A question....

[zandman]

Hi everybody!

I have a question for you guys...or at least for the experienced martial artists in here....

I trained Judo for about 2 years many years ago. I have always been interested in Martial Arts though.

Now I am 26 years of age. My question is;
Is there any chance for me to start with martial arts and become good at it? I am thinking about training Taekwondo or Ninjutsu. But I want to become good. Am I to late?

Please answer this! I need to know...would be great if someone who began late in life answered it......

Thank you!
/Mattias in Sweden

[Tony Dismukes]

First off, 26 is not particularly old. Secondly, it's never too late to get good at the martial arts. Just start training and put in the steady hard work. As the years go by, you'll get better and better. Just be patient and determined.

Now if by "good" you mean winning an olympic gold medal ... well, you might be too late to start building that level of athleticism. However, if you're going to apply that level of standard, you'll never start doing anything in life. If your goal is to become a skilled fighter or a tough competitor or a respected teacher, there's no problem at all with starting now.

On a side note - tae kwon do or ninjutsu? It's hard to imagine two more different arts. Your first step into the martial arts might be to decide what you really want to get out of them, then selecting an art to match your goals.

[Mike S]

Great post Tony! I agree...you're never too late to start. As far as being good...train hard, and practice as much as you can. It is very important though, to know your goals and what you want out of whatever art you decide to study.

Mike Slosek

[DanielS]

I started TKD at 26 years old... I'm 29 now. I love it.

[The Nephilim]

If it is any consolation, I started in Ninjutsu at 28. I missed all the ninja boom of the 80's and the tougher part of the 90's when taijutsu was more solid in fighting.

But I still go. At 28 I just done it for personal protection. Now 34 I do it for the sake of doing it as I love to go and do the system.

But if you think you are old, then you have already created a barrier withing yourself that you must drop. Look at all these pensioners who take up Tai Chi, not as an art form, but to move. They are starting in their 50's and see no problem applying what they do to a fight. I asked a Tai Chi instructor if it was applicalbe as a fighting system. His story was of one of his students aged 60+ throwing a guy over the road as he tried to get her bag. So 60+ and still capable? :laugh: How can someone sit down and say a 60 year old woman kicked ***. I think you need to rethink your theory of being too old.

[FearlessFreep]

Now I am 26 years of age. ... But I want to become good. Am I to late?

As someone who started six months ago at the age of 35...I *really* hope not

[jwinch2]

I just started Japanese Jujutsu a couple of months ago and though I am sore, I am getting through it and I am 32. If I can do it so can you!

If you start, I'll make you a deal, I won't quit and neither will you! If we both are training when the time comes for the budoseek seminar in New Orleans in 2006, we can get together and celebrate our starting late and hanging in there with a couple of cold ones! :D

Good luck!

Jason

[The Nephilim]

Now I am 26 years of age. ... But I want to become good. Am I to late?

As someone who started six months ago at the age of 35...I *really* hope not

I don't think you are not, just that we have to listen to our bodies as we reach 40 and all the creaks therein. :D

[DungeonWorks]

Mattias,

I say go for it!!! I did Tae Kwon Do in my early twenties for about a year and a half. I got to Green belt. I then quit. When I turned 25, I decided to quit smoking and turned to the martial arts once again in the Koeikan Karate style. I also began kickboxing at the same school....at 25.

26 is FAR from being too old or too late to become good. Will your talent be "given" or "automatic"? Maybe not, but it all depends on how bad you want to do it and even MORE on how hard/serious you try.

In my experience, I have learned that you get what you put into it....if you the martial arts. The more you put in, the more you will gain from them. :wink2:

[jakmak52]

I started MA training in 1993 at age 41, i'm now 52 and still compete, go for it!!!!! :D

[zandman]

I must say I am really impressed with this forum. Posted the question yesterday and already I got 10 answers :)

Thanks everyone for your answers! :D

And it feels good to hear that others tell me that I am not to old. I have had
that thought for several years now. I guess I relate it to the guys who begin
when they are 7-8 years old.

My goal is absolutely not to win the olympics. I might not even compete. I
want to learn Martial Arts because I have always loved it and to move my
body....I spend maybe 40 hours per week in front of the computer and eat
bad....And people tell me that I have become fat hehe.....My weight is 88kg
so it is not very bad....YET.....

And the different styles Taekwondo and Ninjutsu....I guess those styles feel
most interesting for me. But Ninjutsu is my favourite..... I have a friend who
has trained Ninjutsu for 5 years now and he seems to like it a lot....

I have problems doing the things I think about....I have thought about
beginning Martial Arts for several years, but I never did. But I feel that I
need to do SOMETHING right now.....hehe.....

Again...thanks for all the great answers....I will visit this forum again :rolleyes:

/Mattias Öberg in Sweden

[zandman]

Hi again!

Just wanted to tell you guys that I made a decision......

