Renzo's Elbow - 44 years old? Since when has that number been concidered a "right to complain" number. Back in the 50's or 60's 44 was old, but since the workout fads of the 80's 44 is like being 30. Everyone is jogging or exercizing right into their 70s these days. Remember there are many guys in lesser shape than you! It is a NATURAL thing for your body to lose muscle,speed, strength, hair color ETC over time, it's just a human being a human. Don't let it stop you. I too practiced karate 4 nights a week but now it's one or two. I also practice BJJ once a week (wish it were more, but at 56 the classes kill me......But what a feeling after!The feeling of being sore, the feeling that you competed,of doing what people say is "only for the young". When I train I go the best I can everytime, should I die tomorrow at least I had workout at my best. Now, be a young 44 and workout. oh, and take Aleve.
i am a older martial artist and i must say, i feel your pain. All i can say is how it is for me, and this is just my opinion. Every body and person is different and one persons 44 feels different than another persons 44. All of the factors that go into your body staggering. Past injuries,stress levels, daily activities, nutrition, supps, consistency,etc,,,,etc, its unreal. Dont rule out TRT, just get your levels checked. and i know for me, EVERYTHING has to be mapped out so that i can train well, eating, bowle movements, rest, stretching, supps, its a huge process. I know some of my older buddies, elect to get bigger size wise and train privately with people their own age. I dont think that there is anything wrong with that either. Lets be real, its hard to go into a competitive gym and "take it easy" or "roll light" we get into it...anyways. Its awesome that you are training and its a testament to your fortitude. I know i hate being compared to other 40 year olds. As my old biology teacher put it, some people are just "geared" different. Some stay healthy longer , or get stronger at different times.
Im 38, train five days a week, three hours a day. Messed up back (2 herniated discs, thank God for shots), messed up knee, surgery done on my left shoulder 2 yrs back. Right shoulder scheduled for Jan. Still competing, in pain everyday.
Its a passion and ill stop when im dead, ibuprofen is your friend, and I found Dark Matter after training helps recovery and those damn sleeping pains.
I am a 4 stripe purple belt, and I feel like I am in my 80's sometimes....
Especially at 5:30am when I awaken....
I am recovering from a torn rotator cuff, and separated bicep tendon...torn hamstring, and knee ligaments, but have not taken hardly ANY time off lately....
However I look a lot younger...LOL
If I want to achieve the results the OP speaks of, I simply cut back....but I am a Warrior or a Glutton. (you pick) so I refuse to cut back, and or slow down till I'm dead.
I'm 41 and a judo sankyu. I only manage to make it to Judo once or twice a week, and then do some running, a little TKD/shadow boxing and some body weight stuff another once or twice a week. Honestly, though I complain about my progress because I don't train enough, it is probably one of the reasons that I remain relatively injury free. The extra recovery time really helps after a hard training session. A little ibuprofen is the most help I ever need.
The only thing that is a bit of a problem is having low energy. I usually do a "healthy" (so-called) energy drink like Zip-Fiz before I train. And on the days when I skip it, I really notice a difference.
I can empathize with you, OP. I am 41, and I am starting to wear down. I teach 3 times a week (Kajukenbo), and I am finding it harder and harder to keep pace with the young uns. Admittedly, I am not in the best shape I could be in. Whenever we spar, I am pretty much only looking to counter, whereas before I would set things up with a more aggressive offense....I am also more focused on my breathing now, which I guess is a good thing. My hips and knees also hurt after kicking pad sessions or judo randori. And my shoulders are trashed, too. I find that stretching on my own time outside of classes helps a little, and I have my kids walk on my back 2-3 times week. I figure it will be better to be a broken old man who participated in life than a spectator full of regrets.
eat healthy, take a nap through the day ( if possible) get about 5 hours of sleep each night and take a few extra minutes of stretching on each excercise. that's what I do and feel like a champ.
imo, age does a few things, most of which can be nullified with the right behaviors. Primarily, you will require more recovery time in the form of sleep. In the general population you always hear people talking about how they need less sleep as they get older. Well for someone who's training it's the opposite. You will start actually needing that full 8 hours sleep and likely more.
Another thing is stiffness. This one just comes with the territory. I am always stiff (that's what she said).
One thing age brings that cannot be reversed is the compiling of injuries. If you're 24 and have been training since your teens, you might have blown out your MCL once...but when you're older you've blown that as well as your LCL 4 times each...on each leg. They never heal 100% and all these kinds of things pile up.
But alas, unless it's crippling, it's not worth worrying about unless you have a vagina.
So primarily it comes down to great diet and enough sleep. Also I always recommend training through injuries, even if you're only rolling at 10%...at least you're still warming up, stretching and breaking a sweat. It's always the guys that get hurt and take 2 months off, who then come back and immediately get re-injured in the first week back because they are so out of shape and rusty.
But yeah, if you are getting older, still partying, eating like shit, and not getting enough sleep, you will definitely start a rapid decline and just age like a mofo or just fall apart.
wow.. some great reply's in this thread, thanks to all for sharing.
i have had most of the injuries that others have listed too lol and i'm sure that dont help, but for me its more about the energy levels. i won't lie and say that my diet is good, becasue its not!! and that is something i really need to get a grip of.
many are right, and i DO work smarter these days, using skill and techniques over power and effort. the students still think im great haha, but they dont see me go for a toilet break and nearly pass out haha splashing water all over my neck before returning lol
what i used to use 40% of my effort and energy to achieve during the stand up/groundwork, now requires 90%. im just good at faking it and hiding how dam tired i really am.
i dont use any supplements, and would not know what one's are good or not? so a list of them and what they do would really help
I'm 43 in Jan. I train most night. I have trained nightly since I was 15, in all that time I have learnt one thing.... "dont fight it... go with it"... If your doing all that training and feel like shit then slow it down listern to your body, clean your diet up and get your sleep, drink lots of water and be carfull who you train with, dont leave it all on the mat, If you want to train till your 80 slow it down.
I was at a Rickson seminar last month and asked him this question.... basically he said the same thing.
...for me its more about the energy levels. i won't lie and say that my diet is good, becasue its not!! and that is something i really need to get a grip of.
Funny you should say that...as you get older, your energy levels are tied to diet. It's not so much that eating certain things will give you energy, it's that eating the wrong things will bog you down, tax your system, and rob you of energy.
In your youth, you can eat a double Whopper, a milkshake, a half pound of dirt, and chase it down with bourbon, and your body will magically process that shit and you'll abound with nonstop energy. As you get older, that particular magic goes away and you have to actually avoid the foods that steal your energy.
...for me its more about the energy levels. i won't lie and say that my diet is good, becasue its not!! and that is something i really need to get a grip of.
Funny you should say that...as you get older, your energy levels are tied to diet. It's not so much that eating certain things will give you energy, it's that eating the wrong things will bog you down, tax your system, and rob you of energy.
In your youth, you can eat a double Whopper, a milkshake, a half pound of dirt, and chase it down with bourbon, and your body will magically process that shit and you'll abound with nonstop energy. As you get older, that particular magic goes away and you have to actually avoid the foods that steal your energy.