Starting back to Karate again?

Not at all. You just have to realize that you are a little older and that you have lost some of your flexibility and also probably some of your strength if you have not been working out or have a physical type job. Start back and do things only three fourths speed and power and resist the urge to go all out. After several workouts your body and muscles will be more ready and capable of taking a hard workout and will suffer for it less. You also will more easily avoid pulling or tearing any muscles by not trying what you used to do when you were eleven until your body is more ready for it.

I for one do think there is an expiration date for striking arts. It is definitely a young man’s game. At 26 you have a few years left, at around 35 the skin on your face will begin to thin. You will cut with more ease. Do you want a scared up face? Also you will start to get injured with more ease, and heal slower. You do not see many 50 year-olds standing in line at those classes for some very good reasons.

Personally, when I was confronted with these harsh realities of biology, I turned to Judo. I regularly workout with guys that are 50, 60, or 70 years old. It is one of the few arts where I’ve found this degree of adaptability.

We have a guy who started doing karate at 60, its been hard for him but he is really determained and is now close to getting his black belt! he never did martial arts before btw so your still quite young i guess

at my martial arts school it is very common for people of your age to join, there is even a class just for people 17 and older. The only downside is that depending on the place you may have to start over again

Have Fun!

I was in TKD when i was 11 or 12 years old. And I am 22 years old and I just got back in. I already have a stripe on my belt and i just went back to TKD.

I started training again at 52 and now I am 61, a 3rd degree black belt, a certified instructor, and still training.

Karate can be practiced through your whole life, as a youth, as an adult and into old age. (Gichin Funakoshi, Shotokan's founder, practiced Naihanchin Kata into his 90s)

It's never too late, many martial arts schools have adult classes.

I think it would be a great idea for you to go back :) I went back after 10 years and it was hard to get back to it at first but you'll do great!

You'd have to start from the beginning but it's never too late.