Is 17 a good age to start learning martial arts?

Question

Is 17 a good age to start learning martial arts?

Answer 1

one, two, do the kung fu!

Answer 2

It really dosent matter how old you are.  It really just dependes on how dedicated you are and if you are really commited to doing it.  Personally i think its a great skill to have.  More people should learn self - defence, you never know when it could come in handy.

Hope i helped

Smith...

Answer 3

Any age is a good age!  As long as you're dedicated and want to do it.  

My son started when he was 7 & I started when I was 31.  I have several friends in their 30's-40's that are just now starting it also.  (I admit that it was a little hard for me at first because I was out of shape...but like anything you do if you want to be good at it you have to practice hard to become better)

Go for it!  (And good luck)

Answer 4

Sure! I think any age is fine. There isn't really a certain age. Have fun!

Answer 5

There is no "bad" age to begin, but keep in mind that the majority of your strip mall dojos market towards young children.  At 17, I would suggest joining a boxing, kickboxing or MMA gym.

Answer 6

too old

Answer 7

its never to late..... i have students that started in their 40's

Answer 8

Go for it! :)

Answer 9

Of course, it is. Actually, anytime is a great time. One of my sons began at the age of 4.  I know lots of young men and ladies who begin in their teens..........it will keep you from getting too fat, and give you confidence.

Answer 10

Age doesn't matter as long as you have the dedication.

Answer 11

ya...

It iz actually kinda late...

Answer 12

Start now. It takes a lifetime to master the martial arts. It is never to soon to learn anything.

Answer 13

If you're already 17, hurry up and start training!  It's not too late to start, but you're quickly running out of both the energy and the free time that youth allows.  

When you're 30 and you're working full-time and making house payments, it's not too late to start, but it's more difficult to get back into shape, and it's more difficult to make the time commitment.  There are simply more constraints on your time.

I have taught English as a foreign language to ages ranging from 3 years old to elderly.  Believe me, the younger they start, the better they learn.  A 16 year-old with 13 years of experience speaking English kicks a** over a 30 year-old with 13 years of experience speaking English.

While there's a difference between learning English and learning Taekwando or Judo,  the point is that the sooner you start learning, the farther you will move along that path.   Younger learners don't just increasing their skill level, they increase their ability to learn that skill.  (check out www.gentlerevolution.com)

3 years old is too young for a kid to sit down and memorize words and sentences from a text book.  That's not how they learn at that age.  You have to use methods that are appropriate for them.

Likewise, for martial arts, you don't teach a 3 year old exactly the same way you would teach a 13 year old.  Anybody who says that 17 "is the right time to start" means that is about the age range that they know how to work with as a teacher.  I know a guy who doesn't teach Indonesian Pencak Silat to people under 21 just because he finds them annoying to work with - a valid reason.

For the youngest learners, Judo and Taekwando schools (even mcdojo schools) usually have the best methods for working with kids.

Some karate schools have kids classes, but many practice litlle or no sparring.  They're kids.  They should be rough-housing, not learning how to bow and punch in unison.

Most kickboxing or bjj teachers only know how to work with adults, but if you can find a kids class, great!

School age kids could learn boxing or kickboxing or wrestling or bjj, if there is a class available for their age-group.  Otherwise, sending them to mcdojo classes is better than not training at all, and may create a life-long interest.   When they're big enough to work with adults, they can choose their own path.

Back to the original asker;  if you're already 17, you've missed out on about 13 great years for skill learning and physical development.  Get off your a** and start training.

Answer 14

Sure if your up for it. Better late than never :)

Answer 15

That is still good age to start. If you would have started earlier it would have been better. I recommend to start before you get old and dry...

Answer 16

There is no age limit learning Martial Arts. When I start learning Martial Arts in the Philippines I was 17 years old. I work out almost every day including weekend. I earned by Blackbelt 18 years old, working everyday I earned credit become a trainer. At 19 years old I earned my FIRST DEGREE BLACKBELT and at age of 25 become SECOND DEGREE BLACKBELT. When I moved here in USA I shortly practice Tae Kwon Do.

Answer 17

any age is ok if you're willing to dedicate yourself.  I restarted at 33 and I knew a very dangerous man that started in his late  40s

Answer 18

yes

Answer 19

Yes- at 17 you can make a conscious decision to train, rather than being thrown into a class by your parents at 4 years old. You will have the mental maturity to take your training seriously and are more likely to stick at it. You can start martial arts at any age, but I personally think that in your teens is the best time.

Anyone who says it's too late is completely wrong- don't listen to them.

Answer 20

I'm in martial arts and i think it is better to start the basics younger.  You learn more stuff in the "adult" classes though so it really depends on what you are going into.

Answer 21

earlier is always better, but there is definitely no age limit

Answer 22

That's a great age. I will begin learning this summer.  Martial arts work wonders in many ways. You just have to see for yourself.:)

Take care, bye.

Answer 23

17 is a good enough age. the younger you start the better actually

Answer 24

17 is a good age because the body, although still developing, is more stabilized and is more capable of gaining strength than younger ages. Also 17 is still young enough to not mind the pain of the training and commitment.  Anyway young or "old", age should not influence the decision to learn

Answer 25

actually, the younger the better.

Answer 26

Its fine, but just do not get mad if you do not catch on quickly and get you butt kicked by someone younger than you (that happened to me a lot)

Answer 27

yes but your old you should have joined much earlier...

Answer 28

my dad would say at the age of 7-10 would be the best age to start but if you just want to learn for self defense its never too late

Answer 29

probably the best age

you have more mental discipline at that age

Answer 30

In the society of today with the prominent mentality of social acceptance and aggressiveness, coupled with the lack of skilled instructors your age is a smarter one to start with.

There is the all too common question on here about beating people up and fighting. Generally this sticks to the high school crowd and is extremely disappointing with the level of maturity tomorrow's future has... (little to none). Following that question is the question of whether or not a dojo/ang  is ripping off students.

Now that you are 17 you probably have a good idea of what you want to study and why. You will also have a little more where-with-all to read into a school and see if it's a ripoff or not by watching the classes.  

Do not listen to people telling you it's too late and do not listen to people telling you earlier would have been better.  The first is completely false and the latter is easily debatable.

Just follow your heart and do what you enjoy. Hopefully you have a good head on your shoulders and you will find a great instructor.

GOOD LUCK

Answer 31

Yes!!!

Thats when I started and I've done alright :)***