Is It Too Late to Start Taekwondo as an Adult?
By Chief Master Julie Moberly · Moberly's ATA Martial Arts, Lexington, KY
No. Adults can start Taekwondo at any age and any fitness level. At Moberly's ATA Martial Arts in Lexington, adults have started as late as 65 and gone on to earn black belts.
The Three Things Adult Beginners Worry About
- "I'm not flexible." Almost nobody is at first. Flexibility is something Taekwondo builds, not something it requires.
- "I'm out of shape." Some of our students started 100 pounds overweight. You train at your level and improve from there.
- "Everyone will be better than me." Every black belt was once a white belt, and in our classes you're never compared to anyone else.
What Adults Get Out of Taekwondo
- Fitness: strength, cardio, balance and flexibility in one workout
- Self-defense: speed and power aimed at real targets, and techniques that work against larger opponents
- Confidence: every new belt is a goal you set and reached
- Stress relief: an hour where work and screens disappear
What Your First Month Looks Like
Expect to learn stances, basic kicks and strikes, and your first form. Instructors break techniques into small steps, and all ranks train together, so higher belts help newer students. Most adults are surprised how quickly the basics click.
Adult Taekwondo in Lexington
Our Teen & Adult Taekwondo classes meet Monday and Wednesday from 6:45 to 7:30 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 7:00 PM, at 501 Darby Creek in east Lexington.