Am I too old to start?

Jo Adell wrote: One of my teachers is 75, just got his 4th dan.He started when he was 40. He still throws himself into breakfalls, and goes waterskiing every weekend. Like I said...

My newest hero!! I started at 42, oldest student in the school.(I still am) 44 now.
Lan

I started last summer 2004, I'll be 45 this January and up for my first test. Lovin' it.

I started last year at the tender age of 48 and love it. It has really changed my life for the better, both mentally and physically.

Rob

I started at age 29 and extremely overweight, out of shape and physically inactive for about 10 years. I've been practicing aikdio for 5 and half years now and am ranked 2nd kyu. My fitness level has siginificanly improved by doing weight training and aerobics to supplement my aikido.

you are never too old for aikido.i know an 85 year old woman who has just lost her son through cancer and had it herself.she still attends

Bottom line: right now, today, you're as young as you're ever going to be.

Just take your time and don't rush your training. 30 is far from being old.

I am 33 and just started Aikido in mid November and like so many other people have before me I can whole heartedly attest that I love training so far. Pretty amazing considering my relative newness to the art, but I think I fell in love with training the very first class. I have lived an extremely sedentary life, I wasn't even very active as a child, and for me Aikido is the first serious athletic activity I have ever undertook (Discounting bowling and occasional paintball). I am 6'1 and about 50lbs overweight and more than a little uncoordinated from a lifetime of not moving, so I am fully cognizant of the fact that training will probably be much more difficult for me. :P I find rolls to be difficult (ironic to be sure) but I can do them somewhat which is encouragement enough and I am seeing some improvement. I wish you well in your endeavor and hope you will enjoy Aikido as much as I have so far.
-Brian

I started two years ago. I will be 39 in March. I am also testing for my 2 kyu at the end of the month. My goal is to be shodan by Dec 05'. I will get there. Set your goals and don't let a number get in the way.

Shannon

As people have unanimously said it's never to old to start; i'd add that one of my teachers (know third dan) is in his early sixties. I often comment to others that if i'm as fit as he is and still able to take high breakfalls and such things at that age i'll be most pleased!

A word of, 'caution', though. We lost somebody recently at our Dojo, she was in her forties (i guess) and was really enjoying aiki and had been training a few months.
But she went to a seminaar and got really disheartened about, i think, something about the youth and enthusiasm of some of the participants.
We tried to convince her not to worry, that she was doing really well (she was) and that in no way was she to old (which is what she felt).
But regretfully she seems to have drifted away.

I mention this because the original poster may find themselves at time a little startled and maybe intimidated by the behaviour of some aikidoka.
21 year old boys are likely to be in the corner of a seminaar trying to bounce each other off the ceiling, but be aware that just because you don't ever feel that you could take the sort of pounding a teenager does shouldn't in anyway restrict your growth in aikido.

I mention this just to say that there may be times when you feel that you'll never be as good as 'person x' or you will never be as flexible as 'person y' or whatever, but remember aikido isn't ever a competion, it's there to be enjoyed and you'll learn at the speed that works for you and your body.

I haven' had a chance to read any of the responses to this but here's my 2 cents.

I started when I was 32 which was about 5 months ago. The question is are you to old not to start?? I think there are many more benefits to Aikido than just self defense. It is something to relax the body and mind, build confidence and keep in shape. I am a software engineer so I need to do something active that relieves stress and keeps me in shape. The gym has on benefit, but Martial arts have many. If you think of it this way and just stick with it you can get healthy and one day all your training will make sense. It might hurt a little until you developed good ukemi. lol...

I have a number of students who have started in their 60s. I remember practicing with a Yudansha in Hawaii who started at the age of 65 after retirement..Many of my beginners are over 45.

Rock

P.S. You are not old until past 60 according to some definitions of "middle aged". I am not old. . . . . yet.

R.

For some reason this thread reminds me of something I read recently. It was an un-attributed quote that said: "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were".

Bronson