How old?

[OKTX]

My 10 year old daughter has shown an interest in Kendo. She is currently a purple belt in TKD and loves it. The Martial Arts has been a huge help in her young life. We have identified a few places to give it a try. Now she is suggesting that I might want to get involved with her. It certainly looks like an interesting endeavour. I am willing to give it a try. The only thing that I am not too sure of is my age. I am 50 yrs. old and typically overweight - 220 lbs 5'9" - white male. I can get back into shape with time and discipline. Thats not my main concern. I am not sure of the physical requirements or whether 50 yrs. old may be a little late to start. I notice that the vast majority of folks on this forum are typically male and under the age of 30. This seems to be mainly a young persons sport. I don't want to end up frustrated or trying to constantly catch up with the youngsters. It is probable that I would be one of the older, if not the oldest, student in class. I have not had an opportunity to discuss this with any sensei's yet but plan to as soon as I find the time to touch base with them and observe a session.

I would like to hear from anyone who has started Kendo "later" in life. What was your experience and what I can expect.

Thanks

[Musha]

My sensei in England, English started kendo 20 years ago and he is 70 now I think :D. I think kendo is more of a cardio activity you need good lungs and to work out how to conserve your enegy.

About age, I can't comment because I am still young but from what I have seen there are different levels of kendo. Children like kendo because it is cool and they like to compeat with each other. Adults like to think what kendo is really about and work on the things behind kendo. Even older people build on this making them super human rocks! No one can beat at any age!
It just depends how you look at kendo, my mother started this year and could never work out what it was about so she looked for some thing more fun.

Just try it, don't try to go to fast and keep up with the younger ones who are aiming to win shiai. Work on what you want to work on ie form or finding out what kendo is really about. Look at it as a art not a sport!

[Lloromannic]

I am fortunate to have started kendo young. But age, although not negligible is not the most important. I started three months before another person aged around 50 (I think it was 49). Other than me being somewhat faster he is at my level (which is not a lot). I would say that age sometimes has it benefits like patience and perseverance. People often continue Kendo actively until very old age.

[stuartwilson]

Go for it.

[joekc6nlx]

I started kendo 13 months ago, I'll be 53 in 3 months, and I was upwards of 100 kilos at one point. I think I'm down a few pounds by now, though. My advice would be to go ahead and take it up if you're truly interested in doing kendo. You should be able to work up your stamina as you gain experience, but doing something to build up cardio outside of kendo is good, too.

Kendo is not something that you learn overnight, and it's a lot tougher than it first looks. A five minute match with someone can really get the heart racing and the sweat pouring. My sensei tells me to back off and rest for a few minutes if I'm getting too out of breath, and when I'm ready to go back out onto the floor, then I don't feel embarassed to have had to back out for a while.

Good luck in starting.

[nebosuke]

There is a guy in our dojo that was in a similar situation to you. His then 12 year old son wanted to start kendo after years of some form of kung-fu, the father is ~52. Both of them are actually a little out of shape, similar height and weight to yourself.

They've now been doing kendo for just over a year, and both are doing pretty well. I think you should go for it, not only will it give you some great exercise, but it will be a nice bonding situation for you and your daughter. Don't worry about your current level of fitness, it's the job of the sensei to push each person to their limit (which will be beyond what you may think your limit is), so you will be challenged, but not expected to perform at the level of a 20 year old dynamo.

[twotoedgiraffe]

I think everyone wishes they had started kendo earlier. I wish I had started when I was at the latest about 12 years old. I thought I was too old at 29 to start, but apparently not. We have one guy who's about 72. He started about 4 years ago. There was one guy I gikeiko with. He was about 50 something and had just started. In any case, think you'll grow to love it! Best of luck! Go for it!!!

[OKTX]

Thanks very much for the responses. Very helpful and encouraging. Like the Nike ad says - JUST DO IT!

I knew that when I became a father for the first time at age 40 that I would have many challenges ahead of me. There have been many and this is just another one.

Daughter is looking at Kendo to supplement the TKD. She wants the accomplishments of ranking and the thrill of the contest. I on the other hand am approaching Kendo for exercise, sport and most of all building concentration and coordination in my middle years.

Thanks again and keep 'em coming.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Kendo is one of the few martial arts where age is not so important. Instructors who are 70 and even 80 years old are able to handle teenagers with ease. People are able to practice until very late in life. At 50, the only concerns to have are those anyone would have with taking up an activity that involves vigorous physical exercise. Consult your doctor if you've been sedentary up until now.

