A Kicking Grand Ma: Old Age is a Myth

"Old age? There is no such thing!" Mme. Jeannesupper.
Lieberman replied in response to a query whether herMme Lieberman's dedication paid off abundantly. She
age of 92 plus was weighing on her. She was martialachieved such a level of prowess that she was able
arts Grand master who lived in France. This was herto perform unbelievable feats. She has demonstrated
response to a question by Claudeher prowess in several ways: In one demonstration
Bobin. He was interviewing her. Check the 1978she pinned a trained (black belt), 1.8 m tall, 200 kg
September issue of the Indian Reader's digest and youathlete to the ground in less than one second and then
can read the article. The summary is given here.repeated the feat nine times!
Mme. Jeanne Lieberman started learning martial arts atPretty tempting skill to acquire isn't it? This should be
the tender age of 63, when most of us would preferinspiration for young and old alike.
retiring from the armchair to the sofa- watching theMme Lieberman is not an aggressive person. Her
antics of our grand children. But for her, it was thepersonal philosophy is rooted in silence, tolerance,
beginning of a newlife- a life of conquering and selfunderstanding and love.
-discovery plus a whole new vista ofopportunities andShe returned to Paris and started her own martial arts
healing for a lot of people past 60. She had preparedclass. She developed her own synthesized style
herself though. She was a regular practitioner of Yoga.based on the three martial arts and Yoga. Most of her
And she had-Inspiration-lots of it!disciples are in their sixties or seventies. Some of them
She joined a Judo Dojo (martial arts school) in Paris.have had extraordinaryexperiences. One seventy
When she went to enroll, the joke goes that theyear old student was attacked by two young
instructor asked if it was for her son or her grandson.muggers in the dark side alleys of Paris . She was able
Imagine his surprise when she replied it was for her!Herto ward off their attack easily and hold one of them in
astounding progress soon put an end to thea paralysing arm lock, with him begging for mercy.
apprehensions of her instructor and her youngerAt a time when we keep hearing stories of estranged
classmates and she completed her black belt in sharpand isolated old people, who have been abandoned by
five years! Inspiration to her classmates!their children, Mme. Lieberman's story is heartening in
She didn't rest on her achievement, though. She wentthat it gives inspiration to stand up for ourselves, dig
to Japan and started polishing up her Aikido skills thatinto the resources within ourselves and prove to
she had started learning in France. Aikido is aourselves and the world that we can take care of
non-violent form of self-defense. She practiced underourselves, and much more!
Master Tadashi Abe for four years before sheMartial arts are a sure fire way to keep oneself fit and
secured her black belt in Aikido(!).old age at bay. Martial Arts also help to maintain peace
No, that is not the end of the story. At the age of 72,of mind and to develop suppleness of the body.
she started learning Kung fu (Wing Chun).She receivedMartial arts are one of the best ways to spend ones
her black belt in Kung fu at the age of 80, from Masterexcess time. Of course this statement would not
Hoangnam at the famed Shaolin temple, China!appeal to the enthusiastic follower, who has dedicated
Astounding Inspiration, isn't it? To think how much anhis life to perfection in martial arts.
old lady would exert, pushing herself to the limits.The lives of people like Jeanne Liebermann convey
Her diet is very simple: a carrot for breakfast, an eggInspiration in us to achieve all that we are capable of.
for lunch and a potato and a spoonful of honey forThey give inspiration to transcend our limits .