Since I started practicing Karate again in September of last year, I’ve been constantly improving my flexibility. I have to. When I stopped training 20 years ago, I already didn’t have great range of motion in my hips and legs. And the following two decades of neglect, of just sitting in front of a screen, not only caused unhealthy weight gain, they also let my muscles deteriorate. Especially my hip and bum muscles have shortened to an extent that I can’t even do a side kick at mid-height.

Stretching was never a fun experience for me. I guess I tried to avoid feeling uncomfortable, which then deprived me of tangible results, which then killed my last sliver of motivation. Additionally, watching others do all these motions with ease also made me feel inadequate.

After starting fresh, I promised myself that I’d do everything to achieve black belt before I turned 60. Which leaves me 5 years to pass 4 exams. I’m doing regular stretching exercises throughout the week on top of the ones we’re doing in class. And I’m starting to see steady improvements! Now, I’m experiencing the opposite of the demotivation spiral I suffered from in the past. My range of motion is getting better all around, my techniques are improving, and watching others only makes me try harder.

But what’s even more important, I realized how physical flexibility is affecting my life outside of sport. Pretty much on a daily basis, I encounter situations where I go “Wow, this is so much easier now!” Basic things like getting into my pants in the morning. Reaching for something. Picking up a sock from the ground, or myself after kneeling or sitting. Meditating in a cross-legged position. You know what, this gain is more than worth the pain.

I shudder to think how bad my physical shape would have become if I hadn’t started Karate again. Would I eventually, much too early, have needed help with the most quotidian of tasks?

If you, like I did, think that it’s perfectly normal to put on some weight and lose range of motion with age, that it’s all about your mental flexibility, please reconsider. That’s what I’d tell my younger self if I had the opportunity. Why lose quality of life if you can prevent it with just a bit of regular exercise and eating healthily?

Not that I wasn’t told exactly that more than once over the years; I just didn’t want to listen and leave my comfort zone (sorry, love!). Today, I actually enjoy pushing myself out of it, and that’s great for sure. But the best time to start would have been 20 years ago.