 Most of us have loads of kids in our classes and as a result we often gear our curriculum to that age group. But we may be doing a disservice to our older students. For one thing, adults grasp concepts faster than children (so intellectually you shouldn’t teach them in the same way), for another, they cannot exercise in the same manner as kids (so physically they should be treated differently as well). Keith Yates explores teaching students over 50.... Sarcopenia is a scientific term to describe the loss of muscle strength and quality of tissue often seen in older adults—I am going to put any student over 50 into that category. Did you know that muscle mass declines approximately 4% each decade from 25 to 50. As people age men and women both lose aerobic fitness—even if they are on a regular exercise program (which most are not).
Our joints age along with the rest of our bodies and this can lead to stiffness, decreased range of motion and more injuries. Hospitals see over 300,000 older patients annually for broken hips because of falls. Amazingly, half of them never go home again. Something as simple as an improved sense of balance could save many of these people from undue suffering.
Martial arts exercises can help people avoid injuries like this because of the emphasis on balance. The strength training we do also has great benefits for seniors. The experts say that resistance exercise forestalls declines in strength and muscle mass.
Many females in this age group are at risk for osteoporosis — a disease in which the bones can become brittle and fragile. Specifically, a woman who is in the post-menopausal stage of her life should have a bone density scan before beginning an exercise program. If diagnosed with osteoporosis, treatment can run the gamut from hormone replacement therapy to lifting weights. Experts say that moderate weightlifting can help increase bone density. Doctors also say that properly applied stress on the bones actually reverses the process of osteoporosis.
I probably don’t have to sell you on the benefits of exercise for older students but I do want to warn you about a few things to be careful of while you are teaching them. Anyone over 40, and certainly any new student over 50, should have a medical exam before starting a new exercise program. Conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease, can lay dormant and people won’t even know they have these diseases. As an instructor you have to insist that any older student get checked out by a doctor before they step onto the mat and start exercising.
Also warn these students that they have to start slowly. They may already be fairly active individuals but martial arts exercises are completely different from walking or swimming at the local gym. Stretching is great but it has to be eased into. Warm ups are essential for all your students and it is going to take twice as long for a 50 year old as it will for a 15 year old to warm up those muscles. It would be a good idea to have an experienced instructor stay next to your older students all through the warm up and stretching periods to assist them.
Students will naturally want to compete with the youngsters but encourage them to go at their own pace. You should even give them permission to “sit out” of certain exercises or drills. Keep an eye on everyone but especially anyone over 50.
It is advisable to have a companion to exercise with at any age but older students especially need the encouragement that a partner can provide. If they did not sign up with a friend or significant other you can suggest a fellow student to partner up with in class and even to practice with outside of the dojo.
All students need water breaks but anyone over 50 needs more fluid when exercising. And speaking of “intake” you should be stressing a healthy diet to your senior students. If they are pleased with the physical gains they are making from their new exercise program they will be even more motivated to begin to eat healthier as well.
Now not all older students are going to be able, or even interested in taking up a “hard” style like karate or taekwondo, but if your school offers a “soft” system like tai chi or yoga you can steer them in this direction.
Martial arts can be a life-changing experience for any dedicated student — even if that student has already lived a long life.
Keith Yates is a former adjunct professor of Physical Education at Southern Methodist University. He is a grandmaster level instructor and prolific author. See www.akato.org.
|
Instructors and Teaching 
(0 vote)
