Jiu Jitsu is bad for your body.

[ShindoNinja]

Thanks for sharing...pretty much where I'm at. It would be for no other reason than to get a good workout and have fun learning something new. i'll give it a go

Definitely do it. We have a 62 year old white belt. You just have to do what you can handle. The more you train your body will adapt and you will handle more. All sports have risked. I dumped my mountain bike ripping downhill and messed my shoulder real bad last week. At 42, it's going to be a long recovery and I won't be able to roll for a while.

Shit happens but it's better than sitting on the couch.

 

[805rob]

Yeah, that's how I see it. Plus, as I was learning more about BJJ I inquired about a gym near me, and the main instructor is an older guy and said they have masters divisions for older dudes. While I sure as heck am not going to compete, it's nice to know there are still plenty of older guys still giving it a go....

 

[INTERL0PER]

What a great thread.

IMO, you motherfuckers need yoga. Or at least some regular stretching/mobility work.

I'm 34 now and have been doing yoga regularly since my early twenties. BJJ for about six years. There have been so many situations where I KNOW the flexibility from yoga has prevented an injury during BJJ training. It's also absolutely critical for my recovery. After a while, you get good enough at stretching, and familiar enough with your body, that it feels like you can give yourself a massage.

42 year old training partner/friend of mine with absolutely fucked knees just started doing some and he's raving about it. Says his knees haven't felt this good in years.

Of course, yoga can cause injury if done incorrectly, but if your careful and listen to your body, I have no doubt yoga will help your BJJ, both short term and long term.

 

[asian-glow]

Yeah, that's how I see it. Plus, as I was learning more about BJJ I inquired about a gym near me, and the main instructor is an older guy and said they have masters divisions for older dudes. While I sure as heck am not going to compete, it's nice to know there are still plenty of older guys still giving it a go....

I hear competing at masters is safer - it's not like adult where people are trying to make a name for themselves. I've heard that all the competitors get together, wish each other well, and kind of look out for each other. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[asian-glow]

What a great thread.

IMO, you motherfuckers need yoga. Or at least some regular stretching/mobility work.

I'm 34 now and have been doing yoga regularly since my early twenties. BJJ for about six years. There have been so many situations where I KNOW the flexibility from yoga has prevented an injury during BJJ training. It's also absolutely critical for my recovery. After a while, you get good enough at stretching, and familiar enough with your body, that it feels like you can give yourself a massage.

42 year old training partner/friend of mine with absolutely fucked knees just started doing some and he's raving about it. Says his knees haven't felt this good in years.

Of course, yoga can cause injury if done incorrectly, but if your careful and listen to your body, I have no doubt yoga will help your BJJ, both short term and long term.

I know one guy whose 40 who swears by it. He is also really flexible for someone his age.

I know at a certain point, however, flexibility can actually make your joints more unstable and prone to injury. In this sense, it can actually be safer to be a less mobile meathead. I wonder if there's an optimal amount of flexibility to strength ratio.

 

[INTERL0PER]

I know one guy whose 40 who swears by it. He is also really flexible for someone his age.

I know at a certain point, however, flexibility can actually make your joints more unstable and prone to injury. In this sense, it can actually be safer to be a less mobile meathead. I wonder if there's an optimal amount of flexibility to strength ratio.

You absolutely can be too flexible, but I can't say I've met an older bjj guy who was too flexible. It's usually the other end of the spectrum, like the people posting in this thread. To get to that level of flexibility you either have a genetic/physical predisposition to being super flexible, or work at it very hard, for a long time. Men worrying about yoga making them too flexible is like women worrying about lifting weights making them too muscular.

I think doing the right yoga, in the right way is important. There's a wide variety of styles, from very light, almost meditation stuff, to intense bodyweight style workouts that'll actually injure you if you don't know what you're doing. There's plenty of great stuff online (Yoga For BJJ being the obvious choice here), but I'd recommend going to classes first so an instructor can make sure you're doing it properly, in correct alignment etc.

I think "normal" yoga a couple of times a week is plenty for someone doing bjj. It'll help with recovery and boost your general flexibility and mobility to help prevent future injuries.

The other benefits not often talked about are yoga's ability to strengthen smaller muscle groups, help with balance, and increase general body awareness. It's not all just flexibility.

 

[asian-glow]

You absolutely can be too flexible, but I can't say I've met an older bjj guy who was too flexible. It's usually the other end of the spectrum, like the people posting in this thread. To get to that level of flexibility you either have a genetic/physical predisposition to being super flexible, or work at it very hard, for a long time. Men worrying about yoga making them too flexible is like women worrying about lifting weights making them too muscular.

I think doing the right yoga, in the right way is important. There's a wide variety of styles, from very light, almost meditation stuff, to intense bodyweight style workouts that'll actually injure you if you don't know what you're doing. There's plenty of great stuff online (Yoga For BJJ being the obvious choice here), but I'd recommend going to classes first so an instructor can make sure you're doing it properly, in correct alignment etc.

