Longevity In Martial Arts?

Question

On answering an earlier post re: Muay Thai

I got to pondering the longevity of still being able to successfully apply your chosen art in real self defence situations upon reaching advanced years.

Which in reality is a scary thought re: cowardly volence towards elderly people in modern socety these days

One of the reasons I ultimately chose jiu-jitsu was that it certain techniques and still be applied successfully even into old age.

Have you ever considered that, and realisically have you confidence in your chosen art to believe the same.

Yout thoughts please!!!

Answer 1

I think I made the right choice in choosing the martial art I practice. Aikido remains practical throughout one's life. The creator of Aikido kept at it till his dying day at the age of 85. Many students and teachers in our federation are well over their 60's. The president is actually 82 and still practices regularly. It doesn't rely so much on certain physical aspects that would get more difficult as age progresses. But it must be said that even more demanding arts like karate or TKD can still be effective at high age. You may not be able to perform the most fancy kicks but you'll still have enough knowledge and background to kick someone's backside.

Answer 2

Have you heard of branko Cikatic? He's pushing in mid 50's and still fight and winnig on regular base. Also look at Hoost who is over the hill, he still knock people out.

I also know a guy who do mixed martial arts and he's in mid 50's too, he's a sparring partner for many professional fighter.

Oh and who could forget Randy Couture? He's over the hill as well and he still kick asses.

So basically as long as you keep your body in shape and not get lazy, yes it still can serve you well. Your body is like a car. If you repair car when something is wrong, change oil on regular base, get it checked up, and other things, car could probably run forever. Your body is the same way.

beside that, even if you're old and you got lazy and let your bones become fragile and your muscles fade away, no matter what martial arts you know, it will not help you. Why? because fight never go exactly as you want it to, sometime something freak happen, what if you fall down? What if someone got luck shot in? What if your position was a bit off that you block bad way? Got thrown? Your bones will get bruised or broken or your ligament or cartilage will get ripped. Or worse... if you have arthrist, you will be much slower due to pain. Same can be say for eye sights and reflex and everythings else.

So basically if you're a martial artist and serious about it and want to live as a martial artist, you should also be serious about respecting and treat your body well. If you actually are a true martial artist, you wouldn't allows your body to get so weak to point where you cannot open a pickle jar.

Answer 3

Realistically as far as violence towards elderly people goes, the arts with the most longevity are weapons arts.

Arts where lethality and power depend less on stregth combined with ability to generate power (which comes in part from technique and in part from physical ability) are always going to deteriorate less than those that do require power. Anyone can tell you that a knife or gun or jutte, can and will deliver more power and punish your opponent more than a fist.

Simple truth also is that as you get older, you have the perfect excuse to carry around a stick as a walking stick- and it is out in plain view- not even concealed. whether you need this or not police will not question a 60+ year old where they will question a 20 year old.

The basic reality also doesn't change that jiu jitsu or muai thai or boxing will always be more dependant upon your physical ability over knife-fighting or stick fighting (arnis, kali, escrima) or learning to use a firearm.

truthfully I would imagine an older person with muai thai has a better chance at applying thier art (if they can still do it) against a "stereotypical robber" situation than a young jiujitsu practitioner simply because the attacker might be more likely to fall for the stereotype that they are old, and can't fight back. Maybe not, but an attacker certainly won't take a chance with a young person while they might be taken by surprise that an old person, keeping in shape could fight back.

While jack la lane might not be able to squat as much as tiki barber, he is certainly in better overall physical shape. I would be seriously surprised that any of us could complete a workout that la lane could- maybe he is an anomaly, but maintaining some level of physical fitness does not require one to be on his level.

EDIT: in responce to the "technique defies stregth, shape, size" that is not true. Some techniques that do work against someone of a similar size, shape, simply won't work against someone bigger or stronger by a certain degree. And certain height differentials will make you change that. There is no "universal" techniqe, if you are told that then you are bieng lied to. Techniques need to be adjusted, or abandoned in certain situations and against certain people- part of training should be to realize that.

Answer 4

My thoughts - in a fight (punch-up) fitness and fast reflexes combined with attitude are what decides if you come out of it alive. Which says nothing of the confidence that practising a martial art has given me, which is the thing that would keep me from being attacked/ getting into a fight in the first place - "victims are not chosen they volunteer" as with so many quotes author unknown at this time

Answer 5

I don't know much about other disciplines, but I have studied and practiced various styles of Chinese Kung Fu (primarily Southern Shaolin forms) since age of 5. Through its practice, Martial Arts really becomes an attitude, vision and reflex in a combat situation. I know I can beat most people on the street now at age 35, and am confident I can beat most when I'm age 90. And to bluto above, my instructor actually taught me techniques using a cane or umbrella, so a cane it is when I'm old. Long Life To All.

Answer 6

any martial art whos foundation comes from technique can be used by any person of any sex, size, shape, weight and age.

sports martial art like kick boxing and tae kwon do are much more difficult to retain a high skill level when reaching old age, as these rely heavily on physical fitness, strengh and ability. however with contunuos training it is possible to maintain an effective level of ability. as you should know through instructing martial arts, all the skill strengh and power does not come from physical ability but comes from a strong foundation of good technique. which means it can be practiced and utilised effectively by an elderly person whos physical abilitys maybe greatly reduced. also an elderly person would have had much more experience in combat situations. also an elderly person who has practiced martial arts in their youth will have had much more combat experience.

an prime example of this would be Dr Massaki Hatsumi he is well into his old age and can still defeat many opponents at once effortlessly.

Answer 7

i think a lot depends on the lifestyle the person has lead.some 80 year olds are fit and healthy while others are decrepit.in theory if we followed the path as layed out in ma we would be fit and healthy and able to defend ourselves at 80 and beyond.have you and do you or do you know anyone that has and does follow it down to the very last letter?
i think striking and weapons syles would be of the most benefit as we get older.but i think the most benificial thing to an elderly person would be in the thinking department.and we as martial artists should be able to think faster and better as we get older.because we should know our limitations,and isn't ma about adapting and compensating for a particular weakness?
i dont think it has anything to do with your chosen art as such i think it's more to do with what you've learnt as a whole in your ma
life,and your experiences in life whether it be as a ma or not.
if you were 80 and still able to do things for yourself and someone accosted you what would you do?would you just use a technique
and hope that it would stop that person or wait for the right opportunity to use a technique that you know will stop that person?i'd just pull out a gun and just shoot the prick i'm 80 who gives a ratsarse if they put me in jail.

Answer 8

It does seem that certain martial artist can keep it up all their lives. Judo seems to wear most the guys down. It seems that most Judo players stop serious training as the age. It has to be better than kickboxing though, I don't see how you could keep that up into old age.

Jujitsu does seem like a style that works. also Akido which I know little about seems like it works in old age.

Answer 9

I practice Tae Kwon Do & I turn 59 in a couple of weeks. I have friends in TKD who are a few years older. I have confidence that we could protect ourselves if necessary. 1 advantage you will have is that you will likely be underestimated by an attacker if you look old.

Answer 10

the worse thing about old age is loss of reflex and fine motor skills. so even if you go for JJ, you will still be slammed by a young punk.

sh!t happens, and no amount of training will enable a 80 year old to beat a young thug. the odd occasions have shown up in the media, but the thug in those cases is usually a tard.

Muay Thai power will evaporate in old age, and bone density tells me that even if it didnt, I would be foolish to kick (or I break my own leg).

the best defense is to be aware of your surroundings, and in old age, never live alone, buy a dog... or a gun.