Am I too Old for Martial Arts?
People often seem surprised that adults train martial arts. YES! martial arts training is great for people of a certain age, and, no, it’s not just for kids! As adults, we can get stuck inside our comfort zones, so while we understand why people might think only kids would give martial arts training a try, we are here to say YOU CAN DO THIS! If you are in your 20s, 30’s, 40’s or 50s, and if you pick the right school and art, there’s no limit to what you can do. We may want to modify a few things for you, but in our art, Poekoelan (pu-ku-lan), it is said you don’t even peak until you reach your sixties. Whatever your age, you are welcome here!
Meet Jane
Jane is one of our newer students and is a great example of an adult having fun and thriving at Naga. She works at Pendleton Woolen Mills and came to us by way of Yorkshire, England, Vermont, Oakland, London, Philadelphia, and now, Beaverton!
Can I really do it?
Jane still feels nervous before each class, convinced there is no way she’s going to be able to do any of this. Yet, she is doing it! By the end of every class she feels energized. “A big reason I keep coming back is that the instructors are so kind and positive. When it takes me a while to learn something, they help to break it down into smaller pieces, and then they go over it until it makes sense.” There is no judgment. Just positive attitudes and everyone putting in their best effort.
Why Train Martial Arts as an Adult?
Jane recently turned 50. A trail runner, she felt learning to fall would be a good skill to have so she googled “martial arts for adults” and found Naga. She saw the word “community” in our name, and though she tried out a few other schools, she chose us because it felt like such a safe place. She didn’t want to get yelled at or pushed too far beyond what she knows her limits to be – and risk injury. She felt encouraged and sensed support rather than competition.
Jane and her husband moved here about two and a half years ago, and the more settled she became, the more she thought it was time to branch out and try something different. “It’s a long time since I’ve been in school or studied a language, so learning new things is really good for me!”
What are the Benefits?
From the get-go, Jane has genuinely enjoyed her classes. “It’s so fun shouting and hitting. I don’t get to do that all too often!” She appreciates the thorough warm-up and stretching at the beginning of each class. “The older you get, the more you have to warm up and this helps me feel safe.” Jane welcomes the meditation we do at the beginning and end of each class. “It helps me to settle my mind.”
Sure enough, Jane has learned to fall, which is why she came to us in the first place. She keeps coming back because she experiences other benefits. She feels calmer and more energized. “It’s a really good workout, but it doesn’t feel like a workout because you are thinking so hard. I also like the fact that there are so many people with different skills and different teaching styles.” Jane is also able to do things that have surprised her. She is getting stronger. In fact, she can do three sets of ten push-ups! She can hold plank for a full minute and she is learning holds (defenses) which she never imagined she would do. “I’m getting what I came for, for sure, and am definitely learning to fall. All these other things though? They are a bonus!”
