Jdtthadeus did you mean physically fit like age to fitness ratio, body style, please explain, because I'm 22 yrs young 5'10 300lbs and due all of my techniques as well as my Sensei's son that's been study as long as i have and is 5'9 155 lbs.
For all,
Little insight, the belt is not to signify popularity, or the "I'm a black belt" testastarone ego drive. The belt is to signify rank, and position at the school,
I am a Yondan (4th dan) in Aki-jujutsu, and been a practitioner for almost eleven years, and recenlty attained my Yondan, at my school we have students of all ages from 4-65 yrs of age, so there is no real age to start learning or refreshening your six sense which is reflex. At my schools and most schools that have the proper way of instruction will test your knowledge and form and have you put in the place where your skill and knowledge level is. For example, a recent Gentleman (23yrs old) came in from a TKD school he's a 2nd degree black belt, he came in and spoke to me and my Hanshi Sensei and told us his rank at his school and that he had been training for two and one half years. So my master knowing the type of skill most TKD black belts have offered The Gentleman one day to show his skill and at the end of the day he would put him against one of of our students that he felt the gentleman was equal to. Well the mans technique was very nice but lacked inner power and spiritual confidence and mindless effortness ( whether or not people believe in this stuff you need it to be a great Bushi). So he put him up agianst a student thats been practicing for about one year. And the man felt insulted, so he decided that he would show us that he was actually very skilled and take on the kid( 17 yrs old) and when he was done with him he would challange someone of his rank ( granted it took me 9 years to attain his rank) and two more to attain my present rank). Well after the man couldn't get a single hit on the kid, he started to get frustrated through one wrong punch got flipped with a kansetsu technique and ended up in a submission where he looked like he was about to cry. Well finally he my master told him he would have to start at the begging level if he wanted to enter the school. The man accepted and started last week. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS BELTS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL OR IF YOU PART OF THE NIHON KOBUDO SHINKOKAI, MEANING YOUR PART OF THE MARTIAL ARTS ADNMINISTRATION. AND IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU WANT TO AND CAN STILL TRAIN THEN BY ALL MEANS ONE MORE MARTIALIST IN THIS WORLD IS A GOOD THING.