Something is wrong with Martial Arts.
About 75% of beginners are young, with the remainder being adult. I don't think this would be a surprise to anybody, but the retention figures are quite different. A higher percentage of adult beginners stay beyond the first few months than do kids.
Some adult beginners are what should be called middle-aged, or older. They seem to like it the best of any age category, but there is a difficulty. Mature people often have problems that interfere with physical activity. Often it is backs, or hips, or things of that nature. Martial Arts are not really the best thing if one has such a problem.
I believe this is a niche waiting to be filled. A modified program of training should be created aimed at the 40+ crowd. Of course, whipper-snappers would be welcome, too.
Slights changes in position, and in execution would make all the difference. It would also require an instructor who understands all of this. Instead of the most effective punch, regardless of body stress, it would be managing body stress, and doing the most effective punch within that limitation. That sort of thing.
It would still have all the trappings of normal training. Uniforms, rankings, testing, and courtesy. I have been toying with the idea of trying to implement something like this. I'm sure that if I did, it would be recognized by the JKA. My own instructor, Sakurai Sensei has always been supportive of alternative training for those who need it.
I must continue to think about old-farts' Karate.
I am a 68 year old retired teacher living on the west coast of Canada. I spent over 30 years as a student of Karate until my knees stopped liking it. My current passionate activity is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, which I've been at for about 13 years.
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