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18d • Learning a new skill
Starting Karate at 65: A Personal Reflection
When I first walked into a dojo at the age of 65, I was very aware that I was starting something completely new at a time in life when many people are slowing down. I had spent decades involved in sport—everything from squash to endurance events such as marathons and Iron Man races—so physical challenge was not unfamiliar to me. Even so, beginning karate as an older beginner was both confronting and deeply rewarding.
The initial challenge was not fitness, but adaptation. Karate requires a different kind of physical ability: balance, coordination, flexibility, and precise control. Movements that look simple take time to understand and even longer to perform correctly. At my age, learning new techniques does not happen automatically, and repetition is essential. I found that I needed time outside the dojo to practice moves and make sure that I embed them into my neural pathways.
Recovery takes longer too; I am far more conscious now of stiffness, sore joints, and the need to train intelligently rather than push blindly.
There is also a mental challenge in being a beginner again. Training alongside people much younger than me required setting aside ego and accepting my limitations. Progress is slower, and comparisons are unhelpful. Karate has taught me patience in a very direct way. Each small improvement—better balance, cleaner technique, remembering a kata—feels genuinely earned.
My background in sport has helped me greatly. Years of training taught me discipline, consistency, and respect for structured practice. Endurance events in particular taught me patience and perseverance, qualities that translate perfectly to karate. I understand that improvement comes from turning up, doing the work, and trusting the process. That mindset has allowed me to enjoy karate without frustration, even when progress feels slow.
The benefits of karate, however, have been remarkable. Physically, I feel more balanced, mobile, and coordinated. The emphasis on posture, core strength, and controlled movement has had a positive impact on everyday life. Karate challenges the whole body in a way that feels purposeful rather than punishing. It encourages awareness of how I move, stand, and breathe.
Mentally, karate has been just as valuable. Learning techniques and kata demands concentration and focus, pulling me fully into the present moment. Training clears the mind in a way few other activities do. There is something deeply satisfying about learning a skill that requires both mental and physical engagement and knowing that mastery is a lifelong pursuit rather than a fixed destination.
Perhaps the greatest benefit has been the reminder that age does not prevent growth. Starting karate at 65 has reinforced my belief in lifelong learning and personal challenge. Karate is not about being better than others; it is about being better than you were yesterday. That philosophy resonates strongly at this stage of life.
In the end, karate has become far more than just another form of exercise. It is a practice that challenges me, keeps me engaged, and gives me a sense of purpose and progress. While starting later in life comes with undeniable challenges, I am grateful that I took the step. Karate has proven that it is never too late to begin something meaningful—and that the rewards can be just as rich, if not richer, when you do.
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Starting Karate at 65: A Personal Reflection
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