Kali and BJJ tonight! Thoughts on BJJ.
Stretching is the exercise most associated with karate. For Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I’d say the word is limbering,which I also associate with yoga.
With maturity, I don’t think it’s “stretched” that we want to be, but limber. I’ve got reasonably stretched hamstrings for kicking, but boy is my lower back finding it needs work. I thinks limber is something you can be most of the time, your range without a warm up.
I’ve often asked, why are there no 40+ year olds in BJJ? From what I’ve seen, they’re rare. I think it’s because most instructors, don’t know the effects of that type of training on mature bodies, hurt more than help, so only seek and cater to the high school/college athlete. People would answer; hey look at Helio Gracie, he’s 80! Yeah, but I haven’t seen him rolling with the younger UFC guys much lately either. I suspect at some point he accepted his limitations, and that’s OK.
I’d like to see older participants in BJJ. It has many self defense benefits for them, but I don’t think it’ll happen in the current state of the art. A 40, 50+ year old cannot be trained like a 22 year old looking to turn pro.
May take some more years before the current batch of tough guy, athletic, BJJ instructor matures, develops arthritis, lower back issues, and learns to train mature students.
In the meantime, you older guys and gals, you know your bodies and conditions better than they do. Operate and train within your limits and capacities. Don’t try to match that 22 year old squat per squat. It’s not a matter of “heart,” it’s a matter of biology, aging, decay.
I have a 40+ year old instructor. I am learning and preserving my health. I’ve worked with a couple of groups of young fighters, I was learning, but over stressing parts of myself that made it difficult to function in my next day’s affairs. I could not in good conscience continue with that. I hung in with them, but for how long? I’m not looking to get into the octogon this weekend. I like learning and adding skill sets to my repertoire, but don’t want to overpay, and the wrong way, the cost is not worth it.
That said a little rest before class tonight.
Do it to enhance your life not to harm it.
