Am I TOO OLD To Ever Get Good At Grappling?

This is a question I( am asked a lot, and it fairness it's one I ponder on a lot myself.
So here's my answer!

[@Irrational_Pie]

When it comes to hobbies, people worry way too much about external factors like how they stack up against others or how “good” they are. Instead people should ask if they’re getting what they’re seeking out of it.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Very true

[@paulhenderson9905]

I’ve just turned 45 and I’ve been doing BJJ for 18 months. I train about four times a week at the moment, but I don’t beat myself up for going once or twice if I’m feeling knackered. I absolutely love grappling and your advice is absolutely bang on. I’d tell anyone to have a go at it. I love the technicality of the sport and thinking through techniques and strategy. I’ve reached a point now where I can out grapple most of the new lads who come through the door - most of whom are half my age and a lot of them do rugby in their spare time. I’ve developed tricks to wear down younger trainer partners (I’m lucky because I’m a big chap and fairly strong), and I’ve started incorporating some sneaky Catch things I’ve seen on KZbin, which has been ace. I’ve also discovered the joy of wrist locks and that’s getting me a bit of a reputation in the gym! If you want to have a go at it, honestly give it a try. You might just change your life.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

This comment makes me happy.

[@Jamoni1]

Wrist locks are so much easier than all that pesky trapping and bridging.

[@ukimanean]

55 years old, have done stand up martial arts since I was 12. Have been doing BJJ for 5 years, now a blue belt. I'm on my 2nd major injury, that has put me out for 6 months. Going back in 2 weeks, miss the work out and thinking about techniques and strategies when I hit a wall (usually a 26 year old athletic type). I'm the 2nd oldest in my gym, oldest is 67 black belt. As long as you are reasonably fit you can start, if you are not fit I would recommend doing some weights and cardio before starting (and keeping the weights up) this will reduce injury. My school has a wrestling class, I would say you have to be quite fit before you practice this, at my age I don't as I'm wrecked for 2-3 days after. I would counsel not to start Judo past 40, your injuries will pile up and your body will get wrecked after extended practice.

[@joelpettit25]

My first judo coach started in his mid 40's and won two nationals!

[@ThePalsta]

I started BJJ as a 43 year old karate 5th Dan and Japanese Jiu-jitsu 1st Dan. I was pretty confident that I could hold my own with the intermediates of the class and would soon be promoted quickly up to around purple where I (let's face it) belonged. After getting smashed by 2 month white belt after 2 month white belt I quickly realised exactly how competent at fighting my close to 30 years of traditional martial arts had left me. Today, I'm a happy 48 year old blue belt who enjoys showing the 20 something white belts that there's a reason the old guy is training. Plus - traditional martial arts teach you lots of frankly evil wrist locks. Getting good at BJJ allows you to immobilise said 20 year old white belts for long enough to apply many of the fun wrist locks round after round after round...

[@EnglishMartialArts]

This comment makes me very happy.

[@BallisticArmbars]

"Just start" was some of the best advice for me to hear a year or two back.

[@jonathanwaswrong3917]

Showing up is definitely the hardest part... God bless you and yours brother! _FIGHT TEAM_

[@rudai123]

Im 54, wrestled in college, started Catch at age 48. I can hang with younger and stronger BJJ/Catch folks.

[@blackpaton716]

I found that a good back support under your shirt and the use of knee pads helps as you get older. Also don’t train more than 3 times a week , pace urself and most importantly enjoy your time on the mat. At my age I just want to get competent at grappling . Hopefully one day 😊.

[@markplacey5326]

Spot on. I started BJJ when I was 64. Still at it and I'll be 67 in December. Unlike 50 +/- years ago, I've learned to have a two way conversation with my body, and hopefully make wiser decisions. I find one of the fun moments in BJJ is when a "much" younger person in the gym looks at me and asks, "How old are you?" Then we both laugh! I love grappling. :))

[@EnglishMartialArts]

It's when they laugh at your age, then you destroy them that I love...

[@Jamoni1]

50, started BJJ 2 years ago. Health issues have sidelined me a few times. I wouldn't say I'm good, but I'm better, and that's all that counts. I've gotten to humble a few younger, bigger, stronger guys, so there's that.

[@fredazcarate4818]

I could not have uttered better advice. Well done young Sir...well done indeed!

[@fakename3042]

53 starting again with more injuries than when I stopped a few years back. Looking forward to doing this again.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

You'll have a blast!

[@scum22]

I got my black belt last year, and I'm 25 now, so I've only ever had the perspective of a younger grappler... one of my proudest achievements was to get my 57yo dad into training with me. I'm going to send this to him and my older students, this is such a great insight into the goals you should give yourself as an older grappler! Fight team!!

