Hi
I’m am 53 years old.
I am in a good shape (treadmild and weighs) since 2 years and I’m a fan of martial arts.
My question is, “Is it realistic to practice Wing Chun and use my news skills rapidly ?”
Thanks,
Peter
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Sifu Victor Botes from the Fighting Spirit Boxing & Martial Arts Club in South Africa, http://www.fightingspirit.co.za replies:
Dear Peter, as you get older, you can improve in Wing Chun, provided you keep up the practice of course.
No need to have any specific body shape, flexibility or acrobatic abilities.
Just train the basics and in time with a superior understanding of the centre line and other principles, you will appreciate the system even more.
So start today.
Rob adds his two-cents:
I’ve run into two mature students who started martial arts and physical fitness late in life.
One was a retired dentist. Wing Chun was his first martial art and he was never an athletic person his whole life.
It took him a couple of years, but he got pretty good considering he started older and he had some physical, health issues when he started (arthritis and others).
The second one is also retired. He’s in his mid, late 70s. Same thing, this is his first martial art, and he was never an athletic person.
His biggest challenge at the moment is coordination. If you had/have trouble with cover punching, he’s got trouble doing the Tan Sao in the air!
Yet, he’s advancing well. Slower, than most. But persistence pays and he benefits a lot if he can get more personal attention.
I kind of like training with him every now and then because he learns differently. And it’s satisfying to watch him make even the most incremental improvement.
I think it drives most of the other students crazy. Kind of like watching paint dry. But for me it really puts my communication, listening, and feedback skills to the test.
If these two can do it, and make continual improvement, you can too. Enjoy yourself and commit to it with a smile.
If you have doubts, don’t stress over it. That’ll just make it harder and more frustrating.
i live in minneapolis, mn and sixty one years old
the sifu i want to learn from is sifu andrew mills
at ebmas what i need to be is more comitted because i have a good sifu but i have physicle problems leg wound morbid obeisity to name a few so i’m going to the ymca to find a trainer and between trainer and and wing chun and loose some of this flab if there’s anyone who reads this my email address is williamjra2@hotmail.com tell me what you think!