Episode 1130 - Karen Daniels
In this episode Jeremy chats with Karen Daniels about starting martial arts later in life, kids, and training while aging.
Karen Daniels - Episode 1130
SUMMARY
In this conversation, Jeremy Lesniak and Karen Daniels explore the profound impact of martial arts on family dynamics, personal growth, and the unique challenges faced by a single parent. Karen shares her journey into martial arts, starting later in life and how it intertwined with her role as a mother. They discuss the importance of discipline, the benefits of martial arts for all ages, and the lessons learned through shared experiences in training. The conversation highlights the joy, challenges, and transformative power of martial arts in shaping both individual and family identities. She discusses how movement is essential for maintaining health and vitality as we age, emphasizing that it's never too late to start martial arts. The conversation highlights the importance of community, purpose, and the mental benefits of being present in the moment. They also challenge societal perceptions of aging, advocating for a celebration of the aging process and the capabilities that come with it.
TAKEAWAYS
Martial arts can be a family bonding experience.
Starting martial arts later in life can be rewarding.
Discipline learned in martial arts translates to life skills.
Age should not deter anyone from pursuing martial arts.
Martial arts provide a unique outlet for stress relief.
Shared activities can strengthen family relationships.
Self-regulation is a key benefit of martial arts training.
Martial arts can help maintain physical fitness as we age.
The journey in martial arts is often more important than the destination.
The squat and pushup are fundamental movements that can be practiced at any age.
Martial arts can be life-changing for older adults, improving mobility and confidence.
Community and social interaction are crucial for mental health as we age.
It's important to modify martial arts practices to accommodate individual needs and abilities.
Aging should be celebrated, not feared; it's a natural part of life.
Physical activity, like martial arts, can significantly enhance quality of life in older adults.
Having a purpose and staying active can contribute to longevity and health span.
It's never too late to start a fitness journey, regardless of age.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
03:03 The Impact of Martial Arts on Family
05:55 Challenges of Being a Single Parent in Martial Arts
09:07 The Role of Age in Martial Arts Training
11:56 Lessons Learned Through Martial Arts
14:57 Reflections on Parenting and Martial Arts
17:56 The Importance of Discipline in Martial Arts
20:50 The Benefits of Martial Arts for All Ages
29:26 The Power of Movement in Aging
33:52 Martial Arts as a Fountain of Youth
38:48 Celebrating Aging and Community
46:58 The Importance of Purpose and Movement
54:17 Martial Arts as a Form of Meditation
58:05 Embracing Opportunities and the Journey of Growth
To connect with Karen Daniels:
www.karendaniels.com
Join our EXCLUSIVE newsletter to get notified of each episode as it comes out!
Subscribe — whistlekick Martial Arts Radio
After listening to the episode, it would be exciting for us to know your thoughts about it.
✅Subscribe to whistlekick Martial Arts Radio on the following platforms:
🎧Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3mVnZmf
🎧Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yHVdHQ
✅You can find whistlekick on all social media platforms using the handle @whistlekick or visit our website at https://www.whistlekick.com or https://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com
Show Transcript
Jeremy Lesniak (06:42.466)
Hey, what's going on everybody? Welcome back or maybe for the first time to an episode of Whistlekick commercial arts radio. I'm Jeremy Lesniak and today I'm joined by Karen Daniels. Karen, we're gonna get going in just a minute. Thanks for being here. I appreciate your time. And I appreciate all of you out there. Thanks for spending some time with Karen and I. We're gonna talk about martial arts. What are we gonna talk about specifically? I don't know yet, cause it hasn't happened. And that's kind of, yeah, we don't know. We don't know where it's gonna go. Could go anywhere. Could be completely ridiculous.
Karen Daniels (07:05.958)
I don't know either.
Jeremy Lesniak (07:12.148)
and you'll have to stick around to find out. Now, if you like what we do on this show, remember we do two episodes every week and you can find all of them at whistlekickmarshallartsradio.com. That's where you're gonna find transcripts and links to the audio and the video and you can even sign up for an email that will send you each episode when we release it. And so you open your email and you're like, wow.
Here's the audio version, here's the video version. You don't have to go anywhere for it. You don't have to worry about, did your podcast catcher find it? Is YouTube hiding it that day? You don't have to worry about any of that. It's right there for you. And it's free and we're not gonna bombard you with other stuff. So it's just those two emails a week. And with that, Karen, thanks for being here.
Karen Daniels (07:58.624)
thanks Jeremy. I'm super happy to be here and always good to talk about martial arts.
Jeremy Lesniak (08:02.67)
Yeah, what better subject is there than talking about martial arts? I'm remembering, though I think it was the last wedding I went to. It's been a few years since I've been at a wedding. guess who I ended up talking to? And guess what we were talking about the entire time? The one other person I knew there that had trained and we're off in the corner talking. Hey, aren't you guys gonna, no, we got, he's showing me that thing.
Karen Daniels (08:20.015)
You
Karen Daniels (08:31.196)
Yep, I get it.
Jeremy Lesniak (08:34.882)
Yeah. And is that not because it becomes who we are and such a core part of how we see the world?
Karen Daniels (08:45.244)
Well, think, yes, I think, I mean, even people I know who have started training long ago and stopped, it's always in your heart, you know, maybe if you're a kid and your parents are making you not, but as an adult, it really tends to get into people's soul quite a bit, I think.
Jeremy Lesniak (09:03.074)
Well, even a lot of those kids, and maybe you've had these same conversations, when people find out that I train and teach martial arts, they'll tell me, you know, when I was a kid, I did, you know, this or that or the other. And I, they'll usually say, I only made it to such and such rank, but I want my kids to do that too. I want my kids to train, because I know even if I didn't appreciate it at the time, it was really good for
Karen Daniels (09:29.788)
Yeah. Well, and really, I mean, the only reason I started was because of my kids. So it's like, was all, all kid led in this whole thing. yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (09:35.042)
Really? Okay. So you started later than some. How old were your kids when you got Roland?
Karen Daniels (09:41.116)
So I didn't have kids till my late 40s. So I had my daughter at 46 and then I had twin boys at 48. So I was already older.
Jeremy Lesniak (09:52.373)
That already we should probably spend a moment there because that part of our team.
his wife and I'm not going to put out their names. Some of you out there know who I'm talking about, but he and his wife, they're about to have a baby. It might even be on my birthday. They're right around my birthday and so I'm very excited for this. But she's 42 and apparently, you know, in the world of...
Karen Daniels (10:13.134)
OK. OK.
