Recently I have been sharing a book with some of my adult students, Martial Arts After 40 by Sang H. Kim Ph.D. It is composed of mostly common sense views, suggestions and recommendations for us “older” martial artists, but certainly applies to all martial artists. Mr. Kim refers to the “martial arts journey,” and notes that:
Martial arts practice helps you loosen muscles and joints. It enhances your posture, balance sense of centeredness, mobility, flexibility, power, coordination and endurance. It also conditions internal organs, strengthens the respiratory system and stimulates circulation. Many martial artists experience the effect of quieting the mind and achieving a sense of accomplishment as well.
I don’t know anyone, young or old, who could not benefit from that litany of benefits.
After the first of the year, we will begin the sparring season. We now have a growing contingent of sport fighters at the Asian Arts Center and are looking forward to our first tournament in April. The extra training we do helps to sharpen our Taekwondo skills and lets us lend them to a practical application. When you step into the ring you combine all of the skills, conditioning and technique that we work on every class and see how they stack up against an opponent. It is also a test of courage, perseverance and the ability to maintain “mooshim” (empty mind) in the face of a kick aimed toward your torso or head, a true test of training and dedication.
Now that I am in my 60th year, I look forward to every fight and always scan the athletes at the tournaments for a glimpse of grey hair. My goals this year are to loose 25 pounds so I can get out of the “unlimited” weight class, and to totally enjoy every round I have left in me. (see, Martial Arts After 40, referenced above.)
The Asian Arts Center is thriving, we are rapidly approaching 300 students and have a fine staff of instructors and after school folks. Our Thursday night Black Belt classes are overflowing, and I don’t recall ever having as many 4 and 5-year-olds in the beginners program. We continue to get reports from parents and teachers of how focused and well-behaved our students are. And we feel we are contributing in some way to betterment of society.
The “Journey” continues.