Dennis Schaefer and the martial spirit

When he was 49 -- an age when too many folks begin permanently settling into their couches -- Dennis Schaefer began studying taekwondo.  Well, some people probably figured Dennis was too old for all that jumping and kicking and punching.  Be he wasn't.  Dennis is now 60, a third-degree black belt, and an instructor at the Asian Arts Center in Dayton, Ohio.  Oh, and by the way, in 2008 Dennis walked off with the gold medal for his age group in Olympic Sparring at the AAU National Taekwondo Championships.
  But wait.  There's more.  Dennis has been sharpening his fighting skills throughout 2012, looking ahead to this month's U.S. Taekwondo Association national tournament in Dallas, Texas.  Right, he's  60.  And right, he's once again going all out against the best martial artists in the country.
  In a recent Facebook post, Dennis talked about his upcoming challenge, and with his permission we're reprinting it here.
  "Next Tuesday, July 3rd, I will fight in the USTA National Tournament in Dallas, Texas. I have been training seriously since the first of the year and have accomplished my mission of qualifying for the middleweight class instead of the unlimited. Good news for me because the gold medal winner from the unlimited class in 2010 is back and bigger than ever. The hardest part of preparation has been making the weight but I have succeeded and I am ready.
  "At age 60 this might be my swan song. My philosophy is to never say never, but the practicalities of continuing my fight career are limited by age and the fact that most other guys 60 and over are chasing golf balls.
  "I am addicted to the training, camaraderie and the ritual; the single-minded preparation is a relief in today’s world. Aside from coaching, my future in the world of competitive Taekwondo sparring is hazy. But that’s projection; there’s still a fight to fight. And all of the experience that has come in the past 12 years of competing will not go to waste.  I am committed to bringing some form of martial arts training to my peers from here on out.
  "When we return from Dallas (my better half Mary will coach) I will be considering some new fields. Number one contender at this point involves reviving my running career and tackling the ultra-marathons.  No one to fight but myself."
  Whether you're 50, 60 or 70, you're not too old to begin martial-arts training.  If the spirit is willing, the body will follow to the extent possible.  We may not all turn into champions like Dennis Schaefer, but that's not the goal.  The goal is to push, to strive, and to achieve as much as you can.  The martial arts have much to teach you if you're open to learning.
  Let me add here that it helps to have a senior-friendly school, and it sounds as though that's what you'll find at the Asian Arts Center in Dayton, Ohio.  They have numerous adult classes as well as senior instructors, and they understand that older students will need some extra attention.  If you live in the Dayton area and have been thinking about taking up the martial arts at an "advanced age," give Dennis a call sometime.  His footsteps are worth following.
  You can find the Asian Arts Center at www.accdayton.com