BadFrog...Welcome to the party...Jump in with both feet and have fun!! Joint work is amazing. My Sensei really is outstanding at it. We learned a bunch. I hate it because my joint are super sensitive. Training really put the hurt on them. I'd rather take a punch or kick anytime.

Blast...I didn't read the posts but...I would join the classes with your daughter/s. That way they see that it is important that DF knows how to take of himself. I know that at 6-foot plus you are not a target, but the kids need the reinforcement. I am a 6-1 225-ish guy, not necessarily a target, can take a pretty good thumpin' and still hold my own but the training was fun anyway. The Black Belt Test was an interesting event. I made it through as a 44 yr-old despite knee and shoulder surgery during training.

Final note: Self defense is combat, hence a martial art. It is just a matter of which techniques you choose to use.