Too old?

Arnold75

White Belt
Joined
Nov 15, 2020
Messages
3
Reaction score
3
Hello everyone, first post so be gentle lol, I;m a 47 year old male that has always had an interest in martial arts.

I dabbled a bit when i was much younger but never stuck at it, now the kids are older and I have a bit more time to myself I would like to have another go.

Is 47 too old to start now? the thing is want to reach a decent level, my main concern is my very poor flexibility, my fitness and strength is very good for my age.

So is it possible to achieve a good standard at my age? I would not be happy with just going through the motions week in week out.

Cheers
Arnold
 

Dirty Dog

MT Senior Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
23,358
Reaction score
9,096
Location
Pueblo West, CO
Hello everyone, first post so be gentle lol, I;m a 47 year old male that has always had an interest in martial arts.

I dabbled a bit when i was much younger but never stuck at it, now the kids are older and I have a bit more time to myself I would like to have another go.

Is 47 too old to start now? the thing is want to reach a decent level, my main concern is my very poor flexibility, my fitness and strength is very good for my age.

So is it possible to achieve a good standard at my age? I would not be happy with just going through the motions week in week out.

Cheers
Arnold
Take a look at the 14,000 other threads asking the same question. It's never too late. My wife started in her 50's. I strapped her 1st Dan around her waist at 62. One of our students was in her 60's when she started. Gave her her 1st Dan in her early 70's.
You don't do martial arts because you're flexible, fit, and strong. You become flexible, fit, and strong because you're doing martial arts.
 
Last edited:

seasoned

MT Senior Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
11,253
Reaction score
1,231
Location
Lives in Texas
Hello everyone, first post so be gentle lol, I;m a 47 year old male that has always had an interest in martial arts.

I dabbled a bit when i was much younger but never stuck at it, now the kids are older and I have a bit more time to myself I would like to have another go.

Is 47 too old to start now? the thing is want to reach a decent level, my main concern is my very poor flexibility, my fitness and strength is very good for my age.

So is it possible to achieve a good standard at my age? I would not be happy with just going through the motions week in week out.

Cheers
Arnold
Never too old, you get out what you put in.....Good luck on your journey....:)
 

_Simon_

Senior Master
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Messages
4,397
Reaction score
2,905
Location
Australia
Ah welcome Arnold75, great to have you here!

Definitely not too late at all! Highly recommend checking out all the threads here on the forum, there's incredibly valuable information in them from answers to this exact question.

Definitely just start, and work within your own capabilities. Slowly build up incrementally and progress over time, and the fitness and flexibility will come :)

Is there a particular style that interests you and that you're drawn towards? :)
 

Instructor

Master of Arts
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
1,641
Reaction score
549
Location
Knoxville, TN
Welcome, loads of people start martial arts when they are older than you. You may get some aches and pains but eventually your body will grow accustomed to training.
 

Yokozuna514

2nd Black Belt
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
781
Reaction score
603
Welcome to the forum Arnold75. No 47 isn't too old to start. You may not be picked up by the UFC as an elite fighter but it is never too old to get on the floor and train. What you choose to do with that time on the floor will be up to you and the place you select to spend your time. Regardless of the style you choose, make sure it brings you joy and meets your expectations on how you progress given the time you study, learn and practice.

Good luck
 

Buka

Sr. Grandmaster
Staff member
MT Mentor
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
12,952
Reaction score
10,444
Location
Maui
Welcome to MartialTalk, Arnold75.

As a guy who takes twenty years to break in a sweatshirt, I'd say you're okay with the age thing.
 

Xue Sheng

All weight is underside
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
34,274
Reaction score
9,386
Location
North American Tectonic Plate
Hello everyone, first post so be gentle lol, I;m a 47 year old male that has always had an interest in martial arts.

I dabbled a bit when i was much younger but never stuck at it, now the kids are older and I have a bit more time to myself I would like to have another go.

Is 47 too old to start now? the thing is want to reach a decent level, my main concern is my very poor flexibility, my fitness and strength is very good for my age.

So is it possible to achieve a good standard at my age? I would not be happy with just going through the motions week in week out.

Cheers
Arnold

Know a gentlemen that started Aikido in his late 50s, he is in his 70s now, a dan rank (black belt) and still going strong
 

Oily Dragon

Senior Master
Joined
May 2, 2020
Messages
3,257
Reaction score
1,650
Brave dreams, that are kindled from ashes.

- Terry Reid.
 
OP
A

Arnold75

White Belt
Joined
Nov 15, 2020
Messages
3
Reaction score
3
Ah welcome Arnold75, great to have you here!

Definitely not too late at all! Highly recommend checking out all the threads here on the forum, there's incredibly valuable information in them from answers to this exact question.

Definitely just start, and work within your own capabilities. Slowly build up incrementally and progress over time, and the fitness and flexibility will come :)

Is there a particular style that interests you and that you're drawn towards? :)
Thanks for the reply bud, I actually went to a TKD class last week. i did some wing chun and kick boxing in my youth,

The only thing that worries me is my flexibility, I'm fit and strong as I have worked out all my life.

There are a couple of older students at the class I went to who are black belts but they were not impressive at all.

I know that sounds bad but that's just the truth, I don't want to be like them I want to reach a good standard,

I'm prepared to put in the hard work and I have the discipline but fear I'm way to tight i cannot even sit cross legged.

