Aging Martial Artists: Regarding Age and Self-Defense

Aging Martial Artists

When older martial arts are practice many tend to think, Tai Chi Chuan. Where older practitoners are seen in parks, etc. making slow movements that are graceful, rhythmic and peaceful. Aging martial artists have to deal with those aging issues just like people who are not martial artist but one of the great things about martial arts is that one can practice the arts regardless of their age.

Tai Chi Chuan is a wonderful and beneficial system for any age but is especially beneficial, in my view, to those who have reached the, “Winter Years” of life. It is a wonderful time of life, the age beyond the first sixty years. The changes nature inflicts on us can be mitigated by certain mental and physical efforts and this blog is about how the effort of martial arts practice can and does mitigate and alleviate the aging processes.

So, this blog will be about that aging process and how the practice of martial arts can help. The first article that will follow will simply list those aging issues that directly relate to the practice of martial arts such as balance as it relates to falling. As with any effort such as this it warrants the readers effort in understanding that this effort is from a non-professional view and with that stated I encourage each reader review the caveat provided here and at the start of each article. I also encourage each and every person who is taking up this practice to make sure it meets approval by your personal medical professional. Get that before you try to participate in martial arts or any program that would benefit you as you age.

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Bibliography (Click the link)

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Regarding Age and Self-Defense

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

First and foremost Rory Miller is a professional and knows about this stuff so I tend to listen to what he says, or in this case writes. This quote is taken out of its intended context of the article. I am taking this out to write about the aging karate-ka and martial artists concerned about self-defense. The quote, “You don't have a choice about your size and old age comes to everyone lucky enough to survive. But at almost any age you can still move like an athlete.” - Rory Miller, Chiron Blog Article, ‘Logic of Violence Steps 1-3 of 6’

First the age, I can’t help but agree wholeheartedly that an aging person who presents a hard target by the way they move and the attitudinal aura they project and fend of the aggressor, mostly, long into the winter years (age 60+). I also will say emphatically that even a person of smaller stature, I am 6’ 1” and about 195 pounds, because I see people like my brother, who is about 5’ 4” or maybe a bit taller, who exudes a sense of confidence and athleticism he is a person people find kind of intimidating (for lack of a better term), that says you might want to consider others before taking-him-on.

One reason I find the practice of karate, chi-gong and tai-chi not only healthful but it maintains that aura of fitness and athleticism that projects a certain message to those who may be searching out a target. Oh, and my brother is in his fifties so his age is getting closer to those winter years and yet I suspect, since I know him well, that his aura will dominate way into the later winter years.

The idea is to achieve the ability to maintain and project that athleticism, confidence and ability even if you have certain physical ailments that might cause you to limp, stagger a bit or move with less finesse by the ability to mask them when out in public. It can be done, like the old maestro who conducts the philharmonic orchestra who can barley walk to the stage entrance but suddenly puffs up, stands straight and them marches with confidence and without a hint of feebleness to the stand and begins to conduct the orchestra. It can be done!

Bibliography (Click the link)