Training at 50 - disillusioned
Hey everyone,
I was very active in martial arts as a teenager and drifted for various reasons.
I've spent a few years trying to find the right club to make a comeback. Finally found a taekwondo class that caters for adults / parents. It ranges from students in their 20's to parents in their forties.
I did some Thai boxing as a teenager so really enjoyed some aspects of the training. Tbh I was just happy to be training again. It was tough but I could feel my fitness improving and was proud of myself for going outside my comfort zone.
Anyway, as the classes progressed a few red flags kept popping up. I noticed that a lot of the techniques were rushed, particularly any punching. It all seemed geared towards the next grading.
And then came the 'forms'. Honestly, I really just can't take to them.
In a recent class I was made stand at the front of the class with another classmate and perform a pattern in front of everyone. I was uncomfortable in this scenario, but my classmate wanted to do the pattern in an upcoming competition so I was volunteered to assist.
I went through the motions, all the while wanting the ground to swallow me up. The coach then went around the class requesting 'constructive feedback' from everyone. Seemingly my stance was wrong, along with the way I was holding my fist etc.
It could just be ego on my part but I found it all to be quite undermining. Stupidly I argued over some of the feedback - namely the punching criticism - I used to box, I know how to punch. The class 'know all' spoke over the coach and was quite condescending I thought.
I shouldn't have let it get to me, but it did. I'm a middle aged man, I just want to train, not feel like I'm back in school 😐
Is this just a taekwondo thing?
(I'm thinking of switching to Muay Thai)