Jeremy Lesniak (10:26.382)
babies in pregnancy, this is horrendous and geriatric, geriatric pregnancy. And so you're, you were on the other side of 40, you know, the 40s of that.
Karen Daniels (10:32.412)
Yeah, that's what they call a geriatric.
Karen Daniels (10:39.588)
Yes, yes, and yes, I did have science help me to be clear for all those women who wait. So I've been geriatric on everything I've done, know, that kids, martial arts, you know.
Jeremy Lesniak (10:49.326)
Okay. I don't know if we're going to use it, but that could be a great episode quote. just, you know, we do because we do these quote graphics and could have your picture.
Karen Daniels (11:03.206)
geriatric martial artist.
Jeremy Lesniak (11:05.23)
Okay, so you had your kids later than most and how old were they when they started training?
Karen Daniels (11:10.458)
Late, yes.
Karen Daniels (11:16.036)
So my boys were just shy of five and my daughter was just shy of seven. So pretty young.
Jeremy Lesniak (11:22.262)
Okay. And did you all start or they started and then you started?
Karen Daniels (11:26.818)
No, so I was at that point a single parent. So I was doing all the things, right? So the raising them, the working, all that. And there was a food establishment that did Tuesday night, every Tuesday activities for kids. And so we were there like clockwork because it's a single parent. If I could find a situation to sit on my butt where someone else dealt with my kids, all in, all in, right?
Jeremy Lesniak (11:55.0)
Yeah. Yeah.
Karen Daniels (11:55.997)
Um, and this one particular, you know, actually it was Tuesday, February 19th, 2010, only because I have the flyer from then that I say for the kids, that's the only reason I know that day. Um, there was a group of people from a martial arts studio. Um, and they had the, like the foam punch out letters and numbers and, um, and my kids just ate it up and I could not get them to leave. Like they were just.
Jeremy Lesniak (12:04.622)
Okay. that's cool.
Karen Daniels (12:25.102)
All three of them were just like in, it's like, we gotta go, we gotta go. It's like, no, one more punch, you know. you know, and they had this ball, drop your card in there. And so I did that and, you know, the kids are like, we wanna do, we wanna do it. And I'm thinking, let's see, three tuitions times, you know, times three tuitions. You know, doing the money calculation, you know, the practical part. And so the next day we were talking about it as a family. said we, they didn't have any other sports yet.
Jeremy Lesniak (12:41.442)
Yeah.
Karen Daniels (12:53.114)
You know, they try a little gymnastics, but nothing kind of stuck. And they just begged me, you know, and we got a call at that moment from the martial arts studio. Retrospectively, they probably did this with everybody who dropped a card in that, you know, but it's like, Hey, you won.
Jeremy Lesniak (13:08.312)
To those of you out there who have schools, if you do that and you're not calling everybody and giving them something, you're kind of missing out. Right. But please continue.
Karen Daniels (13:12.504)
Yes. Yeah, but at the time I took it as a sign from, you know, from fate or whatever. So, and they said that, you know, we had won two weeks free, which now, you know, people do routinely and anyway. But they said, we know you have three kids, so we'll let all three, you know, do it. And I thought, okay, we'll try it. They will probably Peter out in two weeks, you know, was just, you know, kids. So it did not Peter out.
Jeremy Lesniak (13:18.776)
Yeah
Karen Daniels (13:40.957)
And so other than my mortgage, was my biggest expense for a long time was the martial arts studio. And so they trained and I didn't start, I watched them. I was there every class and I thought, how hard could it be? Right? You you watch it caught enough times you go, okay, yeah, I can do that, you know. So.
Jeremy Lesniak (14:03.832)
I've known quite a few parents on the side that have never trained and they go, no, no, okay, no, you gotta do that turn there. And then, cause they've seen it so many times.
Karen Daniels (14:08.794)
Yes, yes. So and I was that parent going, yeah, yeah. So, but they had two floors at that studio and they started a adult class at the same time my kid's class was. And my only thought, I never set out to be a martial artist. My only thought was, hey, they can deal with my kids, right? Back to that. And I can get some exercise. Let's do it. You know, so I did it.
And who knew, you know, A, kato's are not easy. And I was much lamer than my kids. Let's be honest. They learned like little sponges, right? I was much slower. Was not a natural, none of that. And then here I am 16 years later, still doing it, you know. So I fell in love with weapons. just, the whole thing and the people, because martial artists to me are just,
particularly women, are a different type of person than you kind of normally meet. It's like you instantly have more in common with that type of person.
Jeremy Lesniak (15:20.236)
And did your kids stick around? Have your kids stuck around? Remain training?
Karen Daniels (15:23.068)
So they stuck around. I mean, it's a convoluted journey, but yes, all my kids had black belts. My daughter has a second degree. And she even for a couple of years prior to COVID, she and I ran the demo team together. That was not at our initial studio. Our initial studio is now closed, but we had a favorite sensei that my daughter loved and my boys loved.
young female who had been training with Sensei with Hanchiyama Shido weekly, you know, one-on-one. So she was gifted. She's a gifted martial artist. So we kind of followed her. So my daughter deprivates with her. So she was like that person. She was not a primary Sensei at this dojo. So after we, when I was coming up to black belt testing, my kids were about six months ahead of me.
So they had their black belts. The sensei, Sensei Kelly and her dad, they opened a studio together. So I was training at both for a while. My kids immediately said we're going there. They wanted to train with that sensei. And so we ended up after my black belt, we all ended up at that dojo, which is where I still practice. So yes, they did. So they stuck with it. They did it for a while longer. And then the boys started looking at other stuff.
you know, which I was okay with once, you know, with kids, once they get to a certain point, you know, but it's like, just, you're this close, let's just go to black belt and then you can decide, you know, after they got to a certain point. So, and my daughter just kept with it and doing it together. I mean, so our whole family, we had a mat in the middle of the living room. we were a martial arts family. That's what we did. That was our activity, all our money, all our time. That's where it went. So.
Jeremy Lesniak (17:10.733)
Hmm.
Jeremy Lesniak (17:20.184)
What do you think having that common experience did for your family?
Karen Daniels (17:26.684)
gosh. So many things. mean, the first thing that sticks out to me is the joy my kids had at knowing something I didn't and being able to teach me, you know, because they, like I said, they would just learn a kata in one class. Two weeks later, I'm still, I'm writing on paper the pattern and trying to, you know, that stuff and which they, so they laughed at, they mocked me, you know.
Jeremy Lesniak (17:39.598)
Hmm. I've seen that.
