tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30732562.post2017057818546590082..comments2023-10-10T06:48:25.555-07:00Comments on My trip to Black Belt at 50... and beyond!: Four Months Without a CrisisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30732562.post-26707554971548770382013-07-05T08:37:13.826-07:002013-07-05T08:37:13.826-07:00Allan, Thanks for your words of encouragement. I s...Allan, Thanks for your words of encouragement. I spent 10 years (age 45-55) training 3-4 times a week and I loved it. It opened up a new world to me and I grew in strength, cardio, and flexibility. I made a lot of friends. I love kata and sparing. The last year was not so fun with almost monthly debilitating back spasms and daily "adjustments" to drills since I couldn't get my right leg up to roundhouse or side kick higher than the knee. My efforts in jitsu were thrilling but with reduced flexibility, I really couldn't do much. After the February back crisis, I've switched to playing tennis. It's a different lifestyle in many ways(more dependent on the weather for one) but it's working for me at the moment. I really miss the dojo, the martial arts, and the comraderie of it and I think of going back all the time. But then I try to rotate my hip and I think of the reality that it became for me. It's the second time that I've given up a sport that I loved. Soccer was the first but I found that in my early 40s, it just wasn't a game that I could still compete in at any level that I enjoyed. BBat50https://www.blogger.com/profile/09736054246852300843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30732562.post-29238294351885757182013-07-05T03:32:52.432-07:002013-07-05T03:32:52.432-07:00If you still love MA you should not give up on it ...If you still love MA you should not give up on it I think. But perhaps you have to change to a different style if needed--one that will not strain your back too much?Allan S. Bakhttp://www.bakslash.comnoreply@blogger.com