When Master Kelly Rogers began taekwondo at age 40, she thought she might be too old to keep up with younger students. Now, more than 15 years later, she is creating opportunities for older adults to step onto the mat for the first time.

Rogers, who runs Tae Ryong Taekwondo in Port Orchard, has launched a program specifically designed for adults ages 55 and older. She said the idea grew out of her own experience starting martial arts later in life, as well as inspiration from Chris Holts, an instructor at her school who recently turned 70 and began taekwondo at 57 years old.

“I’ve just seen how taekwondo can change people’s lives and it doesn’t matter the age,” Rogers said. “But with adults over 55, I want them to know they can also make great changes and learn everything — in a class more designed for them, so they don’t have to keep up with younger people.”

The class focuses on balance, mobility and confidence while adapting movements to different physical needs. Kicks are kept low, stances are adjusted for comfort, and each student is encouraged to improve from their own starting point.

Rogers said the benefits go beyond exercise. “It isn’t just physical — it’s definitely a mental training,” she said. “It helps with memory, it helps reduce stress. Many older people already in class talk about how when they leave, they’re feeling more calm and they’re feeling more energy.”

She acknowledged that older adults may hesitate to try martial arts, believing they are too old to start. She felt the same when she first opened her studio at age 51. “I had to get out of my own way because I was my biggest obstacle,” Rogers said. “If a teacher is willing to help and you have a desire to do it, then you should choose to follow that desire. You never know until you try something.”