beneficial, with it's discipline, structure, sense of group, and focus on the control of emotions and awareness, than self defense would.
Just as a point of info, many schools allow you to take at least one free class, if not a week or month. It'll give you a moderately better idea of if you'll enjoy yourself than just sitting in on a class and talking to the instructor.
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