Karen Daniels (17:56.113)
but they also were very helpful. And it's like, if I couldn't just being able to practice extra, but as a family, gave us that common bond, that common shared experience as a parent versus, so we were doing it together versus me watching them do a sport. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. was just, this gave us, it's what we did. If my boys started fighting as boys do, I would say go on the mat and use proper form. And I never,
And of course that took all the fun out of pounding on each other. it was just like everything revolved around that basically.
Jeremy Lesniak (18:35.384)
Did that ever create challenges?
Karen Daniels (18:39.246)
Other than the financial for me, no, it didn't.
Jeremy Lesniak (18:44.056)
Were there times, because you've said single mom, second biggest expense behind your mortgage. I imagine that there were days where you went.
Did you think about stopping? Did you think, what if I don't, where did that fit?
Karen Daniels (19:02.136)
I did when I thought, mean, the studio did, like when I started, they barely charged me more, right? They, I mean, they were aware, right? You know, when you have that many people in it. But if I thought that, what I thought was, well, I'll stop before, like I would have stopped before them, you know? But they just loved it. And they, I can still remember early on,
you know, watching the demo team from that studio at the studio. you know, my boys were still small enough. They couldn't look over the railings. They're sitting in the little opening and just watching these other kids do these, you know, great things. And they were just enraptured. I mean, it's like, how could I ever take it's like, well, I can get a second job. can, you know, I was very fortunate. I was a writer. So and with the
know, invention of the internet, because I remember when there was no internet, Lots of good opportunities to make money as a writer, working mostly from home. So that allowed me a lot more flexibility in my schedule most days, right, to be able to accommodate and go with them. And, and always the class time was kind of sacred. mean, I always tried to leave that open if I could so we could make class. So.
Jeremy Lesniak (20:28.334)
We're, I'm thinking of a couple different ways we can go with this. You told me kind of in the, our pre-recording, if you will, don't shy away from anything regarding age. So I'm gonna take, I'm gonna, I'm gonna take that. So I can do math. So here you are in your mid-50s.
Karen Daniels (20:44.696)
Okay.
Karen Daniels (20:54.968)
I was about 53 when I started, so.
Jeremy Lesniak (20:57.326)
Okay. Early 50s, we'll call that early, but continued, right? So you've got young kids, you're in your 50s. That's not a story I've heard before. I mean, we've heard plenty of stories over the years. You know, here we are well over 1,100 episodes. Plenty of people started after their kids started with their kids, but I haven't heard the story very often. I'm trying to figure out how to be...
a mom, a single mom, later than most people are doing it, and raising these kids and starting martial arts. That seems like a lot at once.
Karen Daniels (21:37.086)
Well, so my boys recently turned 21 and I took that. I reflected back on exactly what you're asking. And I, my own personal thought now looking back was how in the heck did I do that? I mean, I'm a little astonished, you know, that being said, I knew having kids as an older mom should never be something that weighed on them. Right. That was my choice.
And so I took it very seriously that it was up to me to keep myself in a certain amount of fitness so that I could do everything they wanted to do, which I did. And that's been my path, you know? So they've certainly kept me younger in that way. And so I'm 69 now and they're just young adults, right? So most people have grandkids and you know, I have kids, right? You know.
just getting launched, essentially. So it was hard. mean, looking back, I think I was probably exhausted all the time, you know, but didn't, but when you're in it, right, especially parents, every parent out there knows this, you just do the thing you got to do, you know, even though you might be exhausted or you might get irritated or you might do this. And I think in that way, it was very cathartic.
to say be able to do a complex with your kids and legally punch them with control and they can punch me. mean, honestly, was like a, it was a very healthy outlet, you know? So, you know, it just kind of worked, but yeah, I mean, it was hard and we had to prioritize it for sure over a lot of things. There's other things we couldn't do because of the investment in that. So that certainly came up a few times.
Jeremy Lesniak (23:08.688)
Hahaha!
Jeremy Lesniak (23:13.218)
No.
Jeremy Lesniak (23:33.196)
With four of you, I imagine at various points, one of the kids wanted, know, you know, they have a bad class, something doesn't go well, right? And they're ready to throw in the towel. I can imagine what your response was. Your response is probably pretty predictable, but I'm curious about their siblings.
Karen Daniels (23:41.425)
Yeah.
Karen Daniels (23:52.646)
Yeah, and that kind of wrote, of course, with three of them, it rotated around. And the only time we didn't go to class is if for some reason, well, other than sickness, was if all three of them didn't want to do it that time. Now, I did allow them to, you know, you can come if you don't want to do it this class, you can sit on the side with me. That never happened, right? The minute they're there, their friends are there, their siblings are there, you know.
Jeremy Lesniak (23:56.193)
Yeah.
Karen Daniels (24:21.937)
and the boys from the get-go were pretty competitive with each other. So one was not going to let the other get ahead. You know, I mean, they'll hate me for saying this, but they even, when the first one was potty trained, the other one was potty trained 10 minutes later because he wasn't having, I mean, seriously, you know, so maybe it's a twin thing, I guess, but you know, so yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (24:41.59)
I love it. Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (24:50.99)
Okay, and so
Jeremy Lesniak (24:56.59)
How did that impact the way you were raising them? You had a different set of tools available, right? The idea of, you know what? We've got a mat on the floor in the living room. We're gonna go beat on each other in class. Like, this is the thing that we do.
Karen Daniels (25:13.254)
Hahaha
Jeremy Lesniak (25:15.51)
martial arts in general, not just the beating on each other, but that sounds like a particularly maybe useful toolkit that not every family has.
Karen Daniels (25:17.382)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Karen Daniels (25:27.567)
Yeah, it's, mean, your martial arts, as we know, particularly for kids is a huge discipline learning experience. And a lot of parents bring their kids for that reason specifically, right? So, you know, I mean, yeah, I would give pushups at home. I wasn't a sensei at all then, of course, I was just a lowly, you know, yellow, orange, bell, or what, you know, but, and they would do them.
When I became a sensei, I will say, did say, you bow at me at home? And that was a no, that was a big no. So that didn't go over very well. So yeah, so it's like we approached it differently. And because I think, because I was already an older parent, the stuff that, you know, I know, I mean, I've young friends now that have young kids still, you know, and I listened to what matters to them. And I think, wow,
Jeremy Lesniak (26:00.91)
I love it. I love it. Not surprised. That's great.
