“You can practice at your own level and no matter the age it can be done and you can continue Karate for a lifetime.” – Tsuneo Kinjo 9th dan Goju Ryu Jundokan
.
Aging is one of the greatest challenges we face. In most sports (I’m not referring to karate as sport here), there is an age “sweet spot,” at which the combination of physical, technical and strategic abilities comes together. In most sports, this age sweet spot falls in the mid-20’s to early 30’s.
.
“I’m old” is the common answer for why we get worse at training as we age. Personally, the first thing I am noticing more and more is that I am ALWAYS sore and I am ALWAYS nursing some injury, whether big or small (and we won’t talk of the Gout).
.
I am also finding that my body isn’t recovering as quickly anymore. After a tough training or teaching session, I can feel the aftermath for days later. Getting out of bed in the morning I’m like some kind of twisted creature taking its time to warm and straighten-up.
.
I used to think that the more I trained and pushed myself the better it was. But recently have I substituted this way of thinking, focusing on quality not quantity. Now I pick and choose my sessions, training a little less, but when I am training, trying to make it more cerebral and more intense.
.
As time goes on we are able to do less things, we have to cut down on certain kinds of foods and drink, some activities become fraught with danger etc. So we soon discover that the aging process is not so much fun.
.
Traditional karate is not a sport. Although, some do see it as just that. Karate is not limited by age. The techniques of karate are designed so as not to require tremendous physical prowess. Speed, muscular strength, and flexibility are not what will determine your success. Rather it is about understanding the concepts and developing the proper mind-set.
.
As the karate practitioner ages so will his training mature. The techniques will require less physical strength and more smoothness. The older practitioner will learn to rely less on his muscle and more on this “flow”. His movements will become more natural and involve less exertion. Karate grows and adapts as you age….
.
Performance decline as we age, isn’t just about physical changes, however. As we age, our intrinsic motivation to train diminishes. The motivation to train may shift somewhat from hard training sessions to remaining active and healthy….. And that’s a great motivation for any karate practitioner, at any age….. “you can continue Karate for a lifetime.” 
.
.
 Photo Credit and Tsuneo Kinjo quote: Ageshio Japan
.
.