Picking up Judo after 30...

[stimbox]

You young whippersnappers have it easy.
I'm 43 now. I started doing judo again at 40 after about a 25 year break from it.
When I first started back it was rough. I was out of shape and hadn't taken any falls in ages. Muscle memory kicked in when I started doing the ukemi and learning the throws again. I can't stress too much that you should practice ukemi and get it down pat. I've had my share of small injuries: broken pinkie finger, torn rib cartilage, and pulled muscles. A year ago I started doing BJJ too. It's totally possible to do judo after 30.

 

[Hellboy31]

You young whippersnappers have it easy.
I'm 43 now. I started doing judo again at 40 after about a 25 year break from it.
When I first started back it was rough. I was out of shape and hadn't taken any falls in ages. Muscle memory kicked in when I started doing the ukemi and learning the throws again. I can't stress too much that you should practice ukemi and get it down pat. I've had my share of small injuries: broken pinkie finger, torn rib cartilage, and pulled muscles. A year ago I started doing BJJ too. It's totally possible to do judo after 30.

Awesome. very inspiring....

I'm assuming Ukemi means break falls?

 

[Legend Killer]

Though I haven't read it personally nor do I train Judo nor am I as old as you are (kidding!) , there is a judo book called Falling Hard. In it the author takes up judo when he is 50. I hear it's a good read. It might help serve as motivation! I mean if that dude can do it at 50 then you certainly can do it at 32!

 

[Hellboy31]

Though I haven't read it personally nor do I train Judo nor am I as old as you are (kidding!) , there is a judo book called Falling Hard. In it the author takes up judo when he is 50. I hear it's a good read. It might help serve as motivation! I mean if that dude can do it at 50 then you certainly can do it at 32!

Thanks man... I've heard really good things about that book as well. Might just have to go pick up a copy today.

 

[Steeltwo]

As others have said, it will be rough at first. But depending on the school it might not be so bad.

We have people in for maybe a month or two practicing falls, throws before we attempt any type of sparring.

Generally we do ground first so they get use to the physical competition since that will freak people out.
Then go standing if they do not spaz out too bad.

 

[Podgorny]

It's definitely possible, at my Judo club there is a gentleman who is now going for his black belt, I believe he's 49 or 50. He started just a few weeks or months before I did when I was fifteen I believe (I'm seventeen now). I'm on the other end of the boat, with the youngens.

 

[rvc2010]

man i'm about to turn 31 and u youngins are making me feel old. just started bjj and it kicked my butt. still sore from monday. i say go for it man. u only live once and i regret not jumping into bjj years back when i wanted too.

 

[Wandgun]

I've always thought about starting judo, but my question isn't about getting hurt at a later age as much as it's about how much will it benefit later on. If I train my ass off in judo and then go against a good wrestler in a BJJ tournament, I'm thinking I'm still going to pull guard. Then pretty much all that judo training becomes useless.

Please correct me if my thinking is wrong.

 

[Problem Child]

I started in my LATE 30s. Been doing it for a while now, had a lot of injuries the last year, but ALL of them can be traced to two things- playing hurt (not sore, but hurt) and playing above my skill level.

Be smart and you will be fine.

 

[Ryo]

I've always thought about starting judo, but my question isn't about getting hurt at a later age as much as it's about how much will it benefit later on. If I train my ass off in judo and then go against a good wrestler in a BJJ tournament, I'm thinking I'm still going to pull guard. Then pretty much all that judo training becomes useless.

Please correct me if my thinking is wrong.

um.........?????? :icon_neut

 

[Hellboy31]

I've always thought about starting judo, but my question isn't about getting hurt at a later age as much as it's about how much will it benefit later on. If I train my ass off in judo and then go against a good wrestler in a BJJ tournament, I'm thinking I'm still going to pull guard. Then pretty much all that judo training becomes useless.

Please correct me if my thinking is wrong.

I don't really understand. Why would wrestling immediately cancel out Judo in regards to the takedown?

 

[Wandgun]

I don't really understand. Why would wrestling immediately cancel out Judo in regards to the takedown?

I guess that's what I'm trying to find out. No disrespect to judo intended at all. If I trained a year of judo, is it really going to help me against a guy that has wrestled his entire life in regards to BJJ?

Again, not attacking Judo, I'm trying to decide how much it would help my game.

