“Older” is a vague term, but the general answer is a tentative yes. I have trained with people in their fifties, in their sixties, and in their seventies. I have not trained with them personally, but I have read about people training jiu-jitsu in their eighties and even their nineties. Some of these people had prior martial arts experience, and some people took the dive late in life. There is nothing wrong with starting jiu-jitsu when you are older. Better late than ever!
But there are some caveats.
You should talk to your doctor about your plans to avoid any unexpected health complications. At the same time, you should also temper your expectations. You will not be able to roll the way the college kids roll. You may not be able to train as often or as hard. And you may have to adapt some techniques to make them work for you. I say this not to discourage you but to give you the best chance possible at enjoying your training. Don’t get wrapped up in being better than other students. Train to make yourself better, and be patient.
“Older” is a vague term, but the general answer is a tentative yes. I have trained with people in their fifties, in their sixties, and in their seventies. I have not trained with them personally, but I have read about people training jiu-jitsu in their eighties and even their nineties. Some of these people had prior martial arts experience, and some people took the dive late in life. There is nothing wrong with starting jiu-jitsu when you are older. Better late than ever!
But there are some caveats.
You should talk to your doctor about your plans to avoid any unexpected health complications. At the same time, you should also temper your expectations. You will not be able to roll the way the college kids roll. You may not be able to train as often or as hard. And you may have to adapt some techniques to make them work for you. I say this not to discourage you but to give you the best chance possible at enjoying your training. Don’t get wrapped up in being better than other students. Train to make yourself better, and be patient.
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislike