Why Wing Chun is Great for Seniors: (And Its Benefits)

Wing Chun is great for seniors! But why? In this article, we will reveal why Wing Chun is so good for seniors and detail the many benefits it has.

People ask, “Am I too old to start learning Wing Chun” or “how old is too old to start Wing Chun?” Usually they’re in their 50s or 60s asking this. We even had one guy in his 30s asking “is it too late to start Wing Chun”?

The truth is that its never too late to start learning Wing Chun. In fact, for seniors, Wing Chun can be anoutstanding way to stay healthy, active and mentally sharp. Wing Chun can improve flexibility, strength, and especially balance – all while providing a fun way to workout. Many older adults well into their 70s and even 80s can enjoy the benefits of Wing Chun. It is very unique in its approach to self-defense and provides many, many physical and mental benefits.

Why Wing Chun is Great for Seniors

Wing Chun may be the best form of self-defense for seniors. Below are some reasons why Wing Chun is such a great practice for seniors…

Wing Chun is not for competition like so many other martial arts are. Its about practical self-defense and self-improvement, not about proving yourself.
There aren’t any high kicks. Wing Chun focuses mostly on hand movements and on improving balance and stability, not fancy kicks.
Unlike other martial arts that may get you hurt, Wing Chun a safe exercise aimed at healthy movement and general physical safety.
There are no splits in Wing Chun. Although Wing Chun will help you to become more flexible, it won’t make you do crazy splits like other martial arts.
In Wing Chun, you don’t need to roll around on the ground or get thrown to the ground. Wing Chun’s focus is on staying standing up and trains people how to become more stable on their feet. Plus for self-defense, the last place you want to be is on the ground.

Other Benefits of Wing Chun for Seniors

Wing Chun is also great for seniors in other ways besides self-defense. Seniors can benefit immensely from practicing Wing Chun. Not only is it a great form of self-defense for seniors, Wing Chun is a martial art that offers a whole-body workout for a healthy mind and body.. Wing Chun is so great for seniors because it can help increase how long you live and how well you live. This enables seniors to function independently for longer. Here are some of the many ways Wing Chun can benefit seniors:

1. Balance – Lowering the Risk of Falling
  According to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Wing Chun and other internal Chinese martial arts focused on balance can reduce the risk of falling for seniors by up to 50%. Through repetitive stances, movement and footwork, Wing Chun constantly strengthens legs, builds stability, increases balance and self-awareness. This naturally helps seniors feel more confident when they move around and less likely to fall.
2. Relief from Arthritis and Other Pain
  A study in Journal of Rheumatology revealed that the gentle meditative movements of Wing Chun and similar exercises can alleviate joint pain for seniors associated with arthritis by helping to retain joint range of motion. Now all martial arts do this. In fact, many other martial arts hurt too much or create too much pain for a person with arthritis. Because Wing Chun is a softer martial arts focused on precise, low impact meditative movements, it is much better for seniors with arthritis. Plus Wing Chun can also be beneficial for treating pain from osteoporosis and restoring lost mobility.
3. A Healthier Cardiovascular System with Less Anxiety
  Wing Chun can improve your heart health and blood vessels through the arts focus on relaxation. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine on a similar Kung Fu practice, found decreased blood pressure and with less anxiety. Therefore, Wing Chun can be used to help treat mild hypertension. Wing Chun can also improve the overall quality of life for people with heart failure, provide a safe form of exercise for heart attack survivors, and raise “good” cholesterol levels.
4. Enhanced Posture
  Wing Chun focuses on improving posture in order to harness power from the ground. Basically, this means it strengthens the core, aligns the body, helps you move and breath more efficiently. Wing Chun teaches to be more aware of how you stand and move, that’s why seniors can be more efficient in their daily activities.
5. A Greater Sense of Calm
  Wing Chun teaches seniors how to relax on quicker and on a deeper level. The art uses relaxation as its way to build awareness and greater connectedness to the ground. Wing Chun connects to and harnesses the energy of the ground for its stability and power. Learning how to do this for self-defense teaches seniors how to do this in their day-to-day life.
6. Practical Self-Defense
  Wing Chun may be the best for of self-defense for seniors. It focteaches seniors how to relax on quicker and on a deeper level. The art uses relaxation as its way to build awareness and greater connectedness to the ground. Wing Chun connects to and harnesses the energy of the ground for its stability and power. Learning how to do this for self-defense teaches seniors how to do this in their day-to-day life.

These are just a few of Wing Chun’s many benefits for seniors. As you can see, there are more than enough great reasons for seniors to practice Wing Chun!