Karen Daniels (26:24.209)
that none of that mattered to me. You it's like they say, pick your battles, right? As an older parent, your perspective has already changed. So the stuff I might've been really on them about as a younger parent didn't, I thought in the scheme of life, does this matter? That was always my filter, you know? And if it didn't, didn't even, now three kids, one parent, you can only pick so many battles, right?
So you kind of have to look at the overarching, know, or what does that one kid need in that moment to help them get to whatever the next phase. but they were, and I don't say this because they're my kids. I mean, I watched them in many situations. They came as really decent human beings, right? Not all of us came that way, you know? And so,
In that way, I was fortunate. And yes, certainly I parented them in a certain way. I couldn't be overly strict. I didn't have the bandwidth with three of them. So they learned very early, kind of what I would call self-discipline in regulating themselves because they had to. If I was in my office working and they were out there, I was always aware of if it went
too quiet or something. But they learned, well, if mom's working, don't knock on the door if I was in a Zoom call or something. So yeah, so they learned to self-regulate early. They also learned, which I think has served them really well, which any kid, our society, think we have a tendency now, at least in the United States from what I see.
to give participation trophies to a lot of kids. And I have mixed feelings about that. And I know we like to encourage and have people wanna stay, but martial arts is one of the few things I see that I am very familiar with where a kid has to spend years trying to achieve this goal. And to me, that singular thing is worth.
Karen Daniels (28:39.235)
every penny I ever put into it because I don't think many kids get that opportunity. It's like you don't always get, you know, that toy that you want today, you know, and if you really want that thing, and in this case, they really wanted black belts, you know, there you're going to have to stick with it and show up over and over and over year after year. And that's super hard for a five year old to comprehend, but they, but they did. And they got it.
So the amount of time they didn't want to go wasn't very much, you know, and, you know, there were things I did if I had one that kind of dipped a lot. It's like, oh, do you want to do a private with Sunsay so-and-so? you know, and that seemed to work, to be helpful. It's like a little one-on-one attention, you know, for any kid goes a long way. And so it's like, so then I'd cough it up for, pay for a private or whatever, but that helped keep them, but really they,
loved it. I mean, and I was very, very fortunate. All three of them loved it. I sometimes think, wow, how difficult it would have been if two of them loved it and one wanted softball, you know, like
Jeremy Lesniak (29:47.266)
Because that is the typical pattern. I've seen this happen. You get a family that starts and they're chugging along and usually, I mean, it's rare it goes beyond two years. At least one of them says, I wanna go do something else.
Karen Daniels (29:49.713)
Yes.
Karen Daniels (30:03.547)
Yes, yeah. they, I mean, there are a couple things they tried, but again, they did nothing, you know. yeah, so that way I was very fortunate. They also happened to be, and again, I don't say this because they're my kids, I've now taught hundreds of kids, you know, it's like, they were very, very good from the get go. They were, they could listen, they could respond, they were all three very physically coordinated, unlike their mom, right? So for them, it was,
they were good at something, enough so they got attention for it. And that, for any human being, is a very powerful motivator.
Jeremy Lesniak (30:45.794)
So let's go back. I know you weren't doing martial arts as a kid, but what were the things that you were doing as a kid that either set you up to be the type of person we would expect or maybe the opposite, maybe not at all the person we would expect that would find and thrive in martial arts?
Karen Daniels (31:05.485)
So I was not an athlete. Well, I say that I was a swimmer. I guess that's an athlete. I did compete in swimming, not because I loved it, but because that's what I was made to do. Right. I was a good swimmer and I was pretty competitive, but I didn't love it. I was the kind of person who was picked last on the softball team and great, you know, I really just was not a natural athlete in that sense, like my kids were. Right.
Jeremy Lesniak (31:17.902)
Okay.
Karen Daniels (31:35.514)
And there was, I did have a boyfriend in high school who learned, who knew Kung Fu. And he used to, and he could do flips and stuff. So he would let me like pretend to flip him and he'd flip. thought, that's really cool. You know, or he'd show me some of the weapons he was learning. And I thought, that's really cool. That's really fun. Right. So that was kind of my first exposure to it. And that may be stuck.
stuck back here. You know, sticking, probably without my kids doing it, I would not have stuck with it because I was bad.
Jeremy Lesniak (32:15.918)
Were you actually bad or are you doing that self-deprecating thing that we all do when we start something new?
Karen Daniels (32:21.103)
No, and I am a big self-deprecator, but no, I was not good at it. mean, to say I was not a natural is an understatement. So I worked really hard to learn every kata. I also was aware that as I got more advanced and older, even older, right? And that's when, I mean, I do a whole, whole lot of fitness stuff. I lift weights all the time.
huge into fitness as a necessary part of aging. So you start right with, because my kids, now I'll be 70, you know, in January. And to me, martial arts is one of those, I would call it joyful movement that engages both sides of your body, all your muscles, both sides of your brain. So I...
I used to tell people all the time, I think it's part of the fountain of youth. I really do. And so the times now that as an adult, I've wanted to stop, right? Because it goes in this kind of, you you love it and then it's like, oh, I'm done. And, know, I realize how good it is for everything, right? As far as aging and forcing your body into those out of your comfort zone, which as you get older, you have to push back against that or you end up getting
in my opinion, your life gets smaller and smaller if you don't say no, all right, no, that's not okay, right? And martial arts is a huge part of that for sure.
Jeremy Lesniak (33:59.582)
We're so used to all the schools in the industry pushing youth benefits. And I think we definitely need to get better at talking about the benefits, not just for, let's say, your typical age, your parental aged, you know, potential student, but older students. I've got a number of students in my classes that are 60 plus and watching
Karen Daniels (34:16.647)
Ahem.
Jeremy Lesniak (34:28.706)
The rapid shifts in how they move their body is incredible. And it can be as simple as, know, some of the folks in the audience aren't going to get how significant this is. You likely will. Part of our warm up, we're doing, you know, these joint circles and we end that with just a squat. We just squat down, not to hold it in like a horse stance or anything, but just squatting down. And I've watched people go from, I'm afraid I'm going to break in half to
Karen Daniels (34:30.289)
Yes. Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (34:58.616)
You know, now they're hanging out on the ground and they're comfortable. And if you, if you go back, mean, it's the second most primal movement in my opinion, walking followed by squatting. And now I, I know their backs in better shape, their hips are in better shape, their knees are in better shape, all these things that a lot of us take for granted in our twenties or thirties, or maybe even forties for some of these folks in their sixties and seventies.
Karen Daniels (35:01.49)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (35:26.254)
That's an absolutely incredible achievement.