I checked out the clubs that existed in my city. And ninjutsu wasn´t
available.....but Taekwondo was......

On monday they have a startup for beginners....and I will be there =))

I get to train 2 weeks for free.....and then about $50 for a halfyear....

I´m excited! =)

Thanks again guys!

If anyone of you guys want to talk more to me, you can mail me at
admin@zandweb.net

//Mattias Öberg in Sweden

[DungeonWorks]

Mattias,

your enthusiasm is a bit inspiring. I like seeing that kind of spirit in things....be it Airbrushing, my "Un-Martial Art" or in Karate. :)

Some things to remember:

1) Early proggress can sometimes be slow to show itself. Hang in there and you will see. For me it was the first time I made that distinctive "snap" sound from my uniform while performing a right side-kick. Many small steps can take you just as far as a couple big steps.

2) Chuck Norris or anyother martial artist did not learn the system in a day, and niether will you so do not expect to, even if you are a natural physical specimen for the martial arts....it takes time to learn and more time to master.

3) ALWAYS HAVE FUN WITH IT!!! :) Martial Arts to me is the FUNNEST and most interesting way to stay in shape. It will bleed over into your personal life in positive ways if you put your heart into it....from what and how you eat, to confidence and everyday coordination.

Good Luck Mattias!! :wink2:

[jakmak52]

Good for you Mattias, 50.00 for a half a year :eek: that's sweet!!! I use to pay 70.00 per month!!!

[zandman]

Hi again!

DungeonWorks I get even more enthusiastic of your answers. :)

But I realise that I have a long road to walk to become good. I know that
progress can be slow in the beginning and I have no rush...
I think that I will feel better every time I go to the training anyway.

I am so lazy these days and I feel like I really need to do something about it
to be able to live a more normal life. I really love the computer and to write
homepages and all that kind of stuff.....but every day that passes make me
realise that I have not fulfilled any of my childhood-dreams. But Martial Arts
is one of my childhood-dreams and that one I will fulfil....no matter how long
it takes to become good at it :D

The hardest part will probably be to eat right. Habits are hard to change.
And like you did, I also use nicotine...but not cigarettes...I use snuff...and
I feel that I want to stop using that too....but that will be very hard....

But I must do all I can to get a better life....and you guys have given me
the strength to begin.... ;)

//Mattias Öberg in Sweden

[Digger70chall]

yeah 50 bucks a halfyear is awesome...i pay 80 bucks a month, i still think it's worth every penny. He's in sweden too though so i have no idea if that is a lot of money or not :)

[DanielS]

Great! I think you'll like TKD. Good luck and keep us posted.


If anyone of you guys want to talk more to me, you can mail me at admin@zandweb.net

No need for email... feel free to post here all that you want! :)

[zandman]

No $50 isnt that much in sweden.....we earn about $1200+ / month....

I talked to my friend yesterday via msn who I thought trained Ninjutsu....
it turns out I was wrong. He also trains Taekwondo :D

He´s got a green belt....

Nice to have someone I know who train there.....would feel lonely otherwise.

I will keep you posted....I will start Taekwondo on Monday 17/1...

/Mattias Öberg

[Digger70chall]

good luck on starting lessons. I hope you enjoy it as much as i do!

[Mikey Triangles]

Hi everybody!

INow I am 26 years of age. My question is;
Is there any chance for me to start with martial arts and become good at it? I am thinking about training Taekwondo or Ninjutsu. But I want to become good. Am I to late?






Absolutely not... I'll give you the same answer I give everyone that posts this question:

No matter what your age when you start you'll always wish you started sooner, I guess it's just human nature. If you don't start now, then when you're 30 you'll wish you started at 26. (When I was 6 I almost quit Kempo because some of the kids had been training since they were 3 and they were much better then me, but I stuck with it because of all the ancient 12 year olds that were just starting out :p)

[DungeonWorks]

...Nice to have someone I know who train there.....would feel lonely otherwise.

I will keep you posted....I will start Taekwondo on Monday 17/1...

/Mattias Öberg

Mattias,

You will be suprised how fast you will blend with the class. I had those reservations before, and usually by the end of class I felt pretty welcomed. I think you will enjoy this!

Gary

[zandman]

Hi again!

I did it....I went to my first training today and I feel great.

I will definitive go back on thursday =)))

If you guys want to follow my life you can look in at my weblog
http://blog.zandweb.net

I will post messages there about my life and my progress.....

Thanks for all the support...I would presumably never had gone there
without you guys!!! :D

//Mattias Öberg

[jwinch2]

Hi again!

I did it....I went to my first training today and I feel great.

I will definitive go back on thursday =)))

If you guys want to follow my life you can look in at my weblog
http://blog.zandweb.net

I will post messages there about my life and my progress.....

Thanks for all the support...I would presumably never had gone there
without you guys!!! :D

//Mattias Öberg


Good job, congrats and keep it up!

Jason