[@EnglishMartialArts]

That's awesome. My favourite training partner is a guy who has just turned 68. He got into it through his son. Its lovely to see them on the mats together.

[@knw-seeker6836]

Simplicity over complexity I wish I listened to my body when I was younger and did train sports several times a week sometimes the same day But I can insure you that having a desk job comes at a high cost too It’s more slowly over time but what I realised is that one can never take a 100% safe route So being conscious and staying active is the best approach I think

[@lihchong2267]

I was surprised to learn just how old the others in my wrestling class are. I'm 38. I knew most of them were over 30, but the youngest was born about 1995.

[@terrellkluting5370]

I started Catch, at about 35, in 2016 with John Potenza. I am now 41 on the cusp of my BJJ brown belt, Certified Assistant coach for Scientific Wrestling, Level 6 with Old school grappling Cacc, SAW & SCW Brown belt. Never too old!!

[@robertnewell4054]

How’s your body holding up? Any injuries? TRT? Has your warm ups changed? Anything special about the diet? Nice resume Sir. Obvious reflection of hard•work & commitment

[@terrellkluting5370]

@@robertnewell4054 I should probably start looking into those things. Injury will always be a risk. I am nursing a left knee and ankle right now. Feel pretty good overall. I would say strength and mobility is important. Functional body weight exercise, Bulletproof for BJJ has a great program.

[@mgunnermusic]

I would start, but I'm worried that I'm not old enough to be someone worried that they're too old to start. I think I need to leave it another decade, then I'll be 20 years too late.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

🤣 You don't have any choice in the matter, you're starting soon!

[@wildrangeringreen]

I'm in my 30's now (still young, just old enough to recognize and accept my mortality), and the most fun I've ever had with grappling is grappling with my mates, no real ruleset, just everyone recognizing when they're beaten, and then re-setting. Sometimes we would throw weapons in the mix, and there'd be a wake-up call about grappling in a martial situation. Literally the most fun I've ever had. Doesn't matter if you "win" (according to a ruleset), sparring, so long as you fight your fight (and accomplish your goal (not die)). My favorite bout I've ever had was with a guy (fellow vet) who was about my age, but played by catch rules (I generally play by Glima rules), he pinned me, and I didn't resist (since it means nothing), and he just sat there, super confused, until we had to stop to go back to class and talked about it lol. (it was a great bout, because neither really could guess what the other was going to do, since we were playing with completely different rulesets).

[@Hobbofett]

I'm to old to be a world level competitor , I'm not to old to acquire the skills to a good level .

[@johnhippo5479]

Thank you - a question I have been wondering about - now I have to turn up at the wrestling class!

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Yes, you really do!

[@tapioperala3010]

I turned 41 a couple of weeks ago, and while right now, my training is weightlifting, and strength-training in particular, practically 100 %. I've got a powerlifting meet 2nd of December I need to work to, and lifting heavy-ass weights is something I love more than anything (iron is the reason why I'm still alive, quite literally). This being said, I hope that once I'm done even considering competing in powerlifting or in strongman, I've been thinking of trying wrestling (catch-wrestling? I don't know the Finnish name for it, so ::shrugs:: ). I have done some Grego-Roman wrestling when I was in my early teens, but never really got into it. Same with Shooto (though at an older age, somewhere around 20 yo, maybe). Thing is, I love stand-up stuff; I'm a small guy (only 160 cm) and my basics come from boxing (we can punch, btw ;) ) and I've never really had the need to wrestle. When I have had the need, I've always been strong enough to somehow get away far enough to start hitting those hooks, etc. To me, catch would be cardio and mobility; both would be great assets in strongman :D In general, everyone should know how to fight.

[@DHRGrafix]

60 years old. I've done mostly striking (karate, dirty boxing) and a lot of FMA. Did a year of no gi about 20 years ago. I've been doing Muay Thai for a little over a year. I injured my back and have been out of MT for a few weeks. I told myself a year ago I'd do MT for a year and then switch to BJJ. I talked it over with my coach and he suggested I do BJJ twice a week and MT once a week. I'm a little apprehensive but I start BJJ in 2 weeks.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Good for you!

[@doka-jx1yz]

I did a bit of Kung Fu (is it even called that now?) for 10 months in 1988. I took up Aiki Jujitsu in April after a gap of 35 years at the age of 56. Baby steps i know but i attended and passed my first grading yesterday. If your thinking of taking up martial arts at an advanced age get checked out by your GP, then go for it. I now train 2 or three times a week in the above and kick boxing. Best thing i ever did.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Good for you!

[@Carnemexada]

I started doing catch wrestling at 34. I am 41 now and while I can't say if I'm good at it, I'm definitely better at it.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

I like that.

