Starting Jiu Jitsu Classes on Monday

So I signed up to take classes. Got my gi and my fresh white belt. I am also 32 years old, and out of shape. Ever since I left the military in 2012, my fitness has been awful. I know I am about to get my butt kicked by these college kids all day long.

I have always loved martial arts and the discipline and structure built into it. I'm really hoping this gets me in better shape. Any other JJ folks in here? I mean this is SVTP.

I have been wanting to sign up for BJJ for a while, I am worried I am too out of shape to be doing that. Good luck in your new adventure.

Did you complete the combatives program? You’ll have an early advantage if so. Otherwise, just expect to tap early and tap often.

Use this this thread to share updates from your first days. Maybe some of us can give you tips or links to helpful videos. I know it sounds crazy but I found the book, Jiu-jitsu University by Ribiero, super helpful.

Crimson2v said:

I have been wanting to sign up for BJJ for a while, I am worried I am too out of shape to be doing that. Good luck in your new adventure.

Click to expand...

Crimson2v said:

I have been wanting to sign up for BJJ for a while, I am worried I am too out of shape to be doing that. Good luck in your new adventure.

Click to expand...

Nothing gets you in shape for jiu-jitsu except jiu-jitsu(maybe wrestling).

A lot of folks enroll with a goal to get in shape, you won’t be out of place.

Go do an intro class.

Good luck with it.

I'd like to do something like that for fitness reasons but am worried about some joints that are already more creaky than I'd like.

Sirraf said:

So I signed up to take classes. Got my gi and my fresh white belt. I am also 32 years old, and out of shape. Ever since I left the military in 2012, my fitness has been awful. I know I am about to get my butt kicked by these college kids all day long.

I have always loved martial arts and the discipline and structure built into it. I'm really hoping this gets me in better shape. Any other JJ folks in here? I mean this is SVTP.

Click to expand...

I’ve been doing jiujitsu for about a year and a half just got my blue belt recently. Do you have any experience in grappling, wrestling, ground fighting? If your fresh with no experience yes it’s gonna suck, yes you’ll get submitted ALOT but it’s all part of being a white belt.

anyone that’s been doing this sport long enough has been in your shoes.When your professor or anyone else asks tell them its your first day and you have no idea what your doing and they’ll be sure to show you the ropes of things.

I did BJJ for a couple years when I was younger and I really miss it. My hopes is once my boys are old enough to do it I’ll take classes as well. Some of the best cardio work I’ve ever done and it’s a great team atmosphere as long as you’re in a good gym. Ontop of that the mental benefits of stress relief and increased self confidence and awareness are endless

My buddy took some BJJ classes for a while before he broke his elbow.

Rolling around with him went from fairly easy (I outweigh him by a good amount, and back then I was certainly stronger), to sort of pointless. It was shocking how good he got and how fast it happened.

I imagine the same will happen for you.

I would recommend going onto Utube and watching some of the basic moves they will teach u so u will have a better idea of what they are talking about when teaching it to u.

This is one of the better channels. Nothing takes the place of actually doing it with someone else but their videos are top notch. https://www.youtube.com/user/GracieBreakdown

Morgan said:

Did you complete the combatives program? You’ll have an early advantage if so. Otherwise, just expect to tap early and tap often.

Use this this thread to share updates from your first days. Maybe some of us can give you tips or links to helpful videos. I know it sounds crazy but I found the book, Jiu-jitsu University by Ribiero, super helpful.

Click to expand...

I went through combatives in the military about 3 times. I mean it was very basic, but maybe it will help. I found out that Chad Hardy is one of the instructors at my gym. He appears to be a pretty good guy.

AustinJ427 said:

My buddy took some BJJ classes for a while before he broke his elbow.

Rolling around with him went from fairly easy (I outweigh him by a good amount, and back then I was certainly stronger), to sort of pointless. It was shocking how good he got and how fast it happened.

I imagine the same will happen for you.

Click to expand...

Very cool story.

Ive always had interest in JJ.. just never found the time to research a good local class or join.

Sirraf said:

So I signed up to take classes. Got my gi and my fresh white belt. I am also 32 years old, and out of shape. Ever since I left the military in 2012, my fitness has been awful. I know I am about to get my butt kicked by these college kids all day long.

I have always loved martial arts and the discipline and structure built into it. I'm really hoping this gets me in better shape. Any other JJ folks in here? I mean this is SVTP.

Click to expand...

Any reputable school you'll most likely roll with someone of a higher belt, at the school I used to go to, two white belts never rolled together to reduce the risk of injury. That being said, they'll usually go easy on you and like you mentioned, you're going to get twisted up.

I started in the early 2000's.

Prepare to have your convictions about fighting completely rewritten.

