isshinryuronin
Senior Master
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2019
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I know this is common in kendo. This sport, like the art of iaido, is cutting weapon based (though kendo has modified this into touches). The point is, these weapon types are not power based, but rely more on technique. It doesn't take much strength to cause injury with razor sharp steel. More importantly, perception, mental attitude, timing and intuition born of experience play a bigger part. These qualities do not wane over the years as physical abilities do. This is true of weaponless TMA as well to a certain extent, compared to more physically based combat arts such as wrestling and boxing, and perhaps muy thai and others as well. The big advantage to this is that TMA not only offers a lifetime of self-development, but a lifetime of being able to be active and actually do it at a fairly high level, even in advanced years.I have watched guys move like ballet dancers to beat fellow 7th Dan's. Then they take off armor to reveal a man in his 80s that has reached 8th Dan going 9th.