Here's one for you older guys

[joblo]

First of all let me say I'm NOT trying to toot my own horn, just wanting to encourage the older crowd or maybe someone who is thinking about starting TKD or another art. I started TKD when I was 46 yrs old,could barely bend over and touch my shins with my finger tips. I had never been flexible and had never stretched in my whole life. My instructors Chip and Glyn Ann Townsend tell their students that anyone can do it no matter the age, and that flexibility is something you have to really want. They never stop pushing and encouraging me.
I am now 52 yrs old, my cardio is better,I'm stronger, faster and more flexible than I was at 46 even at 40. Don't let age or anything stop you from doing what you want, if you desire it , you can have it if you are willing to dedicate yourself and work for it.
You'll never be old as long as you don't let your dreams turn into regrets.

 

[jim777]

Great pics! I started 2 years ago at 44 myself

 

[Windsinger]

Good on ya, joblo! I had almost talked myself out of signing up to take TKD because I was too out of shape and it was too late to start at 38.

:uhoh::duh:

Not one of my better moments in logical reasoning.

 

[kwaichang]

Anyone who is still flexible at older ages does well. Some of us were never flexible and got less so as the years passed. TKD requires a lot of leg movement and should be entered into carefully.

For you who are over 39 and doing well in the art, I envy your ability.

Train well and fall easy.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

I second that! Great pictures, Joblo. That is one impressive kick!! I'm working on being able to kick that high.

I started back to TKD in 2007 after being away since around 1988-1989. At 41, I am the second oldest student in the school and the oldest in our kumdo class, but in the top of the class in terms of physical conditioning. The one gent in our taekwondo class who is older than I always tells me that he doesn't know how I can do taekwondo right after kendo. Now he's only a year older than I am. But I train daily and eat healthy, and have done so for quite some time. Even when away from taekwondo, I maintained a pretty vigorous exercise regimen and practiced kicks and punches.

Now, I'm in what I'd consider to be the best shape of my life and things keep on getting better.

Daniel

 

[terryl965]

Good for you and tell Chip I said hello, him and his wife are some great Instructors.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Joblo,

I'm 53! And yep, I feel better and more capable than I just about ever was. Sneeker to!

I used to be 185+ lb for a 5' 8" guy, I'm now 168 and really I can't lose much more!

Keep it up guys. Don't quit. Not saying you have to work out every day of the week, but even if you aren't in a dojo right now, work out at least a couple of days at the gym to keep your self up.

Deaf

 

[Kacey]

Congrats! I'll be sure to mention that to one of my students (44) who thinks he'll never be flexible!

 

[kwaichang]

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

When I'm a hundred years old, I'll have to teach class looking like that cat!

Daniel

 

[exile]

Great pics, Joblo—I started TKD five years ago when I was 56, and can definitely get behind your message that it's never too late. The later you start, the harder you have to work, but that's part of the fun, I think.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

One benefit to starting older is that an older student will often have a level of maturity that enables them to be more teacheable than a younger student. An older student isn't worried about how he or she stacks up next to the younger students; they expect the younger students to be in better shape, more flexible, and faster. And is it ever fun to surprise the younger students once in a while.

Daniel

 

[newGuy12]

Whoa!

Nice post, Mr. Joblo!

Very nice post!

 

[Miles]

Nice pictures and congratulations to you for the dedication you've shown!

 

[Miles]

My soon-to-be 15 yr old daughter would say, "This guy creeps me out."

 

[IcemanSK]

My soon-to-be 15 yr old daughter would say, "This guy creeps me out."

I don't know if he's the "spokes-model" for the rest of the country, but he's the guy for Six Flags here in L.A. He creeps me out, too!

 

[IcemanSK]

Fantastic Joblo! That is outstanding. And yes, it does help to see. Ol Guys Rule! :supcool:

 

[kwaichang]

Indeed, as he well might to some punk in a mall parking lot.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

I don't know if he's the "spokes-model" for the rest of the country, but he's the guy for Six Flags here in L.A. He creeps me out, too!

He was the six flags guy out here too, but I haven't seen him this year. An old family friend looks just like him!

Daniel

 

[exile]

One benefit to starting older is that an older student will often have a level of maturity that enables them to be more teacheable than a younger student. An older student isn't worried about how he or she stacks up next to the younger students; they expect the younger students to be in better shape, more flexible, and faster. And is it ever fun to surprise the younger students once in a while.

Daniel

True enough! :wink1: