Hey Guys... Congrats on starting, showing up and making it!
My BJJ journey started at 54 and 270lbs, no prior training or even organized sport. Just enthusiasm and desire to change my life... that was me.
Now 10+ years later, I'm a brown belt. Who could have imagined?
Am I any good? Meh hahaha. Do I know a few things... sure. Do I still love it... absolutely. Even on my worst day, and there are plenty when the majority of your team is half your age or younger, when athleticism and speed dictate matches, when memory ... well you get the picture. Keep showing up... do your best. That's my goal.
Its not surprising that only a small percentage of men and women start bjj after 40. I want to get better at bjj but have a job i need to go to lol.
For me, overthrowing and ego are my enemies. When I mean ego, I mean the selfish parts of ego such as refusing to tap. Its practice and no one gives a damn if you "lose" in training or open mats...you learn
I am a 57 year old blue belt who's body as seen better days. I have two bad vertebrae in my neck and two knees that creak sometimes with every step. I also had a herniated disc in my back that took a year to heal up and a couple of my toes still feel numb. I also am starting to get arthritis everywhere. Oh yeah, I am also on blood thinners forever life because I have a clotting disorder that is genetic.
My bjj bag is a large collection of tape, numbing sprays, bandages, BleedStop, and just about every brace you can think of. Some people call me crazy. My doctor cautions me.
And yet here I am training 4-5 days a week and loving it...even when I feel like a 90 year old man. Jiu jitsu gives me happiness and peace. I may nit be as limber as the younger folks and dont have the gas tank I used to have but I go get over it with old man grit and Gen X stubbornness.
I can only train multiple days like that only if I am smart. I tap early and often. I dont go ham. I choose my partners wisely. Some days I just drill and other days I roll rounds.
The people I train with are the best. They take great care of me but will lay the hurt on if I make a mistake. They always help me with technique tweaks and point out things within the roll that I did well and needed to improve.
On the mats, I may lose but I learn and no one really cares. We are all out there to get better and build each other up. I have made some great friends at my academy snd I am going to keep on grinding.
I totally agree. I am a 77 year old purple belt riding the bus home now from the dojo. I try to go 5 days a week for bjj and 2 days a week for judo. It means a lot to me and while I have injuries My training partners and I work around them.
JM28601x2 (64)
3 days agoHey Guys... Congrats on starting, showing up and making it!
My BJJ journey started at 54 and 270lbs, no prior training or even organized sport. Just enthusiasm and desire to change my life... that was me.
Now 10+ years later, I'm a brown belt. Who could have imagined?
Am I any good? Meh hahaha. Do I know a few things... sure. Do I still love it... absolutely. Even on my worst day, and there are plenty when the majority of your team is half your age or younger, when athleticism and speed dictate matches, when memory ... well you get the picture. Keep showing up... do your best. That's my goal.
legflexxxer (32 )
9 days agoLove this. It's hard enough as a 52yo blue belt!
Halfcain46 (24)
9 days ago(In reply to this)
Its not surprising that only a small percentage of men and women start bjj after 40. I want to get better at bjj but have a job i need to go to lol.
For me, overthrowing and ego are my enemies. When I mean ego, I mean the selfish parts of ego such as refusing to tap. Its practice and no one gives a damn if you "lose" in training or open mats...you learn
Halfcain46 (24)
9 days agoI am a 57 year old blue belt who's body as seen better days. I have two bad vertebrae in my neck and two knees that creak sometimes with every step. I also had a herniated disc in my back that took a year to heal up and a couple of my toes still feel numb. I also am starting to get arthritis everywhere. Oh yeah, I am also on blood thinners forever life because I have a clotting disorder that is genetic.
My bjj bag is a large collection of tape, numbing sprays, bandages, BleedStop, and just about every brace you can think of. Some people call me crazy. My doctor cautions me.
And yet here I am training 4-5 days a week and loving it...even when I feel like a 90 year old man. Jiu jitsu gives me happiness and peace. I may nit be as limber as the younger folks and dont have the gas tank I used to have but I go get over it with old man grit and Gen X stubbornness.
I can only train multiple days like that only if I am smart. I tap early and often. I dont go ham. I choose my partners wisely. Some days I just drill and other days I roll rounds.
The people I train with are the best. They take great care of me but will lay the hurt on if I make a mistake. They always help me with technique tweaks and point out things within the roll that I did well and needed to improve.
On the mats, I may lose but I learn and no one really cares. We are all out there to get better and build each other up. I have made some great friends at my academy snd I am going to keep on grinding.
BJJWrestlerLasVegas (22 )
8 days ago(In reply to this)
I totally agree. I am a 77 year old purple belt riding the bus home now from the dojo. I try to go 5 days a week for bjj and 2 days a week for judo. It means a lot to me and while I have injuries My training partners and I work around them.