Karen Daniels (35:29.201)
Yes. Yeah. And it's something when you've done martial arts, I mean, the squat is one movement pushups or the other thing I can think of particularly as a woman. Most women my age can't do a pushup. I mean, of unmodified pushup. Right. And I just do them. Right. I don't, I just started them in martial arts because I made a lot of mistakes and I kept doing them. I mean, I, I love the movement. Right. I think it's a great, you know, but the squat like that squat movement I do.
many times a day without thought, right? And hang out there. When I weed in my front yard, like, that's what I do. And we lose that, right? Because chairs, right? And as we're older, and the same thing, like with the older people who come in, my favorite thing is older adults. They think they're older adults, over 40. Am I too old? I'm thinking, oh my God, you know. Am I too old to start?
Jeremy Lesniak (36:11.726)
Hmm?
Karen Daniels (36:28.091)
you know, and of course everybody says, Sensei Karen, you know, and I said, no, no, you are not, you know, and we talked about, said, it doesn't matter. Cause we're in our particular dojo, we're absolutely big on modifying as needed, right? Whether it's an injury or a chronic thing or, you know, I mean, we have students that don't even have all their limbs. Like it's just whatever you need to do to get the experience, it doesn't matter. And we will modify, you know, and so,
having an older person come in and they can't move well, and then over time they can't, I mean that's life-changing. It happens to be through martial arts in this case. mean there are probably other things that do the same thing, but you think why do they do Tai Chi when they're ancient in other countries, and we should be doing that.
So now it's like, even on the days I think I'm done, I'm stopping, my brain goes, if you do, you'll get older. And it's true. It's like, okay, it's just part of like having a social group, all that stuff that helps with the aging process.
Jeremy Lesniak (37:40.335)
And that's such a big piece too, right? You get that community aspect. I'm not aware of a martial art that doesn't have movement overhead, which is a huge piece. are plenty of people. Younger folks out there may not realize that there are a lot of people who they get older, they're in their own homes, and they have to stand on a stool to open a cabinet, because their arm has to go straight out, they can't lift it up. Those couple things...
Karen Daniels (37:45.362)
Yes.
Karen Daniels (37:51.025)
Yep. Yep.
Karen Daniels (38:02.536)
Yes.
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (38:08.822)
and the ability to get off the floor. That is in a lot of circles, a of medical circles, the number one determinant if someone can stay home alone as they age. If you can't get up off the floor, because there's all these horror stories, you know, know, so-and-so was laying there for two days before someone came and found them and everything. And most martial arts were getting on the floor and up off the floor at least a little bit.
Karen Daniels (38:10.579)
Yeah.
Karen Daniels (38:18.226)
Yes. Yes.
Karen Daniels (38:25.778)
Yep. Yep.
Karen Daniels (38:33.234)
Yep, yep, all the time. mean, without, have, I mean, I have a number of friends, know, or people, acquaintances that are my age, right? And say, you know, they watch their grandkids and think, I'd love to get down and play Lego with them or whatever, but I'm worried about getting, and I think, wow, I just take for granted, you know, I'll get down and roll around with a dog or whatever. It's like, I don't think twice about it, you know? And what,
I say what a luxury that is, but yes, I've worked hard to maintain that. it like, wow. And that's fixable, right? That's like, you can like the squat you're talking about, right? That you can get in there and start doing it. Not doing it is when you'll net, you're like, you've got to, again, into that zone that's not very comfortable, right?
Jeremy Lesniak (39:09.602)
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Lesniak (39:23.982)
There are so many people and I see this, I'm turning 47 in less than a month. I still, right? And everyone older than me will say that. it's, I don't say that because I feel old. I say it because I don't. I don't feel 47. There are people, oh, I've had so many people say this, it's all downhill after and they give me an age.
Karen Daniels (39:29.125)
you're barely out of diapers.
Jeremy Lesniak (39:52.332)
And I reach that age and I go, where is it?
You know, I continue to, as you're saying, see martial arts as my fountain of youth because I'm working with kids and they continue to change. So I have to change. And I continue to learn about how the body works. And so that forces me to change. OK, how can we be a little more efficient with the time that we have in classes? And I'm not just taking one class and.
and leaving, there for at least two on training days, right? So I'm getting all these reps in and.
Karen Daniels (40:30.386)
Right?
Jeremy Lesniak (40:37.886)
I I can drop down and I can do a split at about the same height I did when I was four, when I started training, because I haven't stopped. And so I look at my peers who are in their 40s and they look 10 to 20 years older than me. I could trim this beard up. mean, there's some white in there next to the red, which is a trip, because anybody who knew me when I had hair, I didn't have red hair.
Karen Daniels (40:45.746)
Yes. Yes.
Karen Daniels (40:55.826)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (41:05.774)
I could shave all this down and I can, you I can go past for 10 to 15 years younger.
Karen Daniels (41:10.332)
Yes. Yep.
Jeremy Lesniak (41:12.086)
And if you just watch the way I act, know, 30 years younger, maybe 40. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Exactly. Because life is meant to be fun. if we're calling it quits on movement.
Karen Daniels (41:14.398)
Like 12, 13 year old maybe.
Jeremy Lesniak (41:29.27)
it becomes so much harder to get it back. So you brought up some of your age peers. I assume you've encouraged some of them to give it a shot. How's that going?
Karen Daniels (41:32.21)
Yes.
Karen Daniels (41:41.961)
So I retired from writing a couple years ago. so I spend a lot of time in fitness groups online and stuff and encouraging. I mean, obviously a big group right now is your post-menopausal women. we have a huge contingent of women at our dojo because that sensei that we followed.
When they opened the dojo, she was only 23, but she was the highest ranking over her dad. So she was the head sensei. So having that female lead in a dojo changes, right? How many women feel permission to come in.
Jeremy Lesniak (42:19.265)
It does.
So I'm curious, let me ask, from my observation, when it's a male-led school, it's usually 10 % female participation. At a female-led school, I tend to see 50-50.
