What Happens When I Get Old?
Training Evolves and Evolution is Change
We all get old.
If we’re lucky, we all get old and grey, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop training. It just means you have to change the way you train. Especially if you’ve mastered the basics, but even if you haven’t, your pathway might need to adjust.
As I get older and see those close to me get older, I’m reminded of a question about dealing with aging as a martial artist.
Natural Selection
“Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution. Organisms that are more adapted to their environment are more likely to survive.”
That’s from the Natural History Museum’s website, and we “organisms” have to learn to adapt to what’s happening to our bodies as we get older. The good thing is, we can find ways to deal with wear and tear and continue training.
But, you might have to be selective of who you train with.
Six years ago, I answered a question on Quora asking for advice on how to train as we age, read it with my answer here:
Injuries and chronic pain at the age of 44 leave me unable to do Muay Thai and BJJ anymore. I used to do wing chun for a couple of years, but it got a little unsatisfying. What martial arts or fitness advice do you have?
As a Martial artist of the same age, I have found that spacing training days, training in the morning, and training with smart training partners has allowed me to continue training in BJJ.
You don't have to keep up with the younger competitor types anymore. Remember, all martial arts are for self-improvement and self-defense. No need to push yourself to the point of being immobile.
I have added more time to yoga and cardio between training days. It helps. I also use a post-workout recovery supplement and CBD oil for inflammation. I'm selective of who I train with, and my ego checked out a long time ago. I'll tap before I get injured. At 44, I have nothing to prove except to myself that I can train another day.
Prevention
I have also focused more on strength training and flexibility training.
The days that I don’t train martial arts, I make sure to lift, do some cardio, and stretch with some basic yoga. Stretching after training as part of my cool-down has helped a lot. I’m not lifting to get big or bulk, I’m lifting so I can keep my muscles and joints healthy enough to keep moving.
I’m older than 44 now, and while I may have a lot of technical skill, now I have to maintain the tools that apply them.
🥋 Gear Corner: Train Smarter, Not Just Harder
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🔹 Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy – I use this as my pre/post workout supplement. It was recommended to me by a nutritionist in my late 30s, and it helps with my recovery. The soreness doesn’t stick around for days when I take it.
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🔹 Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine – Creatine got a bad wrap when I was growing up, but now it seems to be good for the aging athlete or active person. The brand seemed to be trusted by the nutritionist who recommended the above BCAA, so I’ve been using this.
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