[Hisham]

I can get back into shape with time and discipline. Thats not my main concern.

It would be good if you did a bit of that, before starting or maybe in parallel to your kendo training. Neil's suggestion:"Consult your doctor if you've been sedentary up until now." has its wheight, anyway i think the fact that you're gonna be sharing Kendo with your daughter is worth the try.
Kendo on!

[Miles]

I started when I was 41 and I love it. I've slowed down, and my joints hurt more, but its not too bad. The biggest problem that I face is that I am a little too competitive and get frustrated with the younger, quicker students. Where I find I make up the speed difference is in strategy! I am able to stay a couple of steps ahead of the younger crowd in my strategy.

[Banza Joe]

I think kendo, like many other activities is practiced 'according' to your age.
When you're young you go flying in and let stamina rule, then you start to settle and learn. There is a 55 year old in our dojo and has been training for a year (a bit longer than me). He is quite often complemented by sensei in front of the whole class. this isn't cos he's older than the rest and sensei seeks to big him up cos of his age, its because he doesn't/can't use stamina, he uses timing, control and discipline to execute his techniques, and he is very good at it.
The older we get the less we will and can rely on stamina, so i suppose we seek that higher plain of learning kendo, economy of movement etc, anticipating etc. As Neil said we get 80 year olds handing our proverbial asses to us on a plate, and stamina has nothing to do with it.

I hope you go for it, its also another great way of bonding with your daughter.
Good luck.

[Old Warrior]

I think kendo, like many other activities is practiced 'according' to your age.
When you're young you go flying in and let stamina rule, then you start to settle and learn. There is a 55 year old in our dojo and has been training for a year (a bit longer than me). He is quite often complemented by sensei in front of the whole class. this isn't cos he's older than the rest and sensei seeks to big him up cos of his age, its because he doesn't/can't use stamina, he uses timing, control and discipline to execute his techniques, and he is very good at it.

At 57, there is no hope of my matching the energy/speed of a 20 year old. And, the teenagers have unlimited energy to keep fying at you over and over again. But, their approach is much different than mine. I try not to waste a minute in class. When the teenagers are taking a momentary "goofing off break", I am making entries in my mental book on each one of them. My age is no limitation on my concentration or a diminishment of my understanding of what distance and timing means to combat.

There is one important key that I am constantly working to achieve. The need to relax the body, except for the instant of attack, is an absolute must for older guys. If you can't there is no hope of competing with the kids.

[crabbi]

My 10 year old daughter has shown an interest in Kendo. She is currently a purple belt in TKD and loves it. The Martial Arts has been a huge help in her young life. We have identified a few places to give it a try. Now she is suggesting that I might want to get involved with her. It certainly looks like an interesting endeavour. I am willing to give it a try. The only thing that I am not too sure of is my age. I am 50 yrs. old and typically overweight - 220 lbs 5'9" - white male. I can get back into shape with time and discipline. Thats not my main concern. I am not sure of the physical requirements or whether 50 yrs. old may be a little late to start. I notice that the vast majority of folks on this forum are typically male and under the age of 30. This seems to be mainly a young persons sport. I don't want to end up frustrated or trying to constantly catch up with the youngsters. It is probable that I would be one of the older, if not the oldest, student in class. I have not had an opportunity to discuss this with any sensei's yet but plan to as soon as I find the time to touch base with them and observe a session.

I would like to hear from anyone who has started Kendo "later" in life. What was your experience and what I can expect.

Thanks
Hi OKTX-San

I am nearly 48 and started Kendo last October...

I would strongly recommend Kendo to you... especially as you will be able to share it with your daughter...

Your age is not a problem... your fitness is something which you were thinking about anyway (weren't you?)... Go for it! Pace yourself, you're not in a rush... there is soooooo much to learn (and unlearn)... I am sure that you will enjoy it immensely!!!

Let us know how it goes...

Cheers

crabbi

[Kells]

I've been looking for this thread. I'm thinking about starting kendo, but I was worried a little bit about my age. I'm in my mid-thirties. Glad to see that there are people my age and older starting it.

[nikozamo]

neves is too late to start kendo...!!! im just 19 but i have some ``old`` kendo friends and they show the power!!!
so GO GO GO!!!

[kim]

Its never too late. I stared kendo two years ago with my 10 year old son as he wanted some one,any one, even me to go along with him. He dropped out, but i was hooked. As a 44 year old overwieght mum I Just love kendo.