Starting Brazilian Jujitsu after 40

I have always wanted to do it but honestly I’m lazy. I wasn’t the guy after my time in the Marines that was a fitness nut. I have always hated running. I could do it, not great but I wasn’t last in the pack. Middle of the road at best.

When I got out, I did 2 years private contractor in Afghanistan working dogs for explosive detection. I was in good shape but not great. I found that out humping a box of mortars up the side of a mountain during a firefight with SF.

Anyway I started running after that to get my cardio back up, but after I left the team it trailed back off into laziness. Left ass-crack-istan in 2011 to see my son born and never went back.

Back to current day. I’m 225 lbs at 5’ 10” and I will be 42 in October. I should weigh about 175, so that puts me at 50 lbs overweight. I suck.

My daughter hurt her wrist doing gymnastics so she was kinda over the repetition and wanted to try something new. She is 10. Very active young lady and a boss for sure….making me look bad. She has been watching a young girl on YouTube doing Brazilian jujitsu and wanted to give it a try. I’m all for it!!!

She started last week on Monday. I always go and watch her every practice at gymnastics so I will continue with this.

Anyway I thought it would be cool if it’s something we both do. So I started yesterday.

First off, some of the most kind people I have ever met in my life. All of them are nice.

Second, the warm up alone broke me off. I haven’t felt this weak since boot camp. It was very humbling to say the least. During the warm up we were doing some rolls and my pinky toe caught the mat and dislocated. I’m talking straight up 90 degree angle from where it was supposed to be. I wasn’t about to let my daughter see her big strong dad limp off the mat and go to the hospital the very first day. I bent down and popped that bastard back in place and kept going.

It was hour class and I’m covered in sweat looking like a wet dog with shaggy hair. Couldn’t wait to tell my wife how badass I was hahahahah.

You know what? I had a blast! Next class is Wednesday morning 11-12 and I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I’m just gonna have maybe tone it down and build up a little bit slower. This is gonna be a good journey with my daughter and my fitness.

Life is good.

Good for you for getting in shape. Huge props for your service as well. Thank you.

I have a few friends that practice BJJ, including a Black Belt instructor and multi time heavy weight champ. I have mad respect for those that practice it. I'd like to try myself myself but honestly, at 57 I think I'd get hurt. I've seen my friends get hurt and I already have too many injuries to deal with. That and all the nasty shit you can get like ringworm from rolling around with other sweaty people. Gross.

From what I know, they are just being nice to get you to come back. After a few sessions and they know you are committed, they are going to fuck you up. Bad. LOL...not trying to deter you, it's just what I've seen. That said, you aren't going to die and you already know what it's like to power through the suffering, so don't give up. Good luck.

I used to do it (white belt forever), stopped with a foot injury.
My niece competes in the Jits but got laid up with injuries.
I’ve done various martial arts since my teens and I will say you can accumulate injuries, so be careful. I finally stopped in my 50s, switched to lifting and cardio.
Good luck and have fun!

Deftone said:

Good for you for getting in shape. Huge props for your service as well. Thank you.

I have a few friends that practice BJJ, including a Black Belt instructor and multi time heavy weight champ. I have mad respect for those that practice it. I'd like to try myself myself but honestly, at 57 I think I'd get hurt. I've seen my friends get hurt and I already have too many injuries to deal with. That and all the nasty shit you can get like ringworm from rolling around with other sweaty people. Gross.

From what I know, they are just being nice to get you to come back. After a few sessions and they know you are committed, they are going to fuck you up. Bad. LOL...not trying to deter you, it's just what I've seen. That said, you aren't going to die and you already know what it's like to power through the suffering, so don't give up. Good luck.

Click to expand...

You are most likely correct in the “nice for now” mentality. Maybe I should have said “very welcoming “. I guess I’m used to the Marine way of just trying to hurt the other person for malicious reasons. I wasn’t into that. I know how to deal with people like that. My cardio and flexibility isn’t there yet but I’m not intimidated or afraid of getting my ass beat. Most of the people in the class seem “mature” but like you said I’ll find out soon enough.

Thank you for the thank you acknowledgment of my service! It means a lot!

MikeyTheCat said:

I used to do it (white belt forever), stopped with a foot injury.
My niece competes in the Jits but got laid up with injuries.
I’ve done various martial arts since my teens and I will say you can accumulate injuries, so be careful. I finally stopped in my 50s, switched to lifting and cardio.
Good luck and have fun!

Click to expand...

My father in law was huge into karate and wishes he could do it with us but he’s got some back injuries and he’s in his mid 60’s. My daughter on the other hand doesn’t care and jacks him up all the time hahahha. She loves rough housing with her pap paw.

