Is it too late to come back?

Greetings, everyone,

I have been reflecting on this for quite some time now: I am seriously considering returning to the sport of Taekwondo. It has been three and a half years since I last stepped onto the mat, and while I haven't completely lost the technical skills I once possessed, the desire to train again has become quite strong. Given that I am currently seventeen years old, do you believe it is too late to pick this back up, or is there still a viable path for me to pursue the sport seriously?

Jack Reyes82 said:Hey everyone,

I’ve been mulling this over for quite some time now—whether or not to get back into Taekwondo. I stepped away from the mats about three and a half years ago, and while I haven't completely lost the muscle memory—some of those techniques still linger in the back of my mind—there is this persistent urge to start training again. Do you all think it's too late? I'm 17 now, and I can't help but wonder if I should be looking toward other pursuits instead, or if there's still a viable path forward for me in the sport.

People head back into the arena after much longer breaks than that—even much older folks do it.

It’s certainly not too late.
I practiced Taekwondo from 1995 through 1998, so much of what I learned back then still sticks with me today...

Peter Morgan3 said:It’s definitely not too late!
I was training Taekwondo from '95 to '98, and honestly, those fundamentals still stick with me today.

There’s a big difference between remembering a move and actually having it in your muscle memory. If someone missed out on ages 14 to 17, catching up to a pro level is going to be an uphill battle—those are basically the "golden years" for building a fighter's foundation. You can always get back into the sport because you love it, but it's tough to go toe-to-toe with someone who hasn't missed a beat in the last few years while you were away.

There are plenty of elite professionals who didn't even step foot in a gym until they were eighteen. 😁

I have a quick question regarding my return to the sport. If I decide to get back into training, will I be required to go through the full re-enrollment process at the gym, or is there a way to pick up right where I left off as a regular member? Furthermore, would you recommend returning to the same local athletic club where I used to train, or is it perhaps more beneficial to start fresh at a different facility? I would truly appreciate any guidance you could offer on how to navigate this transition. To be perfectly honest, I am feeling quite anxious about the prospect of returning; I have these lingering fears that I might face judgment or condescension from both my peers and even the coaches, simply because I have been away from the mats for such a long period of time.

Jack Reyes82 said:If I ever decide to get back into this sport, do I need to go through the whole enrollment process again, or can I just pick up where I left off like a regular member? Also—and this is the big one—should I try to return to my old club, or would it be better to find somewhere new? Please, if anyone has some advice, I’d appreciate it. I have these nagging anxieties that people—even the coaches—might look down on me because I've been away from training for so long.

Well, you're asking quite a lot there... honestly, it all boils down to how much talent you actually have.
If you've got the skill, any decent coach should be willing to take you on.
But then again—it really depends on the individual coach's ego...

If you head back to your old gym, they already know who you are, which saves you the hassle of proving yourself—but if you think they'll give you a hard time about your hiatus, just find a new club and start fresh.

Jack Reyes82 said:If I decide to get back into this sport, do I have to re-register with a club, or can I just pick up where I left off like a regular member? Also, should I try to return to my old gym or would it be better to find a new one? Please give me some advice on how to restart; I’m honestly a bit anxious that people, even the coaches, might look down on me since I've been away for so long.

Of all the battles one faces, the hardest is the one against oneself. 🧐

Stop being so philosophical and just go wherever you feel like... or wherever is closest, or better, or whatever...
Besides, nobody is going to chain you to a specific gym—you can always switch to somewhere else if it suits you better.
☕

I am truly grateful to you all!

Jack Reyes82 said:Thanks, everyone!

Maybe just stick to training Wing Chun and leave all that soft stuff alone...
☕