Just wanted to know if there really is point where its to late to reach a good standard, don't want to train hard for two years or so and still be unable to execute a head kick.

Cheers
Arnold
 

_Simon_

Senior Master
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Messages
4,397
Reaction score
2,905
Location
Australia
Thanks for the reply bud, I actually went to a TKD class last week. i did some wing chun and kick boxing in my youth,

The only thing that worries me is my flexibility, I'm fit and strong as I have worked out all my life.

There are a couple of older students at the class I went to who are black belts but they were not impressive at all.

I know that sounds bad but that's just the truth, I don't want to be like them I want to reach a good standard,

I'm prepared to put in the hard work and I have the discipline but fear I'm way to tight i cannot even sit cross legged.

Just wanted to know if there really is point where its to late to reach a good standard, don't want to train hard for two years or so and still be unable to execute a head kick.

Cheers
Arnold
Ah I see, that's fair enough. I don't think there's really a specific cutoff and it's very individual as to how flexibility goes. That's great you gave TKD a try. I would definitely just train in a place you love and see how it goes. You certainly don't need head high kicks to be an incredibly skilled martial artist.

Work on your flexibility and mobility outside of class too. If there are chronically tense areas getting deep massage and even working with a physio can help to strengthen joints at end ranges of motion (building strength at end ROM being key to long lasting and 'bulletproof' flexibility). People can make tremendous gains at all ages from I've personally seen. Have fun!
 

Flying Crane

Sr. Grandmaster
Joined
Sep 21, 2005
Messages
15,230
Reaction score
4,920
Location
San Francisco
Hello everyone, first post so be gentle lol, I;m a 47 year old male that has always had an interest in martial arts.

I dabbled a bit when i was much younger but never stuck at it, now the kids are older and I have a bit more time to myself I would like to have another go.

Is 47 too old to start now? the thing is want to reach a decent level, my main concern is my very poor flexibility, my fitness and strength is very good for my age.

So is it possible to achieve a good standard at my age? I would not be happy with just going through the motions week in week out.

Cheers
Arnold
47 is not too late to begin training in martial arts. However, depending on your physical capabilities, general state of health and fitness, temperament, etc, there may be some styles or some specific schools that would not be a good match for you. This is true regardless of when you begin, but can be more of an issue as we age.

So jump in and give it your all, but pay attention to what your body is telling you. You may get some clues along the way as to whether this is a good match for you. If you decide that it is not, don’t use that as a reason to feel defeated. Instead, look at the other schools available in your area. Check them out. One of them might be a better match for you.
 

Judo boi

White Belt
Joined
Feb 26, 2022
Messages
14
Reaction score
7
Oftentimes the quality of the students is also a reflection of the quality of the instructor. If you are not impressed with the abilities of the higher ranked students, maybe you should check out a few more schools in your area before you commit 100 percent. As for flexibility, yoga, other types of stretching and continually practicing the techniques themselves will almost certainly assist in increasing your flexibility long term
Good Luck
 

MR. SERNA

Yellow Belt
Joined
May 14, 2022
Messages
29
Reaction score
3
Hello everyone, first post so be gentle lol, I;m a 47 year old male that has always had an interest in martial arts.

I dabbled a bit when i was much younger but never stuck at it, now the kids are older and I have a bit more time to myself I would like to have another go.

Is 47 too old to start now? the thing is want to reach a decent level, my main concern is my very poor flexibility, my fitness and strength is very good for my age.

So is it possible to achieve a good standard at my age? I would not be happy with just going through the motions week in week out.

Cheers
Arnold
It's never too late, I am 60 yrs. of age and I am in my summer season of martial arts.

Like any endeavor begin slow and steady. Dedication commitment and loyalty my friend to your journey.
 

Buka

Sr. Grandmaster
Staff member
MT Mentor
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
12,952
Reaction score
10,444
Location
Maui
Started when I was 55, that 13 years ago. Wish I'd started younger but I'm glad I started. So go ahead and do it.
Just wanted to welcome you to MartialTalk, DDoasis. :)
 

Olde Phart

Orange Belt
Joined
May 11, 2022
Messages
85
Reaction score
57
Hello everyone, first post so be gentle lol, I;m a 47 year old male that has always had an interest in martial arts.

I dabbled a bit when i was much younger but never stuck at it, now the kids are older and I have a bit more time to myself I would like to have another go.

Is 47 too old to start now? the thing is want to reach a decent level, my main concern is my very poor flexibility, my fitness and strength is very good for my age.

So is it possible to achieve a good standard at my age? I would not be happy with just going through the motions week in week out.

Cheers
Arnold
I did TKD when I was in my twenties and then wandered away from it. Got back into martial arts at a different school when I was 64. Now, at 67, just got my first dan black belt. A good standard at my age? Well, I can't kick to your head, but I can break your knee and still take you down! The standard is not Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris. The standard is YOU. The question will always be: Are you better than a month ago? "Going thru the motions" is a part of it. Muscle memory. Whatever martial arts form you choose, you need to strive to be the absolute best you can be in that form. Which form is the best? Way too many on the Internet espousing one form over another. Who cares? I do this for ME, not everyone else. When I got my black belt a few weeks ago, the Master that was supervising the test held me up to the others much younger than me as an example to follow. Good grief! Now I got to keep it up!
 

Latest Discussions

Top