Kung Fu has a massive following worldwide, and people of all ages are encouraged to join. You can learn Kung Fu at any age, permitted that you are capable of moving and expressing yourself physically. Kung fu is a step-by-step martial art training program, so you tend to progress at your own pace.
You can learn Kung Fu at any age. The youngest age that you can start kung fu is anywhere from 4-7 years old. The oldest practitioner of kung fu was Grandmaster Lu Zijian, who died at the age of 118. The popular belief is that if you don’t have any serious health issues, you can learn kung fu.
If you want to start practicing kung fu but are worried that you may be too old, stop worrying and enroll yourself immediately. Age is just a number when it comes to kung fu. Not starting at a very young age does not matter as the benefits of simply starting will improve your life today.
At What Age Can You Start Learning Kung Fu?
The awesome thing about Kung Fu is that it does not discriminate against age. Generally, most martial arts schools allow children to start training from 4-5 years old. However, being of a certain age does not automatically imply that your child is ready to start training.
Enrolling your child at a young age when they are not ready mentally, emotionally, or physically could potentially put them off from Kung Fu for a long time, possibly forever. Even though most dojos are child friendly and able to take in your child, first see if your child has the following abilities and characteristics to spare yourself money and time.
- Can differentiate between left and right.
- Has developed manners appropriate for their age. They do not interrupt conversations, wait for their turn to speak, and listen quietly to an instructor.
- They have a good enough attention span. A class is normally 30 min for small children and 60 min for older children and adults.
- Will reliably practice every other day (prompting them if necessary) and every day for older children.
- Able to take positive and polite advice in their stride without throwing a tantrum when they are corrected.
- Some empathy needs to be present, knowing that they can hurt people with their actions.
Some dojos do not take in small children as they are not ready for the dojo style. For example, Krav Maga dojos take in students from the age of 14, while some Brazilian Jui-Jitsu dojos only start taking children in from 10. Some dojos offer specialized programs for little children to teach them how to train before starting the proper training.
When it comes to our more senior students, they are advised to enroll in a softer Kung Fu style that is less fighting orientated. These softer styles aim to promote movement, flexibility and to keep the mind mentally sharp. Some of these are:
- Tai Chi
- Baguazhang
- Sun Taiji
- Yang Taiji
- Lui Ha Ba Fa (Water Boxing)
Why Is Kung Fu Beneficial For Any Age?
Kung Fu is of Chinese origin; it is a martial art designed to refine the body and the mind. To quote the Britannica:
“Kung Fu, a martial art, both a form of exercise with a spiritual dimension from concentration and self-discipline and a primarily unarmed mode of personal combat.”
Kung Fu is more than just learning to fight. It teaches you self-discipline and trains your mind. Let us explore some of the benefits of learning Kung Fu at any age.
1) Kung Fu is a proper workout
- Referred to as a moderate-high intensity form of aerobic exercise.
- Students of Kung Fu will naturally improve their blood flow, cardiovascular efficiency and lose weight.
- Practicing Kung Fu demands that you use your whole body to bring general improvement to your physique and stamina.
2) Kung Fu is all about self-defense
- Kung Fu is a striking style primarily. Each move is practical and can be used to defend yourself against an attacker.
- Some of the moves include kicks, blocks, and open/closed hand strikes.
- It will teach you how to different throw techniques and how to lock a person’s joints.
- Soft techniques like how to use an attacker’s strength against themselves are taught.
- Hard techniques like how to use your force against an attacker’s force are taught.
3) Kung Fu can increase your self-confidence
- Not the type of self-confidence where you strut around looking for any excuse to fight, but rather a deeper level of self-confidence.
- Rather the self-confidence that comes from successfully finishing a task or technique.
- Applying the self-discipline that you will need for practicing Kung Fu and achieving the goals you have set for yourself will definitely increase your self-confidence.
4) Kung Fu has the ability to bring peace to your mind
- Kung Fu is not about overcoming other people. It is all about overcoming yourself and bettering yourself as a person. We all have defects and insecurities, which Kung Fu can help to alleviate.
- Kung Fu was the word used in ancient times to describe a person who has mastered a difficult discipline, not just mastering how to fight.
- Kung Fu is all about graceful, repetitive, and flowing movements that can put the user in a tranquil state of mind.
- Disciplining the mind gives the person a self-esteem boost and helps the Kung Fu student to learn how to stay calmer and more controlled in life.
5) Kung Fu increases your energy levels
- It’s a proven fact that daily exercise sessions improve concentration and increases energy levels.
- When performing Kung Fu, you will be improving your endurance levels, increasing your power levels, and strengthening your whole body.
- The more you practice and hone your body, the healthier and more energized you will feel.
6) Kung Fu teaches discipline to students
- When you have committed yourself to practice Kung Fu, beautiful things start to happen in your life.
- First, Kung Fu will teach you about discipline, the discipline you need to better yourself and practice your Kung Fu with a committed attitude.
- Next, it will enhance the desire to better yourself, not just with Kung Fu but in other areas of your life.
- With dedication and commitment, you will soon reap the rewards that this beautiful art form will provide in your own life.
7) Kung Fu teaches students to stay calm
- Learning how to fight and mastering the art of defending yourself is an awesome skill to have; however, learning how to avoid conflict is much more valuable.
- A proper Kung Fu master will teach you different ways to control your temper and stay calm in stressful situations.
- Real confidence in yourself will lessen the need you have to prove yourself to other people. This is a gift in itself.
The benefits of practicing Kung Fu seem to be very beneficial, and more importantly, life-changing. It could potentially change your health as well as your mental and spiritual state of mind. Kung Fu as art was always more than just learning to fight. It revives your whole being.
Conclusion
Any person of any age can practice Kung Fu, it seems. The art form promotes a healthy lifestyle that incorporates body, mind, and soul in its teachings. Kung Fu’s beauty is that you can start at any time; it does not matter if you are 10 years old or 100. There are many suitable styles, and finding the right one for you will not be difficult.
There is so much more to Kung Fu than just learning how to fight and protect yourself. From increasing your energy levels to teaching you self-discipline and giving you self-confidence, this art form focuses on your inner growth as well as your physical improvement.
After reading this post, you really should not have any more excuses as to not learning Kung Fu, regardless of your age. If you do not suffer from a serious health issue, then you are good to go. Kung Fu might improve your health issue. Just make sure to run it past your GP.
References
8 Amazing Reasons to Learn Kung Fu (troab.com)
https://parenting.stackexchange.com/questions/1425/what-age-is-it-appropriate-to-start-martial-arts