Taekwondo and metabolic syndrome

Seriously, I learned a new word today, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Quin-qua-genarian. “Quin” is derived from the Latin word quinque, which means five. “Qua” is a Latin word meaning “in the capacity of, or acting as”, and “genarian,” is a word describing a person who is in mid-life or older. Taken together, quinquagenarian, then, refers to someone who is between the ages of 50 and 59 years old. That complicated word, apparently, is describing me (or at least it will be in a little less than 2 months)!

I discovered that long, complicated word in an otherwise interesting paper that examined the effects of Taekwondo on metabolic syndrome. If you aren’t familiar with metabolic syndrome, it refers to a group of factors that, when found together, may significantly increase your risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, schizophrenia, and several types of cancer (see here, here, here, here, here, okay… you get the idea). In the United States, this is a huge concern, affecting one out of three adults over the age of 18.

How can Taekwondo help?

A “meta-analysis”, which is just a study that analyzes numerous other studies to determine if they are in agreement, concluded that participating in high-intensity Taekwondo 3 times weekly for 40-50 minutes per session for 12 weeks reduced the markers of metabolic syndrome. The greatest benefits were seen in quinquagenarian women with abnormal indicators of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a precursor for many of the chronic diseases described here; however, developing those conditions is not inevitable. Lifestyle changes are one of the most effective deterrents of metabolic syndrome and the diseases that eventually follow. Practicing Taekwondo is one way to reduce that risk while learning other important skills, including self-defense.

The best part is that you can start Taekwondo at any age

When trying to persuade my fellow quinquagenarians to take up Taekwondo, one of the most common reasons I hear for not doing it is that it is too late. They are too old. I’m here to tell you that is just not the case. I am living proof of that, having started at the young age of 47. I’m working toward a black belt, and I don’t plan on quitting any time soon.

Not only that, but there is a growing number of groups for older martial artists that gather to share their experiences. A group that I am aware of personally boasts over 4,000 members and is growing daily. It is likely that there are many more individuals who don’t engage in social media. If you are interested in taking up the martial arts at an older age, just know that you are not alone!

Don’t forget the benefits are not just physical

While this post is specifically about decreasing the risk of metabolic syndrome, don’t discount the mental and emotional benefits of the martial arts. A natural outcome of the disciplined nature of martial arts is improved mental health. For those of us who are older, this may even affect our risk of dementia and depression. As I age and consider these realities, I can’t think of a better way to reduce my risk.