Brazilian Jiu Jitsu After 40
Are you interested in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but think you’re too “old” to try it out? That’s simply not true! When you walk into any BJJ academy in Houston, you’ll see grapplers of all ages practicing together.
If you need more reassurance, the famous chef Anthony Bourdain didn’t start practicing BJJ until he was over 40. You’re not as weak as you may think you are, and BJJ can help you build the strength and confidence to forget you turned 40 in the first place! Let’s look at some tips for starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and staying active.
BJJ is Hard at Any Age
We cannot stress enough that you shouldn’t be stressing about your age. Nobody waltzes into a BJJ academy and is immediately a master. BJJ is a complex practice with many moving parts to learn. The first time you try grappling is going to be confusing whether you’re 16 or 75 years old, so don’t let that scare you off.
Focus on Recovery
Recovery is important at any age in BJJ, but especially over 40. Your body isn’t going to recover as quickly from practice as it did when you were 22, and that’s alright! All you need to do is make sure you’re maximizing muscle recovery time after grappling.
One of the best things you can do for yourself if you’re getting into BJJ is to get adequate sleep. We’re also looking at you, young grapplers! Just because you CAN practice on 3 hours of sleep doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
Along with getting plenty of rest, you should have a good stretch routine. Your BJJ class will have a warm up, but stretching on your own will help prevent wear and tear on your muscles.