Karen Daniels (42:35.102)
Yeah, I would say it's about that. It depends on the age group, but for sure we have a lot of young, you know, the younger girls and then the tweens teens and they stick, you know, they stick with us, right? And it's the other thing I noticed with the female lead is, I'm gonna try to say this as nicely as I can. Sometimes, and this can happen with women too, but sometimes male senseis get a little egotistical and it can...
in my opinion, be detrimental to a school. When you have a more feminine leadership, you know, and she worked very closely with her dad, so they had the, you know, you had the balance, right, the ending balance. And, but it just changes the atmosphere a lot. And it gives people permission, there's more grace in some ways, like, we don't care ever if you make a mistake, you know, it's just
I don't know, it's just a really pleasant atmosphere and being a sensei for them has been quite a privilege. So, I think that whole, so back to encouraging people, it's my whole, I would say my whole reason for being, but it's like, I hear, I mean, you see it, you hear it, aging sucks, aging sucks, aging sucks, and I see that, and if it's a group, it's like,
doesn't have to, you know, I mean, I can say with complete my whole body and soul, this age at 69 is the best phase I've ever had. I'm not stressing about money like I had to be, right? I retired, so I have time. What a gift, right? I can have two cups of coffee in the morning if I want most days without having to rush out, you know.
and I'm still very strong and fit through a lot of effort. And so what's not to love, right? And like you and my brain, like, I don't know, how old do I feel? I don't know, mentally, you know, 29. I don't know, you know. I mean, thank goodness I know more than I did then, but you know.
Jeremy Lesniak (44:48.142)
Yes, When people are surveyed around happiness, the decade that is happiest is the 60s. Folks in their 60s are the happiest for some of the reasons you've said. They tend to have more time available. They tend to have more resources. And a big one, by the time we reach our 60s, we know what we like to do. We know how we want to spend our time and money. And we are generally in good enough physical shape to still do those things.
Karen Daniels (45:09.905)
Yes. Yes.
Karen Daniels (45:16.457)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (45:17.646)
And my observation, I tend to see folks in their sixties. That's the, that's the make it or break it decade. You can see through the sixties. Are you someone who is likely to live to 80, 90, a hundred, or are you going to be someone who, you know, at 67 is in assisted living?
Karen Daniels (45:35.166)
Yes. Yep. And it's that, I mean, you're looking at that, what the longevity, but the health span, right? Like I want to, I mean, I have my dead date goal, right? At 112 is my personal goal, right? So, and that takes a certain amount of dedication to do certain things for a long time. And part of that is purpose, right? And so, you know, going to the dojo and teaching, you know, and are helping to teach with some of the other senseis, it's like,
Jeremy Lesniak (45:53.645)
Yeah.
Karen Daniels (46:05.957)
that purpose in community or encouraging older people, you know, I don't care if they're, I mean, I just did a post about this. I don't care what your age is, get off the couch. Like if you have a body you can move at all, you've got to do that, you know. And sure, things happen at any age, right, that you can't control and you've got to deal with that. But, you know, I was just chatting with a woman who's about 82.
and she's now started lifting some weights and doing the thing. And is it gonna be a lot harder than if she'd started at your age? For sure. But she's gonna be a lot better off than if she doesn't do it at all. And I mean, I don't know how much you pay attention to fitness studies and stuff, but I spent a lot of time on aging and muscle mass and all that kind of fun stuff.
Jeremy Lesniak (46:39.523)
that's great.
Karen Daniels (47:00.435)
You know, they did a study with 90 year olds and how much muscle mass they can increase just, you know, increase just by lifting a couple of times a week and like massive change, you know, and it's using that, you know, as our, as our grand master, right? Who still comes down a couple of times a year and does seminars with us. you know, Hanchi, who I'm sure you know his name Yamashita, you know, he's big on, you gotta have the butt, right? You've got to work the butt. That's your engine.
Right. And that's what helps you to walk without shuffling, you know, that and your balance. it's so he's like, and he's 85 and moves. He's faster than all of us still, you know? So yeah. And it's like, wow. Okay. You know,
Jeremy Lesniak (47:29.774)
Mm-hmm.
Jeremy Lesniak (47:42.415)
I love it. Yeah. The reason that we tend to find the butt attractive, sexually attractive, is because it is such a clear example of strength, power, health, et cetera. And that's why it is for everybody, right? mean, most of the other physical features that we find attractive, it's one direction.
Karen Daniels (47:59.711)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (48:12.322)
both genders finding everybody. you know, we can, everybody likes a good butt.
Karen Daniels (48:14.419)
Yes, yes.
Karen Daniels (48:18.847)
Yeah, you're right, because subconsciously we associate that with health and power and all of that. And that's an indication.
Jeremy Lesniak (48:24.045)
Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (48:28.366)
There's something you said about that. I want to point out this idea that. Maybe the 90 year olds, right? you know, it's too late. I can't build muscle. Obviously it's not right. And there's a there's a saying and I've always liked this and for the first time I'm thinking of applying it in in physical health ways that I don't know why I've never thought of this before. The best time to plant a tree.
is 20, 30, 40 years ago, whoever's version you're listening to. The second best time is now.
Karen Daniels (49:00.243)
is now, yes, I love that, yes, yes. Yeah, and that's when women, one of the things that just makes me laugh every time is, okay, I'm gonna start on Monday, or I'm gonna start on January 1st, or I'm gonna start on the first of the month. And I just can't help myself by going and saying, today's only Wednesday, why are you waiting till Monday? Like Monday is not a magical day, right? The first is not a magical day, that's all.
our silly constructs of stuff, right? It's like just now, get up now and do it, you know, now, exactly. It's like, because yeah, maybe it's only four or five days later, but heck, you know, if you're in your 60s, 70s, 80s, five days, like, I mean, if I don't train for two weeks, I can tell my strength is not as high, right? It goes, that's the only thing when people say,
Jeremy Lesniak (49:34.666)
If it's worth doing, it's worth doing now.
Karen Daniels (49:55.199)
Well, come on, what do you really notice about, there's gotta be stuff you're not saying. really, those aches and pains and all that, like I have none, knock on wood, right? I just don't. And, you know, that kind of, I just lost my train of thought. What did you say right before that?
Jeremy Lesniak (50:16.404)
We were talking about not waiting. You said, right?
Karen Daniels (50:19.026)
today. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that that the doing it now is key for everybody. Or it's like, you know, I don't care if you're talking about fat loss or fitness or martial arts or anything, you know, don't, if you want to, if you feel like you need to lose fat, don't wait till Monday, don't binge on the weekend, because you know, you're going to go on a diet, which doesn't work. That's a whole other conversation, you know, then
Why? Just right now. Right now, people. Time's going, you know?
Jeremy Lesniak (50:52.184)
And the reason it's not right now is because they don't actually want to do it. They haven't found a compelling reason why, you know, and, I don't know what it is and you don't have to share. Maybe you want to, but when somebody tells me I want to live to 112, there's a really strong reason in there. And on the days when maybe you're not feeling it, you want to sleep in, you know, other things that you know are going to keep you from that goal. That's your why.
Karen Daniels (50:55.58)
Exactly, Yes, yes.
