When Should You Start?
No Time Like the Present
Starting anything is the first step to what could be a lifelong journey.
Somehow, we forget that when we grow up. When we’re kids, we want to try a lot of things before we pick something that becomes a hobby or a passion. Then, we get older and fall into the routines that society says we need to do.
School, work, bills, and all the things that come with adult life.
Then, when it gets mundane, something happens to make you wonder again, and we only get as far as thinking about it, then talking ourselves out of it.
“I want to get in shape, but I’m too out of shape.”
“I’m bored and I want to learn something new. But, I’ll be too far behind.”
“I want to be able to defend myself. But karate is for kids.”
Some people think they need to do so many things before they start something that they talk themselves out of starting.
Just start.
Is it Too Late?
Before I share the question from Quora that relates to this post, I want to add something that I took to heart when I finally got around to reading “ The Alchemist “ by Paulo Coelho.
I had been hearing about that book forever, and after reading it, I saw why it was so popular. Even though it’s a story of fiction, it’s a reminder that the kid you were and the dreams you had, are still there for you to go after. The world distracts us from them, but it also can send us back to them if you listen well enough.
So, if you’re interested in training and find yourself thinking it might be too late, it could just be the kid in you calling out to start again.
Here’s the question on Quora:
I am 35 and relatively fit — is it too late to start a martial arts class and realistically become any good at it? I train with a 57-year-old man. He’s as tough as any of the 20-year-old students who train and compete. He’s currently a brown belt and will likely be a black belt very soon. It’s never too late to start.
It’s Never Too Late
The above answer is from a few years ago.
The 57-year-old man in my answer not only earned his black belt, but he wound up getting shoulder surgery, recovered from it, and is back on the mats training like he’s in his 20s.
He’s over 60 now. Although he got off to a late start, he endured and kept going.
It’s never too late to start.
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Originally published at https://mixedmartialanswers.substack.com.