I think "normal" yoga a couple of times a week is plenty for someone doing bjj. It'll help with recovery and boost your general flexibility and mobility to help prevent future injuries.

The other benefits not often talked about are yoga's ability to strengthen smaller muscle groups, help with balance, and increase general body awareness. It's not all just flexibility.

Never considered the stabilizer angle.

Bjj has ironically taken a lot of my flexibility away. The injuries have degraded my ROM for a few of my staple stretches.

Nice post though. I'm sure your recommendation will get a lot of people on track to being healthier.

I've actually taken a few yoga classes. The class makeup is almost the complete opposite of bjj - mostly younger women and older dudes. Could just get area.

 

[FanBlammer]

Thinking about this too. I've been doing bjj for about 3 years with a childhood history of judo. I've had a few minor injuries, broken toes, dislocated rib, strains. I've been making great progress in my bjj the last year ish going 3-4x a week. However, it was about a month ago I got a neck crank while in Kesa Gatame. I probably should've tapped sooner, but didn't. Followed by a roll with a white belt dropping in that had something to prove, got inverted on my neck and not from me berimbolo-ing... I now have either a pinched nerve or a herniated disk at c7-t1 which has caused transient numbness, tingling in my right arm, and static weakness (since I have a high deductible plan, and am otherwise functional, my Dr. and I agree it's not worth, at this point, spending 3-4k on an MRI to find out what we already know). I went from doing 50+ push ups at a time to 4. Been off about a month with likely more to go to recovery with physical therapy. I'm definitely thinking about continuing or not. I love the challenge of bjj and want to go back, but the constant low grade dull ache in my neck has me thinking rationally.

 

[John Schultz]

I’ve been injured for the past 5 months or so, im 38, damn I’m old.. and I have trained like 3 or 4 times in these past 5 months... in don’t know what will happen to me... but I got a bulged disk on the l4 l5 that just keeps on fucking with me... I feel fin and every time I come back, shit gets worse, numbed legs and stuff. Doc says I should quit Bjj, i can’t see my life out of this sport, that will have a mayor impact on my life...

Same problem I'll hit you up in private message

 

[GoodbyeBlueSky82]

Non-athletic 36 year old blue belt here. I get that itch if I don't train 2-3 times per week and I am trying to add in some No Gi a couple times a month so I'm not clueless in that. In reading some of the comments here, I guess I should be cautiously optimistic about how long it can continue. That said, some of the brown belts I learn the most from are 50+. They grunt and complain about hurting or rolling with bigger guys (like me) but they really know how to roll safely and also not waste motion.

 

[John Schultz]

I just want to say to people injured being somone that has fully dislocated and fractured both arms.

Prolapsed disc in my back so severe I was on crazy doses of nerve damage pin killers and anti inflammatorys.

You need to alter your training train smarter and dont waste time on unproductive training.

I came back after a prolapsed disc in my back off for 2 years took up Sambo and became national Champion. I am in my 30s. Took up boxing a year ago.

Breaking all the rules that society tells us at past 30.

Structure everything and don't spar to many times a week.

Everything got a purpose I concentrate heavily on stretching every morning and night.

I'll post up my routine if anyone wants to see it simple but goes completly against what your told to do preparing for competition.

 

[SAMURAI SPIRIT]

"Bad" is relative to what you want to do with your neck. The average person does not need that much neck strength and traditional physical therapy would look at something like a wrestler's neck bridge and cringe because they're taught you're going to harm yourself. The neck is not really supposed to be load bearing (not in the way you hold a bridge) and it's not meant to generate much power (like explosively lifting your shoulders off the mat). But we invented a sport where you need to do those things, and wrestlers are going to be put in that spot with another person trying to smash them, so it makes sense they would need to be conditioned to it. How you train your neck and how much stress you put on it will determine if it's safe or not.

All that said, neck strength is important in combat/impact sports and there are other ways to train it. Check this out:

http://www.powering-through.com/neck-training/

This is one of the most articulate and informative pieces on BJJ training that I have ever read. Where do I read Parts 1 and 2?

 

[General_Speckz]

Necro thread that this is... It's really scary to read the first page and there only is one mention of physical therapy. Personally, I hate mobility and stretching exercises. But I hate inefficient uses of my time just as much - which is why I'm not a big fan of yoga even after taking classes and researching it. That said, I do specific stretches taught in yoga like the spinal twist if I've been sitting all day. But, If you go to a physical therapist talking about how you have to use your hands to put your legs in the car and you can't reach the top shelf they will absolutely give you a specific program, mostly stretches but potentially exercises too - to fix that issue. Of course it's up to you to know your body and recognize any stupid stuff they have you do - like giving you exercises you don't need. But, overall theyre quite helpful, and i think its a shame lifter personalities like Mark Rippetoe have sought to sully their reputations in the past.

