Meet Harry Han, an 84-year-old black belt who's still packing a punch. Despite his age, he's a regular at the Singapore Taekwondo Federation's TeamgOLD, a group of seniors who defy age and injuries to stay in the fight. Every Sunday at 10 am, around 30 people gather for their weekly ritual, with most being men in their 50s to 80s, many with grey hair and receding hairlines. Some sport noticeable bellies beneath their doboks, but the energy in the room crackles with enthusiasm. During warm-ups, they jog circuits around the training hall, weave between teammates in zigzag patterns, and practice kicks and punches, holding 100-count planks with modifications for those who need them. TeamgOLD takes their training seriously, and Mr. Han, the oldest in the group, takes his seriously. At 84, high kicks and jump kicks are difficult for him, but his punches are still good. His taekwondo story spans six decades, starting in the 1960s at the now-defunct Gay World Stadium, where he trained three times a week and competed in local tournaments, earning his black belt about 55 years ago. However, marriage led him to stop practicing taekwondo, spending a few decades away from the sport, playing badminton instead. Returning to taekwondo around 20 years ago was still a struggle, but his best friend, the late Mr. Milan Kwee, encouraged him to keep going, and now he feels better after training and sees improvements in his health. TeamgOLD was formed to get seniors like Mr. Han back into the sport, as they often drift away from taekwondo. It's also important to keep younger members engaged before age makes it harder. Mr. Soh, an instructor for the team with a ninth-dan black belt, emphasizes the importance of staying active. TeamgOLD recently performed and competed in a championship at Our Tampines Hub, the first Singapore event focused on older taekwondo practitioners. Another group, Club Diamond from Ildo Taekwondo Academy, also performed, catering to those 60 and older and including women without black belts in their performance, hoping to encourage more women to take up the sport. Ms. Linda Sim, a taekwondo world champion and the oldest female member of TeamgOLD, finds the training sessions intimidating, as TeamgOLD has many men with black belts who do a lot of kicking and punching. Club Diamond, on the other hand, allows people like her to keep enjoying, competing, and staying healthy, aligning with the concept of active aging. For senior beginners, the approach must be different, focusing on building their bodies and correcting posture to address knee or shoulder pain before progressing to martial arts techniques. The number of seniors learning taekwondo at Mr. Kim's school has grown from around 50 to 80. For veterans like Mr. Han and Mr. Soh, the goal is to continue as long as possible, as Mr. Han reflects, 'My age now is 84. One day is like one month. Your body has degenerated, so you're not like before, not young anymore. Hopefully, I can continue my taekwondo for another few years.' Mr. Soh, despite tearing an ankle ligament about six months ago, remains undeterred, watching his diet, getting enough rest, and stretching every morning, with the simple answer to how long he plans to keep practicing taekwondo: 'As long as I'm still healthy and alive.'
