At the age of 92, this all-action grandpa from England does martial arts every day and credits his long-lasting health to his practicing Tai Chi and Kung Fu.
Lew Burja from Leeds, West Yorkshire, is a nonagenarian who can walk up to 7 miles a day and can easily run and keep up with his grandchildren.
“It’s incredible what [martial arts] has done for me. It’s a lifesaver, ” Mr. Burja said. “At my age, I have friends dying all around me, and this has kept me going.”
“It’s really important to keep moving,” he said, adding that, luckily for him, he “can’t stay still.”
Mr. Burja, who has two adult children, enjoyed sports from a young age. He liked football, boxing, weightlifting, and judo.
However, as he approached middle age, Mr. Burja—who worked in the navy and as a teacher—began to suffer from bad back pain and repeated chest infections.
Unable to shake these health conditions completely, Mr. Burja began to fear a future in which he would rely on medication.
However, his life changed for the better when he came across a Tai Chi demonstration at a fair he attended. Interested, he decided to give it a try.
He started with weekly two-hour sessions, which also included a half-hour of kung fu.
Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for self-defense and health, known for its slow, intentional movements.
After just a few weeks, Mr. Burja noticed a difference. His chest infections cleared up completely.
“I was fit and healthy,” he said. “For some reason, I was really attracted to the slow movement and deep breathing of the Tai Chi.”
“There’s a specific sequence of movements you can do to manage certain health conditions. That’s how I stopped getting the chest infections,” he said.
He was also able to get rid of his cold and stopped suffering from headaches.
Apart from practicing martial arts and Tai Chi, Mr. Burja goes on regular walks and varies the distance each day.
“My wife and daughter now make me wear a watch with a button I can press so they can locate me,” he said.
Mr. Burja believes that a lot of people who are younger than him can’t even run these days, but he’s often able to keep up with his young granddaughter and her dog.
Seeing him so fit, Mr. Burja’s doctor believes that he’s lucky, but the grandfather of three says it’s not luck but his way of life.
Apart from trying to keep fit physically, Mr. Burja is also learning to write thrillers to keep his mind sharp.
He stresses the importance of exercising to stay fit.
“Plenty of exercise is what keeps you going, but you have to do it carefully so you don’t damage yourself,” he said. “It also gives you a really positive outlook on life.”
Mr. Burja said he doesn’t resort to any special diet and enjoys eating.
“I don’t see the point in being healthy if you can’t enjoy it,” he said. “My wife and I love eating well at home and out in restaurants.
“I like a good red wine with a lamb roast or a good beef short rib, and I have a very sweet tooth. I love Lindor chocolate.”
