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Senior BJJ
1 year(s) ago • 1210 views • 23 replies
DABlack belt 1st degreeVerifiedLimerick
1 year(s) ago
I've noticed that older individuals are hesitant to join jiu jitsu classes due to fear of getting injured. Similarly to how we have classes tailored for beginners, kids, and women, I'm considering starting a jiu jitsu class specifically for seniors over 50. The goal is not to segregate them, but to provide a more welcoming environment and prepare them to eventually join the regular classes. What are your thoughts on this idea? Let me know! :)
BSBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Why not? Post back in a few months and let us know how it’s going.
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Sounds like a great service to provide.
I hope it is a success
I hope it is a success
PGBlue beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I don't know that you need to go all the way to 50. One of the things I love about day class where I train is that it's all dads. Average age is mid/upper 30s. Everyone is strong, but nobody is explosive or reckless.
90% of my attendance is day class, but 90% of my injuries came at night class, in part because of the 20 year old white belts with more testosterone than sense.
90% of my attendance is day class, but 90% of my injuries came at night class, in part because of the 20 year old white belts with more testosterone than sense.
JVBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Jiu jitsu should be for everybody; good idea to focus on the elders. They need jiu jitsu too.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I tried something like this before, and it never really caught on. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.
In the end, people who have excuses not to train: "too busy", "too injured", "too old", etc, will always find an excuse. People who want to train will find a way.
I have plenty of older students in my regular classes.
In the end, people who have excuses not to train: "too busy", "too injured", "too old", etc, will always find an excuse. People who want to train will find a way.
I have plenty of older students in my regular classes.
CBBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
In all honesty, as an almost 50 year old grappler, I'm actually a bit annoyed when people think that they need to separate me from younger guys. I'm a big boy. I put on my own clothes and everything. I can decide for myself who I should train with and who I shouldn't.
DABlack belt 1st degreeVerifiedLimerick
DABlack belt 1st degreeVerifiedLimerick
1 year(s) ago
In all honesty, as an almost 50 year old grappler, I'm actually a bit annoyed when people think that they need to separate me from younger guys. I'm a big boy. I put on my own clothes and everything. I can decide for myself who I should train with and who I shouldn't.
Well, that's the point you have almost ten years of jiu-jitsu so you started in your late 30s, and the idea is to introduce them to it not separate them from it.
DBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
We recently started a 40+ class on Sunday mornings. Already has around 10 regulars coming in. I haven't been yet, too early for my old ass (no I'm not yet at the age where I go to sleep at 8 pm and wake up at 5 am)
JCPurple beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
In the end, people who have excuses not to train: 'too busy', 'too injured', 'too old', etc, will always find an excuse. People who want to train will find a way. I have plenty of older students in my regular classes.
^^^^This. I'm 48 now and was "old" at 39 when I started. We have lots of older grapplers on our mats. The common denominator is that they all want to train. There are many others who come in and are looking for an excuse from day one. We've seen similar things from our women's program. Those that want to train will come to normal classes and those that don't won't stick with the women's program either.
MBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
We recently started a 40+ class on Sunday mornings. Already has around 10 regulars coming in. I haven't been yet, too early for my old ass (no I'm not yet at the age where I go to sleep at 8 pm and wake up at 5 am)
What does it mean if I go to bed early and wake up at 5?
Edited 1 year(s) ago
MBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Well, that's the point you have almost ten years of jiu-jitsu so you started in your late 30s, and the idea is to introduce them to it not separate them from it.
I think it might have been misunderstood in your first post. Your intention is to provide an introductory class for people over 50, that are new to the sport. This way they can get over the fear of being injured. I think that is a good idea.
One thing I don’t like is how you stated “SENIORS over 50” I am 53, and do not qualify for Social Security, movie theater discounts, restaurant discounts, Medicare, or even Senior living communities, cellphone bills… so….
One thing I don’t like is how you stated “SENIORS over 50” I am 53, and do not qualify for Social Security, movie theater discounts, restaurant discounts, Medicare, or even Senior living communities, cellphone bills… so….
WSBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I think the environment should be welcoming to everyone. We pair up the highest belt with the lowest belt for technique and look for matching vibes when rolling. So someone that has issues controlling himself will never go with a new guy or someone more fragile in any way. If you are a student that thinks crushing people is success, we will have a conversation.
