Julius Brian Siswojo, the Hong Kong skateboarder, entrepreneur, and hip-hop artist, demonstrates how a lifelong passion for movement can help maintain an active lifestyle well into middle age. At 52, Siswojo continues to skateboard and stays committed to his health, proving that staying fit doesn’t always require a traditional gym routine.
Featured in a South China Morning Post report dated 30 September, Siswojo said he has been skating for a long time, and uses the activity and a change of diet to keep himself slim and fit. He is a co-founder of Hong Kong’s first hip-hop band 24Herbs, and has been skating since 1988.
As a result, his connection to skateboarding was well established long before it became a part of sporting events around the world. Long before the sport became an Olympic pastime, Siswojo was already skating. His passion grew over decades.
Born in Jakarta Indonesia he relocated to Hong Kong with his family in 1985, at the age of 11. His professional life later included music, acting, and entrepreneurship, but skateboarding continued to be a significant aspect of his identity. He co-founded 8Five2, a skateboarding and streetwear company that has played a role in shaping Hong Kong’s skate culture.
It allows him to stay active and involved in the community he has been a part of for so long. Unlike traditional exercise that may require a set time or repetition at the gym, skateboarding is movement, balance, and skill.
Skateboarding can also be hard on the body as mobility and recovery may alter with age. As a result, just to stay active, people need to be aware of their own capabilities and be ready to adapt.
Alongside regular exercise, Siswojo has also focused on making dietary changes to maintain his fitness. His approach shows a broader understanding that lasting health relies on more than just working out.
Based on the South China Morning Post he refrains from alcohol, cigarette smoking and taking recreational drugs. This is the other part of his personal lifestyle to maintain his health for himself and his family.
Food and age why does it matter? As we age our energy, muscle maintenance and recovery requirements can change. By following a balanced diet containing the right amount of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals can help us to live an active lifestyle and managing portion size and food quality can aid weight control.
There is no universal diet suitable for everyone, and making sustainable adjustments is typically more manageable than following strict limitations. For those aiming to stay active into their fifties and later, maintaining consistent routines is often more achievable than participating in short-term fitness challenges.
For Siswojo, that proves that reality can challenge the common knowledge that getting active has to be less edgy with age. Playing a sport for decades may help retain movement skills and motivation, in particular if it is meaningful.
