You are never too old, my friends. Some have tried my class and thought it was a little too demanding. Perhaps that is true, but until you try something a few times, there is no way to tell if it is or is not right for you. It’s impossible to keep up with any kind of class when you first start because you don’t know what you are doing yet. A painting class, a language class…can you possibly understand it at first glance?

You are going to huff and puff a little, push yourself, and even feel a little sore from doing it. If you’re willing to go out and jog on the hard concrete, or start lifting weights on a regular schedule, then you can certainly participate in a martial arts class. Age is less a barrier than mindset, willingness, and belief. If you want a good workout, you will have to build up to it. Like learning to jog, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to run a 5k when you first start jogging.

While karate seems strenuous, no one in my class is required to kick over my head, get thrown without learning how to fall properly, or memorize a kata on the spot.

No, there is no age limit. The trick is finding a class that interests you, where you like the instructor and philosophies, and where you feel welcomed.

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I teach pre-school aged children.  I love their innocence and willingness to learn. They are open to learning and ready to try just about anything.  They start class excited and eventually learn to focus.  They are the best learners.  They soak it all up happily, willingly, and with excitement.  They lack the trepidation of older students or adults.  While they cannot perform every complicated movement or skill, they can learn the basics of everything.  As they grow older, they will be better martial artists than others because the base to their martial art has been set.  It is like a pyramid where the base supports the rest. Age four is about the youngest I teach and classes are generally martial arts game-play and fun drills. It must be a fun class with games and a lot of activity to keep them happy and engaged.

We will teach the same things to kids and adults, although they are modified to suit the age of the particular group. Obviously, pre-school children need a level of kindness and encouragement, but they still are taught the mechanics of a kick or punch. Teenagers have a lot of energy, so teaching them skills and giving them opportunities to spar in class and put some of those skills in motion is important. Adults have a different level of maturity and ambition. They are able to learn a wide array of skills and apply them in class, in life, and in their roles as adults.

There are several ways in which schools split their classes. Most split their class by rank (experience level) while others split their class by age group. This is a very important distinction. The idea of grouping students by experience level ‘sounds’ like a good idea, but having to wide of an age range in class is a BIG mistake. Four year olds, six year olds, eight year olds, and ten year olds all learn in very different ways. More important that ‘what’ they are learning is ‘how’ they are learning it. It is crucial, especially at younger ages, that student are taught in a way that is most conducive to their age and learning level.