Everyone in the gym should know when to go light and how to do so. I understand that there is a need for kids classes to a certain age but everyone else should feel in the right place, always. I think it is a benefit having people from all walks of life on the mat at the same time.
Everyone in the gym should know when to go light and how to do so. I understand that there is a need for kids classes to a certain age but everyone else should feel in the right place, always. I think it is a benefit having people from all walks of life on the mat at the same time.
DSBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Well, when you see, of the seniors that really need to do jujutsu. I am glad that I do it. I will be 63 in January and a lot of times. It’s the movements that keep me healthy. Not so much the competition though those are fun. You know teaching in the seniors communication skills like tell people. Hey I’m older communicate with people say hey you wanna roll. Nice and easy. I think it’s great and then you pick and choose your partners because as a senior, we can get hurt. Just walking down the street. It’s better that they learn a skill, especially like how to break fall and stuff like that. That’ll help him there in their senior years. I hope it works out for your brother.
BVBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I think doing a -30 class would be more effective, since people generally dont want to consider themselves old or senior. Denial is real haha
ARBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
As a 50 year old, I probably wouldn't attend. I don't want a "special" class just because I'm close to death. But that's my opinion.
VBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
MBlack beltVerified
CBBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Well, that's the point you have almost ten years of jiu-jitsu so you started in your late 30s, and the idea is to introduce them to it not separate them from it.
First of all, a clarification: I am 49 now and have been training 9 years. That means I started BJJ at 40 now in my 30s. Also just to put a fine point on it, I was never a very athletic person before that, I was easily over 20 kilograms overweight and in terrible shape. I never wanted a +40 class. And now that in aber to enter my 50s, I want them even less. Hell, I don't even compete in my age group. Local tournaments I normally just compete in the adult division. I'll do masters at large tournaments like Europeans or Worlds, but even then I'm normally competing 10 to 15 years younger and I have yet to hear from anyone that they thought my matches were the easy ones.
Like I said, I'm a big boy. I can decide who to train with and who I won't. And if I may ask without trying to sound rude, If you're wanting advice from people in a particular age group, then shouldn't you want information from people in that age group when they say there's a fundamental flaw in the topic as a whole?
Honestly, overall, the main thing I've noticed among the older grapplers, not only in my gym but also other gyms I've visited, is that we generally want to be taken more seriously rather than effectively be told "you're too old and need special treatment because you can't keep up otherwise".
Like I said, I'm a big boy. I can decide who to train with and who I won't. And if I may ask without trying to sound rude, If you're wanting advice from people in a particular age group, then shouldn't you want information from people in that age group when they say there's a fundamental flaw in the topic as a whole?
Honestly, overall, the main thing I've noticed among the older grapplers, not only in my gym but also other gyms I've visited, is that we generally want to be taken more seriously rather than effectively be told "you're too old and need special treatment because you can't keep up otherwise".
VBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
CBBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
^^^^This. I'm 48 now and was 'old' at 39 when I started. We have lots of older grapplers on our mats. The common denominator is that they all want to train. There are many others who come in and are looking for an excuse from day one. We've seen similar things from our women's program. Those that want to train will come to normal classes and those that don't won't stick with the women's program either.
THIS!!!! ALL OF THIS!!!!!!
DPBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
In our gym there are 3 trainers in the late fifties including me. There is also another guy in his seventies with a coral belt. I am aware of the implications of age, but I have already met adults who come to explode and youngsters who play gently BJJ sparring. its only a game. It's probably a matter of atmosphere in the gym and the coach's responsibility to stop the fools.
MGBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
In all honesty, as an almost 50 year old grappler, I'm actually a bit annoyed when people think that they need to separate me from younger guys. I'm a big boy. I put on my own clothes and everything. I can decide for myself who I should train with and who I shouldn't.
I have to agree with this perspective. In our classes the age ranges from 14 to late 60s, and the older grapplers train everywhere from gentle rolling to balls to the wall. Most beginning older grapplers tend to be very stiff which makes learning and improving quite a slow process, but training with younger and more experienced folks actually can help them overcome this issue. I think classes sorted by level is much more useful than classes sorted by age.