I dabbled in MA for a short bit. KF and and a 6 weekend JJ.
It was really just a McDoJo.
I am not athletic.
They were hung up on me learning Crane moves eventually...I didn't practice at home...etc.

I still think about taking some self defense "someday," but it would have to be some kind that just employs gross motor skill stuff. I can't see an arm-bar moment for shit.

The JJ was the most practical. I learned how long 45 seconds is and how short a time a choke hold is. Mainly I learned that I am toast in any physical altercation.
The biggest and funniest thing was the first talk after the first session.
It ended with, "For you old guys, there's Tylenol, Aleve, Advil, Motrin..."

Good luck!

I have been doing jiujitsu for years and it is seriously the best ever. Don’t worry about being out of shape. Grappling conditioning is something different and you will develop it.

remember one thing, the looser, less tense you are, the more you will grapple and be in control. Also remember, you learn by tapping. Don’t let your ego get in the way and yap when you need to, reset and go back at it again.
Good luck

I like the idea of learning BJJ, krav maga, etc. With age and bad back aside, the biggest reason I'll never do it is that I hate feet...and there's way too many bare feet than I can handle in MA classes.

Sirraf said:

So I signed up to take classes. Got my gi and my fresh white belt. I am also 32 years old, and out of shape. Ever since I left the military in 2012, my fitness has been awful. I know I am about to get my butt kicked by these college kids all day long.

I have always loved martial arts and the discipline and structure built into it. I'm really hoping this gets me in better shape. Any other JJ folks in here? I mean this is SVTP.

Click to expand...

Leave your ego at the door. Clear your mind and be prepared to learn. You are going to be sore and feel pain in places you didn't know could hurt. haha It's a very fulfilling adventure. I got busy with my kids and stopped, but I really need to make time to start going again.

Crimson2v said:

I have been wanting to sign up for BJJ for a while, I am worried I am too out of shape to be doing that. Good luck in your new adventure.

Click to expand...

You aren't to out of shape to start. My Sensei always told the new people that the white belt was the hardest belt to get because most people won't walk through the door and get started.

I've been tired and beat down from working outside in the heat and other things, but it was nothing compared to the day I got my orange belt (Japanese Jiu-Jitsu has a different belt system than BJJ).

Prepare to have sore joints, everywhere! Hip joints, shoulders, and back. Take warm up stretching seriously. Try not to go 100% your first few times out. I pulled a left groin last November, that kept me sidelined until May. I'm athletic, but the muscle groups you use in any martial art, are different than typical sports. For me it is the hip joints, groin (your inner thigh muscle, not your nuts/hernia stuff), and siadic nerve that have sidelined me. Never had a sports injury my entire life, until I started martial arts.

Reading this last week got me looking into MA. I'm thinking of going with Krav Maga.

OP, you are going to enjoy it. Couple tips -

1. You will get your butt kicked at first, including by people who look very physically weak. You won't even know they are setting up a submission and all of a sudden a joint will be hyperextended or the blood supply to your brain will be cut off. Don't be ashamed to tap out, it could just prevent an injury.

2. Start stretching everyday at least 20+ minutes. Also, start doing more cardio workouts.

3. Lookup and remember the basic positions - closed guard, half guard, butterfly guard, mount, back mount, side control, etc

4. Train GI and no-GI if possible. I always preferred no-GI myself.

5. Practice your wrestling shot. Basically as you lunge forward, front knee hits the ground briefly as rear leg drags along the mat bringing your rear foot forward to plant and drive through the opponent. Hard to explain but watch a video and you'll see.

6. Don't be a dick in practice - hands in face, elbows to neck, smothering teammates, etc. Everyone is there to improve, not compete.

7. Speaking of competing, don't be afraid to get into a tournament or gym scrimmage once you get your feet wet. Great way to test your skills against other competitiors

8. Wash your GI (and yourself) - It will stink if it isn't washing often and ringworm/staph can be a problem. Get defense soap to kill the bacteria. Defense Soap® | Soaps for Men, Women, Athletes, Babies, and Children | DefenseSoap.com

9. Have fun!

Let me know if you have any other specific questions.

My94GT said:

I did BJJ for a couple years when I was younger and I really miss it. My hopes is once my boys are old enough to do it I’ll take classes as well. Some of the best cardio work I’ve ever done and it’s a great team atmosphere as long as you’re in a good gym. Ontop of that the mental benefits of stress relief and increased self confidence and awareness are endless

Click to expand...

I've trained about 1.5 years total but had wrestling experience so I was already comfortable on the mat when i walked into the gym.

When we were expecting I decided I needed to focus on my wife and son and save $ of course. Little guy is now 16 months old and want to get him into it as soon as kids BJJ starts and then get back into it myself. Trying to stay limber and in shape until then but the workouts are not as intense as wrestling and BJJ classes at the gym. Also 36 now so in a few years i'll probably feel a lot stiffer.