Hey, I started TKD at 47. I had really grating knees, no upper body strength , bad wrist, chronic bursitis in my shoulders and a back that was always going "out". Even though I had exercised before joining, what I thought was exercise, after I joined I think I found where every muscle was in my body. I had lost weight before, about 30 lbs. just going on the treadmill for an hour most every night for six months and doing 30 min. of floor exercises. And I watched what I ate then too. Something about doing the treadmill, its so boring you get to thinking that you will never eat any more desserts, ha.
So, then I started class with my daughter and son. Eight years later, I am almost a 2nd dan BB and I have earned it. You may not need to lose any pounds but right now we have alot of overweight people, who are watching what they are eating and doing what they can but having fun while they are working on it. I saw one guy drop his weight about 1-2 lbs a week and when he got to black belt some 4+ years later, he looked terrific and was terrific. But do listen to your body. I was obsessive about going– 8 classes a week. But I started out at 2, then 3, then 4, then double classes, then jumping to another town's school (same master). I went when I was sore and sometimes half tired but if my knees were in PAIN, i took a day off. I have taken Glucosamine SULFATE for cartilage regeneration for 6 years and it makes the knees feel better too. Also MSM, it has an anti-inflammatory agent for swelling. Also, increased in ibuprofen, slowly, 1 a half hour before class, now I do two. Its worse when you don't take it. But don't jump through pain, then knees get really bad the next day. Also ice them afterward, if you have the luxury of time. If it swells, they get more fluid in there, more pieces float around, causes more inflammation. Wicked cycle. Anyway it is manageable, cause I did it and am still jumping the same amount as eight years ago. I did a bad tornado round kick though as a blue belt and tore cartilage when I moved my knee back into joint one night in class. Knee not so good now.
We don't have a beginners's class. Because its more fun to work out with the dedicated regulars-the BB's usually and its better to learn to spar them. Beginner against beginner, not a pretty picture. Nobody knows what they are doing. I learned alot from higher ranks sparring them. Actually they aren't allowed to really hit the beginners anyway in our dojang.
Anyway I could go on and on - I've gotten alot of people my age, no actually 40 somethings to join. One day at a time, it is alot of work but I loved every minute of it. If you have any other concerns or questions, let me know. Go Do IT! ....TW
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