 

[futang17]

I guess that's what I'm trying to find out. No disrespect to judo intended at all. If I trained a year of judo, is it really going to help me against a guy that has wrestled his entire life in regards to BJJ?

Again, not attacking Judo, I'm trying to decide how much it would help my game.

I suggest you watch the Akiyama vs Leben fight.

Here's some analysis:

Judo Chop: The Instinctive Judo of Yoshihiro Akiyama - Bloody Elbow

Interview With U.S. Olympic Judo Coach Jimmy Pedro, Part 1 - Bloody Elbow

Interview With U.S. Olympic Judo Coach Jimmy Pedro, Part 2 - Bloody Elbow


I don't think Leben's wrestling shutdown Akiyama's judo, on the contrary Akiyama also seemed to takedown Leben at will. The reason why Akiyama lost? Cardio...he was so gassed a carebear stare would have submitted him.

Those were no gi environments...now imagine a gi tournament where you get the gi for 100% of your throws.


*** Also you asked 1 year of judo vs. a lifetime of wrestling... that's a loaded question. A lifetime of wrestling would beat 1 year training of any art***

 

[Wandgun]

I suggest you watch the Akiyama vs Leben fight.

Here's some analysis:

Judo Chop: The Instinctive Judo of Yoshihiro Akiyama - Bloody Elbow

Interview With U.S. Olympic Judo Coach Jimmy Pedro, Part 1 - Bloody Elbow

Interview With U.S. Olympic Judo Coach Jimmy Pedro, Part 2 - Bloody Elbow


I don't think Leben's wrestling shutdown Akiyama's judo, on the contrary Akiyama also seemed to takedown Leben at will. The reason why Akiyama lost? Cardio...he was so gassed a carebear stare would have submitted him.

Those were no gi environments...now imagine a gi tournament where you get the gi for 100% of your throws.


*** Also you asked 1 year of judo vs. a lifetime of wrestling... that's a loaded question. A lifetime of wrestling would beat 1 year training of any art***

Great, I'll check them out. Thanks!

Does Leben have a wrestling backround?

 

[Sloth]

I guess that's what I'm trying to find out. No disrespect to judo intended at all. If I trained a year of judo, is it really going to help me against a guy that has wrestled his entire life in regards to BJJ?

Again, not attacking Judo, I'm trying to decide how much it would help my game.

If you train a year of Judo, and practice with guys who have wrestled for their whole lives, then you might come up with some good counters to wrestling style throws, like Uchimata off of single or double legs, etc....Or you might just get double legged. Or you might find it best to just pull guard. Do what makes sense in the situation.

Learning Judo just gives you more options. If you run into a lifelong wrestler, then that's a tough situation takedown wise. If you run into a guy who wrestled for a year or two in school five years ago and can sort of remember how to do doubles and singles, well, then that's a chance for you to try out your year of Judo.

 

[Hellboy31]

If you train a year of Judo, and practice with guys who have wrestled for their whole lives, then you might come up with some good counters to wrestling style throws, like Uchimata off of single or double legs, etc....Or you might just get double legged. Or you might find it best to just pull guard. Do what makes sense in the situation.

Learning Judo just gives you more options. If you run into a lifelong wrestler, then that's a tough situation takedown wise. If you run into a guy who wrestled for a year or two in school five years ago and can sort of remember how to do doubles and singles, well, then that's a chance for you to try out your year of Judo.

Great post

 

[Ryo]

If were talking about BJJ in a gi then yea... for sure.

It goes both ways. Do you think a wrestler is gonna dominate a Judoka in a gi? Not likely.

 

[BuenoEx]

Exactly. The gi is an amazingly frustrating tool in the hands of a judoka or jiu-jiteiro. The grip fighting alone can make a HUGE difference.

 

[wildman1717]

*** Also you asked 1 year of judo vs. a lifetime of wrestling... that's a loaded question. A lifetime of wrestling would beat 1 year training of any art***

That is for sure, I don't think he realized what he said.

 

[Mr. Sandman]

That is for sure, I don't think he realized what he said.

I think he means that people with years of a takedown art, either it be wrestling or judo, under their belts could be common opponents.. ..and his year of judo would be useless against such opponents., therefore that year could've been better spent trying to sweep such opponents.

But I still say train judo, IT's worth it. I judo it up once a week and I'M an old twentyniner.

And if you feel you're getting picked up for an air ride, don't fight it, accept it, because if you don't, you'll land wrong, and it could end badly, trust me..