Karen Daniels (51:08.085)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (51:20.066)
That's what gets you out of bed. That's what gets you to do one extra rapper, go to that class, whatever it is. I've got my whys and we need them. And I think for so many of us, we don't have a why.
Karen Daniels (51:20.276)
Yes.
Karen Daniels (51:24.276)
Yep, yep, yep.
Karen Daniels (51:33.215)
No, and I think that's, it's like, your why is, I don't like the way I look, right? If you're talking, I mean, women, that's a huge one. And, probably maybe for men too, you know, but that I find is not a good enough why. Because to get, to make real changes, like if you're talking about health and fitness or in martial arts, right, takes time.
And when people say, and I spend, I mean, much to sometimes my kids' horror, I post a lot of my muscle pics online with my age all the time, because it's so important for people to see it doesn't have to be the way you think. And this whole conversation about, you know, aging, how we talk about it, I feel has to change.
Jeremy Lesniak (52:14.881)
Awesome.
Karen Daniels (52:31.164)
because it's an antiquated idea we know more so we can do better, right? The information we have of what your body really needs and whether it's the movement in martial arts, which as we know, even if you get to a point where your body maybe can't move as well, the importance of it for your brain, massive. I mean, you see it in even little kids, right? They're that...
when it clicks, when they can get it, when they see the pattern, when they do it like that. And they're just so, their expressions are just out there, right? So you can see that, oh my gosh, I did it. After all this time, I did it. And adults tend to be a little more subtle, but it's like, that's a massive deal to take someone in their 60s and trying to learn a kata, and then they get it.
You know, it's like that and the things that it does for you inside. mean, yeah, the physical is great. The mental is great. But the how you feel about yourself, right? I mean, you know, in watching people in martial arts, that that confidence for any age is what I really notice in people.
Jeremy Lesniak (53:27.33)
Hmm.
Jeremy Lesniak (53:46.817)
And we exist in one of the few circles where we do not automatically downgrade people for their age. In most martial arts circles, okay, you've been at this a while, you've been doing it a while. We look to you because age tends to correlate with experience, tends to correlate with rank in martial arts circles. And we don't, I mean, I've never met a school that demotes anyone as they get older.
Karen Daniels (53:54.303)
Yes.
Karen Daniels (54:06.08)
Ahem.
Karen Daniels (54:13.684)
Right. Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (54:14.69)
Right? we, we, we, and that's, that's always my proof. And someone says, you know, they can't do this thing. So they don't deserve that rank. Okay. In your school, do they demote people when they get older and they aren't as effective? Well, no, then shut up because obviously that's not how that works. And I think that that is such a, important thing to recognize because it was not that long ago. And there are still plenty of parts of the world where when people get older, they're celebrated.
Karen Daniels (54:29.386)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Karen Daniels (54:43.668)
Yep. Yep.
Jeremy Lesniak (54:44.342)
And we don't do that in the West. I think it is so just silly. Let's take the people who've seen the most, have the most perspective and ignore them and their opinions because the hormonally driven, high energy 25 year old clearly knows what the world needs better. Right?
Karen Daniels (54:54.132)
Yes. Yes.
Karen Daniels (55:05.44)
It's amazing we all survived that era. That's all I can say about that. But the stupid stuff you do at that age is...
Jeremy Lesniak (55:12.652)
Yeah. Yeah. So.
Karen Daniels (55:17.024)
I mean, the celebration, right, of aging, which is why I always say like my age loud and proud. you know, I think we do, I don't remember how many years ago it started because I'm the oldest sensei, right, at our dojo. On my birthday, we celebrate, the dojo celebrates, and we celebrate by taking that class that's closest to my birthday.
Jeremy Lesniak (55:18.094)
Yeah, go ahead.
Karen Daniels (55:43.49)
And we do whatever my age is, we do that many katas and that many pushups in one class. Um, and so we prep people for it. Cause it's like, if you're in like January and I'm thinking about adding squats because 70 is a big one, right? You like you ha you can't stop. You have to keep you like, it's going to push you physically and mentally, and you're going to start forgetting your moves because your, brain's tired. Um, but if we do it, it kind of started like on purpose because.
It is something to be celebrated. Many people don't even make it to your age. And it's like, why do we make it a bad thing? Aging has a bad rap and we need to change that.
Jeremy Lesniak (56:26.926)
which is insane because it's inevitable. Let's take this thing. Well, it is until all of a sudden it's not. There's really no other option. You're aging or you're not alive. And I see the value in taking care of the body.
Karen Daniels (56:29.76)
Absolutely. Hopefully, right? Hopefully.
Karen Daniels (56:36.747)
That's right. That's Yep. That's right. That's right.
Jeremy Lesniak (56:50.976)
I don't like the terminology anti-aging.
Karen Daniels (56:54.579)
No, because I don't think we should be anti-aging. We should embrace aging, right? That whole, yeah, or people say to me, you don't look your age, you or you don't act your age. Certainly I get told that, right? But all the time, right? Okay, well, how's a fit 69 year old woman supposed to look and act? That's me, right?
Jeremy Lesniak (57:09.513)
I hear that all the time.
Karen Daniels (57:21.587)
And so we, but this, and I know, cause I have the same image from when I grew up. mean, 69 was forget about it, right? That was, you know, the old lady hunched over with the cane, couldn't move, not very cognizant, you know? And I think, wow, it's so not that way. And if it's becoming that way, you better do something about it because it, it, it's only going to continue, right? And that's just, to me, it's just so obvious, but it's, you know, so.
to push people, to show people, and in martial arts to have them push physically, whatever. mean, we get people in their 30s that can't move well because they've now been at a desk for 10 years or whatever. that whole, mean, martial arts itself, and I know, is just such a powerful tool.
for all that stuff, you know, and people see it and some people just wanna fight or they wanna do this or they wanna do that. you know, I just see so many other benefits to it, you know, and to share that with people, you know, is such a fun outlet and, you know, and then to have the...
Jeremy Lesniak (58:39.416)
Hmm.
Karen Daniels (58:42.869)
you know, the other 60 year olds or whatever that, know, you know, let's pick up some weapons. And I mean, I love weapons. That's like my favorite, you know, I just love them. And so like, who gets to do that? Like, it's just fun. It's just fun. And you get benefit, right? I mean, yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (59:00.888)
What's better? What's better? If I was to describe martial arts to someone that, trying to trick them, well, imagine in a couple hours a week, you can improve your physical health, your mental health, your emotional health, build community, learn who you are, build discipline, focus, right? And just run down the gamut. And it's only gonna take you, let's say two hours a week.
be like, sign me up tomorrow. Okay, great. So karate classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays and you know, and, well, you know, but it really is that powerful. And I think that the further the world tilts on its axis, however you want to think about that, I think most of us had been training a while agree traditional martial arts becomes even more valuable.
