🥋 Age Is Just a Number: My Journey Back to the Mat

After a good training at the dojo

For most of my life, I’ve been on a different kind of battlefield — boardrooms, branch networks, and banking operations across India and Africa. But recently, I found myself barefoot on a red mat, bowing to my Sensei, rediscovering something I hadn’t felt in years: the quiet discipline of starting again.

Why I Started

It began as a simple fitness goal. I wanted to stay flexible, agile, and mentally sharp — the things a demanding career often dulls. But martial arts had a deeper pull. It wasn’t about kicks and punches. It was about balance, focus, humility — the same qualities that define leadership.

In banking, you learn strategy and systems. On the mat, you learn presence and control. Both require discipline; both punish complacency.

The Early Days: Humility in Motion

Walking into a dojo as a beginner at my age wasn’t easy. The first few sessions were tough — physically, yes, but more so mentally. You’re surrounded by people half your age, moving twice as fast. But every punch and block reminded me that growth isn’t about speed; it’s about consistency.

One of my instructors said something that stayed with me:

“You don’t compete with others here. You compete with yesterday’s version of yourself.”

That philosophy fits life beyond the mat too — whether you’re leading teams, managing change, or learning something new.

What Martial Arts Teaches You About Leadership

1. Presence Over Power:

   You don’t win by brute force. You win by awareness of yourself, your opponent, and your environment. It’s the same in leadership: awareness beats authority.

   
   

2. Discipline Over Motivation:

   Some mornings you don’t feel like training. You go anyway. That’s what sustains transformation — showing up even when it’s uncomfortable.

   
   

3. Adaptability Over Ego:

   Every fight is different. Every challenge is unpredictable. Learning to adjust without losing your core — that’s the essence of both martial arts and leadership.

Earning the Belt, Not the Shortcut

When I received my certification after months of training, it wasn’t about the belt or the paper. It was about the journey — the sweat, the sore muscles, the humility of being taught, and the joy of unlearning.

And yes, I still get those curious looks when people say,

“You’re doing martial arts at this age? I just smile. Because every class reminds me that age measures time, not possibility.

Final Reflection

We spend years mastering our professional game, but it’s equally important to master ourselves. Whether it’s martial arts, music, or mindfulness, start something that makes you a beginner again.

Because sometimes, growth doesn’t come from climbing higher — it comes from bowing lower.

📸 Photos from recent sessions with my martial arts coach and fellow learners — proud to share this journey of discipline, humility, and rediscovery.

✍️ Rajarshi Banerjee Banking & Transformation Leader | Martial Arts Enthusiast | Lifelong Learner🌐 www.rajarshib.com