I dunno if I will venture into Brazilian Jujitsu, but I have been kicking around the idea of doing MMA training as a new exercise regime and I'm just over the edge of 50. Have lost 50 lbs in the last year but have been plateauing / maintaining for about 5 or 6 months now, so need to give my system a bit of a shock to get it going again, as I would like to lose another 50.

redking said:

I dunno if I will venture into Brazilian Jujitsu, but I have been kicking around the idea of doing MMA training as a new exercise regime and I'm just over the edge of 50. Have lost 50 lbs in the last year but have been plateauing / maintaining for about 5 or 6 months now, so need to give my system a bit of a shock to get it going again, as I would like to lose another 50.

Click to expand...

I only did one class but it definitely shocked my system. I imagine either one would be great for fitness. Walking and eating correctly wasn’t working as it used too. HITT type of training seems to be a more effective exercise.

I would love to train in karate again but I really do not want to do any sparring at all. I can't express adequately in written language how much I hate that. All I ever do is get hurt. I love the training otherwise.

After I stopped going to karate, I went to T'ai chi for a while. You wouldn't believe how sweaty you can get from slow motion exercise. With my current physical issues, I think I'd go that route if I could afford to pay for it.

Over the years I studied multiple fighting disciplines and worked out on and off......

Managed to maintain a decent weight etc.......

But I'm afraid the days of weightlifting or any hardcore physical training are now over.......

I genuinely need a knee replacement, my hip is also bad , and my neck has 4 titanium played and 24 screws in it......for years I've scraped through it......all good.


But...

The worst of it is most recent......

Been battling a case of re-occurring
Pericarditis for about 16 months and can't seem to get rid of it.....

That has put a complete stoppage on any heavy lifting or exercise.....

Its been a major bummer in multiple ways.....

Shell of myself......

No BJJ for me.......

Just trying to stay mobile and hope I can feel better at some point...

DeafDumbBlind Kid said:

I would love to train in karate again but I really do not want to do any sparring at all. I can't express adequately in written language how much I hate that. All I ever do is get hurt. I love the training otherwise.

After I stopped going to karate, I went to T'ai chi for a while. You wouldn't believe how sweaty you can get from slow motion exercise. With my current physical issues, I think I'd go that route if I could afford to pay for it.

Click to expand...

I think being physical through life is important. Any movement is good. Doesn’t have to be flipping tractor tires, but walking and stretching are important. I would say YouTube probably has a bunch of free chi stuff but I’m you are like me my motivation doing that doesn’t last long so I gotta pay and go some place to do the work. I like routines.

Zungle said:

Over the years I studied multiple fighting disciplines and worked out on and off......

Managed to maintain a decent weight etc.......

But I'm afraid the days of weightlifting or any hardcore physical training are now over.......

I genuinely need a knee replacement, my hip is also bad , and my neck has 4 titanium played and 24 screws in it......for years I've scraped through it......all good.


But...

The worst of it is most recent......

Been battling a case of re-occurring
Pericarditis for about 16 months and can't seem to get rid of it.....

That has put a complete stoppage on any heavy lifting or exercise.....

Its been a major bummer in multiple ways.....

Shell of myself......

No BJJ for me.......

Just trying to stay mobile and hope I can feel better at some point...

Click to expand...

Oh man that’s rough! I had to ask my wife what that was, she’s a nurse working on her masters. I hope you get it sorted so you can get back to normal.
Just keep your head up, adapt and overcome!

Kudos to you...at 67 my idea of a big workout is an hour at Planet Fitness.

redcoats1976 said:

Kudos to you...at 67 my idea of a big workout is an hour at Planet Fitness.

Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that!

It has its benefits...some of the younger women are quite eye catching.

Started TKD 25 years ago with the boys, and am a fourth dan. It has nothing to do with self-defense, it just keeps my lazy 64-year-old ass moving … as I’ve always said, “When you stop moving, you’re going to stop moving."

P-Nutz said:

Started TKD 25 years ago with the boys, and am a fourth dan. It has nothing to do with self-defense, it just keeps my lazy 64-year-old ass moving … as I’ve always said, “When you stop moving, you’re going to stop moving."

Click to expand...

So true!

swaffy101 said:

I wasn’t about to let my daughter see her big strong dad limp off the mat and go to the hospital the very first day.

Click to expand...

For that, and your service in the Marine Corps, you will have my undying respect.

Stay in shape and Thank You for your service!
For me, pulling and pushing these around has kept me in shape.
The Ride is great, asphalt or dirt.
Its the maintenance and moving them around. I fear pain, it hurts me.

MikeyTheCat said:

switched to lifting and cardio.

Click to expand...

That's what I do now. Considered boxing but I don't think my neck could take another hard jolt. Tai Chi maybe. Yoga has been amazing. I need to do it a regular basis.

swaffy101 said:

I think being physical through life is important.

Click to expand...

That's why I still split firewood, process downed trees, yard work, etc.... some people say "I pay a guy to do that" but to me it's all about staying active. I can't do everything anymore but I do what I can. I work up a full sweat almost every day either working out, working on the property or both.

One of my neighbors is in his 80's and he's still puttering around doing all the work on his property. The guy is my inspiration.