Karen Daniels (59:54.55)
Yes, yes. I mean, it regrounds you, right? Because the world is kind of crazy these days, you know, and a lot of days. And so that, mean, it, you know, there's nothing like a horse dance to ground you. Like that's, you know, it just brings it back down to basics and your physical self.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:00:17.504)
It's really hard to be worried about anything else when...
You can't think because the horse stance hurts or you're sparring with someone, even if it's not, you know, full bore. They're trying to punch you in the face. It's hard to think about, you know, whatever problems you had when you stepped in, when someone's trying to punch you in the face. No, you have to be present. If you're not present, you're going to get punched in the face. And most of us would rather stop thinking about that thing and pay attention to what's in front of us. And I think that in that way, it is a beautiful form of meditation.
Karen Daniels (01:00:35.861)
Yep.
Karen Daniels (01:00:44.437)
Yes. Yes.
Karen Daniels (01:00:55.211)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:00:56.088)
that we, when we think about meditation, most of us think about quiet and eyes closed and everything. And no, meditation can be a lot more than that. If you are fully present, I mean, to me, that is meditative. And it's what...
Karen Daniels (01:01:08.649)
It is, it is. hard to achieve in our very fast paced society, right? It's like, mean, you know, this sensei who also happens to now be my best friend, you know, Sensei Kelly, we always say back to each other, okay, because we, get, you know, it's like, be now, just be now. And it's amazingly difficult. When you're not, when you're in the martial arts class, it's not difficult.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:01:31.565)
Hmm.
Karen Daniels (01:01:38.015)
you're there, whether you're doing the class or teaching the class, right? You have to be present. And when you're not doing that, it's a lot harder. It's like, whoa, whoa, slow down. Okay. Right now. What's right now? Right?
Jeremy Lesniak (01:01:54.679)
sure. If people want to get a hold of you, how would they do that?
Karen Daniels (01:02:01.474)
I do maintain my website because I refuse to give up my name even though I retired from writing, but I put some martial arts stuff there and fitness stuff. So KarenDaniels.com is my website. And then that leads to my social media, which I'm on a lot trying to, trying to help people get moving.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:02:04.536)
Okay. Okay.
Okay.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:02:11.99)
Easy.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:02:23.208)
Well, yeah, it, yeah. GLP-1 is not the solution to aging. Movement is.
Karen Daniels (01:02:32.583)
No, it can be one tool in a toolbox. You still have to do the things. And here's the part that I love to say to people that nobody likes, and you already know this. It's a tool, but you have to do the work. You have to pay a little attention to your nutrition. You have to do physical stuff. And guess what, people? You have to do it for the rest of your life. I'm sorry. It's not six weeks. It's not three months. This is why I can't sell a program if I wanted to. I'm not trying, but you know.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:02:36.056)
Mm-hmm.
Karen Daniels (01:03:02.111)
It's forever. I'm sorry. It's forever. All the time. Sorry. Yep.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:03:06.488)
Yeah. You're going to have to eat, you're going to have to breathe, you're going to have to drink water, you're going to have to sleep. And how you approach those things has a huge impact on whether your last years will be spent horizontal with tubes or vertical and smiling.
Karen Daniels (01:03:15.798)
Yes.
Karen Daniels (01:03:21.589)
Yep. Yep. Yep. I mean, I hope my hope for me is I either get taken out by being crushed by my barbell or I'm doing something martial arts and boom, gone, you know, and I already told everybody, said, just move me to the side, finish the class and then do what you have to do. Like that's my whole, you know, like just keep doing the thing until you absolutely cannot do it anymore. That's really the thing. And the more you do the thing,
the further out that will be. You're giving yourself the best chance that that will be further out.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:03:52.344)
Ready.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:03:59.4)
Is there anything we haven't covered, anything else that you want to say to the folks listening, watching today?
Karen Daniels (01:04:05.473)
I mean, so many things, but not specifically, no.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:04:12.366)
Okay. Well then how do we end it? Put a bow on it for him.
Karen Daniels (01:04:19.553)
So I think.
Paying attention, I mean, speaking of the now, pay attention to the opportunities that are presented because we all have those and some we go, nah, that's too hard or whatever. I mean.
I didn't join my kids in martial arts until six months later, and I did it for a completely non-martial art reason, right? And so I had no idea that in my heart I would become a martial artist, that I would, you know, I mean, now I'm currently co-manager of the Dojo, right? So it's like, and the degree I had, like I never imagined I'd get past black belt or to black belt, much less past it in degrees beyond, never in my wildest.
dreams, right? But if you, you know, I guess if I had to say I'm like anything that matters.
If you just show up and keep showing up, I don't care how not great you are at something, you will get better. And at some point, what do they say? You have to practice it, what is it? 10,000 times or whatever, I would say maybe more times than that, but you will become actually maybe decent and maybe even good. And in martial arts, that's a very subjective thing, but you gotta just stick with it.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:05:31.502)
Yeah.
Karen Daniels (01:05:45.932)
great things in life take time. And I think that's, we're losing that because we're in that online instant access, instant buy shows up the same day, instant, instant, instant. And it's pulling people away from the actual human state where your life is here and you have to, it's a journey and you have to keep showing up for it.
and be present and certainly when you're aging.
you have to be willing to get uncomfortable and stay uncomfortable if you want to still have purpose and passion and feel good mentally and physically. And certainly martial arts or any joyful movement that your body enjoys. I don't care if it's line dancing or whatever it is, do it, right? To bring all those things together. So it's like, okay.
I can do this, I can get down on one knee in this kata and get back up, you know, because I specifically work individual legs, so I can do that, you know, so I can do that. And then it's fun, right? Then it's fun because you can do the thing. I know I'm rambling now, but you have me on my soapbox, so.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:07:05.314)
No. Keep going. Keep going. Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:07:11.33)
Well, I want to thank you for being here. really do appreciate your time. yeah, maybe we'll have you on again more specifically for this subject that you're so passionate about.
Karen Daniels (01:07:23.713)
Anytime. Yeah, let's let's change the dialogue around aging. That's my thing. And that you're too old to start martial arts, you are not. I don't care how old you are. Go do it. If you want to do it. I don't care if you're 92, walk in the door, find a dojo you like and just do it.