 

[Louis101]

Another 46 year old hobbyist purple as well.. I have really been thinking the same thing.... I have chronic hip pain that makes it hard to get in and out of my car. Tendonitis in one shoulder and elbow... that shit flairs up all the time. Jiu jitsu is very hard on the body because there are no off season. Its always grind grind and more grind.
Last night I had a very athletic young purple belt diving for ankle locks. Doesn't matter how many times I have told him "I'll tap bro just give me time before you slam one on". Well, slammed one on last night and my knee popped and that was that. He apologized to me afterwards but said he was caught up in "it" and didn't mean to power through. Today I'm limping around.... too old for that shit!!

41 yr old purple belt and have to say your post hit home , trading leg locks with head coach during a pretty serious roll. I want outside heel hook , he decided naw that's not happening and came up into a toe hold.

.16 seconds later my brittle 40 yr old ankle popped 3 times and my coach is apologizing profusely ... sounded pretty horrible tbf.

Felt ok , could put weight on it and movement wasn't too impaired ... flash forward to the next morning and i get the surprise gift of a tennis ball sized knot on ankle.


Training is only accomplished via handfuls of ibuprofen lately.

 

[General_Speckz]

Couldn't you tape your joints to prevent serious harm when they're strained?

 

[RJ Green]

tape is a glorified band-aid.

guard is horrible for your spine.

an office job/sedentary lifestyle is even worse.

trying to train after 10 hours on concrete or a ladder isn't much better.

the best way to injure yourself is to overtrain.

tapping early saves a boatload on medical bills, and only costs your ego.

gym wins aren't worth a lifetime of chronic pain.

recovery is everything.

 

[Kevza]

I seen a post by someone on the first page that resonated with me.
Im in my mid 30s, but seemingly look 10 years younger, and people cant understand how I carry so much injuries. Its a nuisance as obviously im not there to tell everyone ' btw im older than I look, so take it easy ' LOL
I actually try to cover up my injuries over the years, as unfortunately the mindset of most men is that its a sign of weakness, which is stupid, I know.
Actually it becomes almost a running joke with some people in my gym, that ' whats wrong with you now?' kind of thing.

No one knows that I was powerlifting as a teen going into my 20s, then took up kickboxing as well, and with both of them, along with sloppy training, my body is feeling it. Had a hip and shoulder surgery in my 20s, which are manageable now with limited training. I also have lower back , knee and elbow issues that come and go, which makes BJJ training pretty much stop and start for me now, which was tough to begin with, as I love it.

Im currently in the process of doing more stretching, seeing a recommended physio/masseuse, and watching my form a lot more in the gym ( which ive cut down to 2 sessions a week also ).
Not ready to call it quits just yet though, but it has crossed my mind.

 

[AnthonyCasso]

This is one of reasons I take long breaks from bjj, personally I'm almost done with it. I like being healthy and not constantly wrecked with injuries. Also I'm tired of wrestling people on gear, it's getting ridiculous with all the peds going around. I'm not gonna invest in hours of training and drugs/supplements to be a competitive grappler.

Lol I'd rather take breaks then get my knee shredded and be forced out for months while not being able to train anything.

 

[AnthonyCasso]

I seen a post by someone on the first page that resonated with me.
Im in my mid 30s, but seemingly look 10 years younger, and people cant understand how I carry so much injuries. Its a nuisance as obviously im not there to tell everyone ' btw im older than I look, so take it easy ' LOL
I actually try to cover up my injuries over the years, as unfortunately the mindset of most men is that its a sign of weakness, which is stupid, I know.
Actually it becomes almost a running joke with some people in my gym, that ' whats wrong with you now?' kind of thing.

No one knows that I was powerlifting as a teen going into my 20s, then took up kickboxing as well, and with both of them, along with sloppy training, my body is feeling it. Had a hip and shoulder surgery in my 20s, which are manageable now with limited training. I also have lower back , knee and elbow issues that come and go, which makes BJJ training pretty much stop and start for me now, which was tough to begin with, as I love it.

Im currently in the process of doing more stretching, seeing a recommended physio/masseuse, and watching my form a lot more in the gym ( which ive cut down to 2 sessions a week also ).
Not ready to call it quits just yet though, but it has crossed my mind.

Its apart of the BJJ culture , it's quite dumb. I was at a competitive gym, I would get forced to roll hard all the time. I rolled when my body was telling me not to, I've rolled hard to where I could barely get out of bed. My ju jujitsu did not improve because I was constantly injured. It would of been better to just train technically and slow down the rolling.

 

[Kaffe]

A very interesting thread.

35 and relatively injury free. Still able to go beast mode, but only if I limit training to twice a week, which my schedule has almost always required me to anyways. I have also always tapped early for any joint lock. That might have spared my body quite a bit over the years. I have noticed a significant decline in recovery speed and more of a need for warmups, but strength, speed and endurance is still good in sparring.

Bizzarely, soccer has been much more detrimental to my body than grappling.