I’ve never felt so old as the day I tried to kick, a round kick, above my head. Why you ask. I’ve started taking Tae Kwon Do lessons. And trust me, it’s a whole lot more difficult than it looks in those old Bruce Lee Movies.

I remember when I was a kid in the early 70s and we would spend an entire Saturday afternoon at the movies watching Bruce Lee, the master. Everyone, me included, would come out of the theater doing those karate yells, throwing fist blocks and kicking doors, posts, each other. It was so easy then. What happened?

I could understand it if I was the kind of person who did no exercise. But I’m pretty athletic, at least I used to be. And it wasn’t all that long ago that I was in the gym every day lifting weights, cycling and participating in a body sculpting class. So my muscles should be used to the work out.

Not so much.

The first time I tried the kick I couldn’t even get it passed my hip. That would have been ok except that there were some kids in the class. They must have been about 8. And they were kicking to beat the band. That’s embarrassing when a little eight year old has a higher and more powerful kick than you.

And if the kicking wasn’t bad enough the forearm blocks were even worse. This Tae Kwon Do ain’t no joke ya’ll. And I haven’t even gotten to the hard stuff yet. I'm just a white belt.

I’m not the only older woman in the class there are a few others but they have been doing it a lot longer than I so they’ve got this. The classes I attend are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

At home I’m in my kitchen kicking up a storm trying to improve it. I’m not making much progress.

I’ve got my 15 year old helping me out. He seems to think I’m doing pretty good. 

But he doesn’t see me in the morning trying to get out of bed with every muscle in my body screaming in pain. My back and shoulders are so sore I reached up in my closet to pull down a sweater the other day and it hurt so bad I yanked my arms down and found something else to wear that day. Something I could reach without having to lift my arms over my head.

I know that exercise is supposed to be good for you but is it supposed to hurt this much too.

I have been searching for months now for some activity I could really get into and I thought this would be it. It’s not only about the exercise but there is a spiritual component to it too. I like that. I’m just hoping that I can keep this up long enough so that it doesn’t hurt so much and I can raise my legs high enough to at least kick someone in the chest. As it stands now I’d be striking my opponent across the hip. And that’s not so impressive.

I’m going to stick with this for a while. I refuse to give up on it or myself. I keep telling myself I can do this. I can be good at it. But I’m not so sure.

I know as we get a little older exercise is good for the body and the mind. It is supposed to help us keep sharp. If this all works out for me you better watch out. I’ll be a lean, mean kicking machine.

Wish me luck.