Am I Too Old for Jiu-Jitsu?

One of the most prevalent hesitations that some have before starting jiu-jitsu is the belief that they are too old. But that belief is often untrue.

Older people can enjoy training jiu-jitsu as a hobby. Even those who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s regularly practice jiu-jitsu as a rewarding endeavor. However, training while older is more difficult and comes with added risks. As such, older practitioners will need to take certain precautions while they train. 

It's not as easy to start jiu-jitsu when you are on the older side, but it is not impossible. This article will reveal some of the age-related difficulties you might face and reveal a few tactics you can use to get the most out of your training experience.

What Makes Jiu-Jitsu More Difficult for Older Practitioners?

Training at a young age is much easier than starting jiu-jitsu while you are a bit older. Let's cover a few of the reasons why that is the case.

Increased Injury Risk

Older jiu-jitsu practitioners typically have less mobility than younger ones. Mature folks also tend to enter jiu-jitsu with more bodily wear and tear from a longer lifetime of use, which can range from subtle aches and pains to nagging injuries. Each of those factors increases the odds of injury while you move through the complex positions of jiu-jitsu.

Competitive Younger Training Partners

One of the more formidable challenges an older practitioner will face is the presence of young, competitive jiu-jitsu practitioners. Unfortunately, many young practitioners value winning over safety while they train, increasing the chances an injury will arise.

The reason young practitioners can afford to take this unwise approach to jiu-jitsu is that their bodies are better able to withstand and recover from the rigors of intense training sessions. Older practitioners do not enjoy that luxury and should be wary of those who are reckless on the mats.

Steep Learning Curves

It is no secret that the older we become, the more difficult it is to learn new skills. This natural feature of the aging process is another impediment to those beginning jiu-jitsu at an older age. Since jiu-jitsu is an incredibly complex martial art with many detailed techniques, learning and remembering moves can be a struggle for practitioners of any age. In most cases, that challenge increases as you get older.  

How to Get the Most out of Jiu-Jitsu as an Older Practitioner

Now that we've covered some of the unique challenges older people face when training jiu-jitsu, let's seek some solutions. The sections below will give you some practical advice to help you stay safe and enjoy jiu-jitsu as a beneficial pastime.

Adopt a Slow and Steady Mindset while Training

The chances are that you won't stand a chance of matching the strength and athleticism of a younger practitioner. However, it's possible to adopt a training mentality that can help you negate those physical advantages.

Older practitioners should maintain a slow and steady approach while they train, especially during sparring sessions. Rather than using speed and power to gain an advantage while grappling, older practitioners should employ their techniques at a moderate but consistent pace.

It may seem that older practitioners stand little to no chance of overcoming the physical advantages their training partners hold. However, one of the core concepts of jiu-jitsu is that a less physically gifted person can defeat a more athletic one if they are clever enough to know which move to use and when and where to use it.

If you are an older person, you might be surprised by how much success you can have over those who are bigger and more physically capable than you. The best approach is to always maintain a calm and patient mindset. If you do, you may find your training partners exhaust themselves before you do. When that happens, you'll have greater opportunities to gain an advantage with a few well-timed techniques.

Favor Simple Moves that Are Easy to Apply

The next tip for older jiu-jitsu practitioners is to simplify their set of techniques. Focus on the basic moves of jiu-jitsu that use straightforward mechanics and bodily motions. Not only are the moves easier to learn and safer to perform, but most of them also remain effective at all skill levels.

By contrast, there are plenty of complicated, advanced techniques that require you to put your body in strange and uncomfortable positions. Those moves may have some impressive flash, but they are typically not as widely applicable as the basics. Older practitioners should spend less time on those complex moves and instead favor techniques that require simple body mechanics. 

Choose the Right Training Partners

Older practitioners should be more selective about who they train with. As we mentioned earlier, there are many young practitioners who have a disappointing lack of regard for others' safety while they train. Older practitioners should take time to observe their potential training partners before they begin grappling with them.

Learn which of your training partners know how to train and spar with safety as their top priority. Practitioners who value safety are less likely to hurt you because winning an inconsequential sparring session is not their goal. Instead, the best training partners are those that care about preserving your health above any other objective.

Value Recovery as Much as Training

The older you get, the more time you'll need to spend recovering from training. At times, recovery can be just as important as the training itself, as it will allow you to train more over the long term. Ideally, you should develop a recovery routine that accounts for any preexisting injuries and addresses the specific pains you'll feel from training.

Since the injury risk for older jiu-jitsu practitioners is higher, a beneficial recovery routine is vital. There are many ways to recover from training, including stretching, applying heating pads, icing injuries, and much more. Take the time to develop a recovery program that meets your unique needs, and your longevity on the mats is sure to grow.

Conclusion

It would be untrue to claim that training jiu-jitsu at an older age is just as easy as doing so while you are young. However, if you know the risks of training jiu-jitsu as an older practitioner and a few of the tips we've provided above, there is little stopping you from adopting jiu-jitsu as your next hobby.