[@RicoMnc]

"...not be able to walk the next day.." heh, yep, get home after a good class on an adrenalin and endorphin high celebrating some of my victories on the mat, feeling pretty good for being worn out and dripping sweat, shower, eat, go to bed...and struggle to get out of bed the next day. FWIW > 60 yr old BJJ blue belt.

[@naakaalastudio6655]

Best thing to do is take it slow starting as an older grappler. Actually don't be shy telling younger more explosive types you would rather flow roll than go all out sometimes. I am not training for any competitions more so for fitness and self defense so I couldn't care less about winning any titles I am way past that now. Also put your ego aside and don't try to win every single roll, stop when you are tired, a lot of time fatigue leads to injury. Sometimes I see some of the black belts who have been doing it for awhile and they look broken from going too hard all the time then they were younger. Study some catch wrestling and add that to your BJJ game, especially takedowns or even hand fighting.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Yep, agreed.

[@corrugatedcavalier5266]

Good stuff as usual. Fight Team!

[@lastmanstanding5423]

I'm 34, never did martial arts, but did a lot of calisthenics and mobility exercises. So I'm relatively strong and flexible. Started going to MMA Wrestling classes recently with the goal of mastering Catch-As-Catch-Can. I'm not as fast as the young 'uns, and I lose my breath faster... but I'm stronger and I guess my grappling endurance will increase. I have no specific goals to compete... (maybe for the craic). But I'd love to actually master Catch and be a part of the tradition. Maybe pass it on to my kids... (one day I make some kids).

[@rafaelbabar3494]

The first thing to do in any martial art is to park your ego. I say this because it’s my own weakness. Belts are a way of measuring your progress but given the rise of McDojos and the degradation of traditional martial arts, you may need to find another way of measuring your progress. Find a partner. If you can’t do striking drills or bag work. Fight team, the next video should be on how to build the speed (muscle memory), strength, conditioning, flexibility, and durability et cetera to sustainably start and continue martial arts whilst minimising injuries for people over 40. I would suggest calisthenics, stretching and fight drills. Aim for an hour each day and alter variables such as rest and reps. I’ll post what I do. I bike rather than run for cardio to avoid joint injuries but tbh my personal aim is to build on my ability to end a fight quickly rather than dance around. I train for power in striking and when I find a partner to quickly submit in grappling. I’m happy to post what I do. The combinations I review periodically and am open to suggestions.

[@TheManyManyMore]

This is inspiring. Thank you!

[@vercingetorixwulf9298]

Well Said ........

[@insidethevelvetglove3919]

I started BJJ at 46. I am a black belt now. 66 years old. The irony is as the knowledge grows the physicality declines. I have to say it was some of the best years of my life. If I has a wish it would be to go back to a much younger age and start with judo, catch, any sort of grappling. Anyone thinking of doing it should just go for it. Just be careful of the big strong guys.... and the clumsy ones.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Well said!

[@insidethevelvetglove3919]

Is that you Ethel? Where's' my trousers? Where am I? What?

[@lewisb85]

Mark law is my fave example and his book "the Pyjama game" he started Judo as his thing to do at 50 got his black belt a few years later and then walked straight down the corridor at the Budokwai and joined Ray Steven's BJJ class.Also Guy Ritchie didn't get his black belt until his mid 40s after 13 years of training.

[@Crypt4l]

Yes, but so am I and we love you anyway :)

[@fenrir2616]

I think ive said this before, I had heard there was a freestyle wrestling club near me (taught by an American NCAA champ) in UK and wanted to give it a go. I was 37 and always wished we could have wrestling here like in States. I went a number of times but my age showed - i was getting smashed by the 16 year olds so much that work was hard the next day lol. Found BJJ to be 'easier' and more ppl my age. I still go down to wrestle once in a while and the guys know me well enough now to hold back a bit! That is a huge regret I have, not knowing how I'd have done in my youth, but at least i tried!

[@EnglishMartialArts]

I too wish I'd discovered wrestling when I was young enough to do well.

[@DenshaOtoko2]

I've done a little Kodokan Judo and some Scholastic wrestling. I think I have a better idea of what to expect. Thank you for your insight English Martial Arts.

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

Great video! Agreed on all points. I used to be able to roll hard 4-5 days per week back in my 30's Now I still roll 2-3 days per week ( maybe 8-10 rounds) but I have to be more careful these days. My recovery time is double what it was back then. Getting an elbow popped in my late 20's to early 30's was a two week kinda sore deal. Now its a semi-permanent disability that takes forever to heal. I can still go plenty hard if I need to and turn it up to brown/black level but never without popping a knee, hurting my back or breaking toes, fingers or ribs. The great thing is though that I can tap 90% of people I roll with going 50% or less.

