PALM BEACH GARDENS — Stanley and Adele Janow’s transformation from average to avenging takes seconds upon their arrival at Hwang’s Martial Arts.

The North Palm Beach couple visits the Fairway Drive studio to master the punching, kicking and choke-hold defenses of Krav Maga self-defense — the kind the Israeli army made famous — at their combined tender age of 147 years.

The Janows, 18 months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary, have taken private lessons twice each week since March. Their sweaty, spirited, vigorous workouts belie their ages — and, their instructor says, set an example other seniors can follow.

“The Janows are by far my oldest students,” said their instructor, Kristina Hwang, whose experience with the Janows has made her think of starting a self-defense class for seniors.

“The fantastic thing is they actually do physical self-defense moves and not just talking about safety. It’s given them a lot more mental and physical self-confidence.”

The Janows recommend taking self-defense — which they took up at the suggestion of their daughter, Lori Beth — to their peers.

“You need exercise, and you read in the paper all the time about elderly people getting mugged or attacked,” said Stanley, 77, who spent years as a chemist and a salesman and manager for a pharmaceutical company and who now runs his own business. “You need a natural defense to ward that off.”

Both Janows say they have received excellent health benefits from their self-defense training.

Adele, 70, said exercise such as Krav Maga can help seniors keep their minds sharp and avoid problems such as osteoarthritis, breaking bones and herniated disks. Stanley said his blood pressure, cholesterol and weight all are down since starting the workouts.

“Before starting, I was having difficulty twisting off the cap of my water bottle or getting out of my chair,” said Adele, an attorney and a retired speech therapist.

“Now, we are working on springing up off the floor into a vertical position.”

 

How did you get started doing self-defense training lessons?

Adele: ‘Our daughter suggested we do something so we would feel safer when going out which would also give us good exercise. I do pilates, too, but that’s not the same as this.’

Stanley: ‘My daughter knows I’ve always liked boxing. She thought I might like this. I was reluctant at first because I wasn’t exercising at all, but I liked how Kristina taught us. Had I come across an abusive instructor, I wouldn’t have come back.’

How did you two meet?

Adele: ‘He picked me up while I was working in an upscale restaurant in Boston while attending Emerson College. The owner had told me not to date any customers, but he said I could make an exception for Stanley.’

What’s the best feeling about taking this self-defense training?

Stanley: “I was an Army reservist during the Korean War. I used to think I could take on the world. Now, this training is giving me that same impulse like I know what to do in a tight situation.’