Karate

[IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift]

Does anyone do karate and could offer me some advice please?

I did one year of karate when I was 23 and loved it. I'd love to get back into it.
Thing is, I'm now 35, have had two children, overweight by 4 stone (I'm losing slowly right now, 9lbs down so far), and feel my body just isn't as strong as before (well duhh🙈). I think I'd feel a bit embarrassed honestly.

Would it be wise to lose some weight first? Could I manage it if starting now? Is 35 too old to start? I'd love to push myself and really stick with it this time (I moved around a lot before but now we're planning to stay here). I'd likely start on one training a week then move to two.

Any advice about starting would be great thanks

Just go back. I know a bloke who took up karate at 65, post-retirement. Got his black belt at 70. The sooner you go back, the sooner you improve. Most karateka have experience of going back after a break, and you've had two kids! No one will judge.

I'm a black belt in kyushindo - definitely go back!
Fwiw, I didn't start until I was about 40 and now I'm nearly 50, I have fibro and don't always have the energy to go - the club I'm training with are fab; talk to the instructors about your concerns - if they're a fab club, they will be ok... if not, then find a club where you're comfortable. 💐

I do Taekwondo. The reason I got into it at 34 was because my body felt old and I was probably a stone or two overweight. We have retired people, overweight people, young people, weak people, strong people... Just get yourself amongst it.
I had a year off and even though it's exhausting for the first few lessons, I can feel my fitness getting better already. Do it! Hopefully your group will be as friendly and motivating as ours is. Take a body photo now and one after you've been doing it for three months. Not sure if karate is the same but Taekwondo is amazing for toning up 💪

Thanks for the encouraging replies @GrannyNannyMagratandGreebo @Nothingbuttheglory @ShinyPrettyThings87

They've given me a bit of a boost. I need to just jump in and go for it. I'll send an email to the local club and see what they say.

I'm on my 40s and do Tae Kwon Do and Kickboxing. Do it and start now. Build up slowly. Look at some daily stretching too - even 10 minutes.

@LuciferRising thanks, the stretching is a good tip.

I'm going to look into starting hopefully by spring. We're going to see if ds2 can do without me in the evenings but if he can't, I'll delay till autumn. But it's my goal to start again in 2024!

I do it with my DD!

You're welcome 😊