[@toddellner5283]

At 60 the ground is where it's always been, but it's a lot further from the ground to standing. As my first Silat teacher said "Your arse is a finite resource."

[@nightsquirrel2810]

Been thinking about getting into jiujitsu, early forties. I plan on checking a few places out near me.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Good for you! Hope you find a place you can thrive in.

[@adrianojordao4634]

Its about how good jiujitsu is for you. Not the other way around.

[@seasickviking]

You never get too old to try new things. It all boils down to your commitment to the craft. It doesn't matter if its wrestling, Judo, BJJ, or Sambo--if you're committed to learn, you can. One might argue that older people are more likely to quit early, but that's a debate for a different video.

[@fakename3042]

My Brain is saying so and just want to go in the right direction now and not quit school.

[@PunchCatcher]

I think you have one part that you really really glossed over, or maybe two parts. The first is the quality of the school. If you end up at a place that is geared toward just competition/is run by, and fosters a meathead mentality then you need to leave immediately. You're just going to get hurt and they won't value your presence other than as a resisting training dummy. Second be selective in your training partners, explain that you can't do this or that, or ask them to avoid cranking on this or that body part. If they don't listen, tap, get up, walk away, find a different partner. You can't learn if some 25 year old is just going to go 100% on you. You can learn and progress but it's a partner sport, you can only get better if you have people willing to work with you.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Great advice.

[@ruiseartalcorn]

I've often thought about adding some grappling to my martial arts practice. However, I'm now 65 so I'm not very optimistic re success. Having said that, I train hard, 6 days a week, so I'm probably not like a typical 65 year old. Hmmm... food for thought ;)

[@EnglishMartialArts]

There's a chap at my club who always gives me a hard time. He's as strong as an ox, punishes any mistake, I make, and is my favourite person ever to roll with. He recently turned 68.

[@ruiseartalcorn]

@@EnglishMartialArts Awesome!

[@paulhenderson9905]

There’s a chap from Holland who is a purple belt at BJJ who comes to our gym’s training camps. He’s an absolute master at wrist locks, has cardio for days and taught me more savage tricks to make my training partners lives a misery in half an hour, than I’ve learned in weeks of training.

[@claesandersson5300]

Good video. Started training bjj at 39 years old. Now off and on for the last three years. it's fun journey but i try to avoid the things are involving to much flexibility and try to train with the right persons

[@robertnewell4054]

*💪Fight Team 👊Oi*

[@BeepBoop2221]

I took up bjj at 33 and i do wish id done it sooner. Though im not as strong or fast as some of the others i find because ive done other martial arts i find it easier to plan ahead and join techniques together. The only frustrating thing is im held back by my hamstring flexibility which im working on.

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

FIGHT *ow* TEAM!

[@EnglishMartialArts]

😀

[@amang1001]

Here's a question. Which art should i train to better deal with kinfes... Bjj or Catch wrestling?

[@EnglishMartialArts]

There is no close quarter art that will deal effectively with knives consistently. Anyone that tells you otherwise is either an idiot or a liar.

[@vercingetorixwulf9298]

Sir! What difference does it make of your age? I go to a French boxing club and go in with ex world and competing world championships. I get slaughtered. Do I care? NO. It's great for health. My only job is to survive the class. And so far I have (just about) ...... I'm happy. And if you want a go son, just tell me. I'm in Bermondsey SE16 ...... All the best ......

[@biggnesss7192]

Am I too old to get good at combat sports in general. I'm 20 turning 21 in October.

[@tomjones6347]

Nope. You're still young. You're never to old to get good in general but if you want to be a professional you're probably too old

[@EnglishMartialArts]

What he said.

[@mikuspalmis]

Despite the odds and statistics, only *you* can really know about the last one, although it would be a rare occurrence.

[@dupree314]

I am 48, and I am considering starting BJJ. I started playing chess at 25. Lets just say Magnus Carlsen has nothing to worry about.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Stop considering, just do it! 😀

[@Hobbofett]

Start my man ,I started at 43 ,despite two work related injuries ,I've only had black eyes and bumps at jiu jitsu ,you'll love it . Get at it 💪

[@stephena1196]

Do it now. You don't want to be in the comments at 58 saying you wished you'd taken it up 10years ago.

[@Jamoni1]

If you like chess you'll love BJJ. Plus you'll be able to beat up the people who beat you at chess.

[@dupree314]

I am replying to the owner of the channel, but it applies to everyone who responded. Very warm welcome, greatly appreciated. I guess I just ran out of excuses for not starting BJJ😬@@EnglishMartialArts

[@LuxisAlukard]

Yes, you are too old. But that doesn't matter. =)