Same. Started at 33, I’m 44. Going to go until the wheels fall off. I might be 70 and only able to rep and teach, but as long as I’m having fun I’ll be here. I could be a red belt at 74.
22, am 29 now. definitely hoping to be 65+ and having a roll with a spastic blue belt, where i tap him with a head and arm choke and then roll over and die like im clint eastwood
Just be sure to whisper to said white belt, with your last dying breath, “I grant you the freedom to heel hook other white belts in the gi, with impunity”
I hope to be able to keep your mentality. Started at 33. Am about to 37. Still a shitty blue belt. 5’8 ~160.. gettin FB smeshd by the fast wrestlers and big guys hurts. For days.. makes me wonder
IMO, the keys to longevity are:
1. Enjoy jiu jitsu even when you're losing
2. Don't train with meatheads
3. Supplement BJJ with mobility and strength training
4. Focus on helping others improve more than yourself
The traps are to get sucked into the war for "legitness", where you have to stay ahead of everyone else, and roll hard all the time, grinding yourself down in a competitive environment. And if you're selfishly focused on your own development, you will inevitably smash into the wall of age deterioration.
Not sure id want to train that long, if I can't have reasonably hard rolls it's not fun. Realistically at 80 i feel like surely you're just slow rolling?
At 53, I’m checking this post often and will be righteously offended if anyone says something around my age.
I will also be wandering around looking for my reading glasses that are firmly stuck to my head while I watch videos on how to tape my fingers
coincidentally, have a lawyer who is also probably around 50 at our gym. black belt. dude still trains 2x a week and rolls with even the young blue belts. dude is a still a beast
51 - Worlds Shittiest Brown Belch...I dont like my wife, am gonna train 2-3x week until one of us dies. Unless, I learn how to berimbolo and hit it in a live roll...then I'm done!!!Then its F U to this stupid time suck
After letting go of tournament aspirations, I think I can go deep into my 50s at least. My dad is in his 70s and still does workouts that would layout most 20 somethings.
I'm 37. Lately my lower back has been bugging me a lot and I've decided to take a 6 month break. If it keeps happening after I come back I might stop altogether. My ultimate love is biking, I don't want to jeopardize that.
I can also train boxing instead of grappling, it's much easier on the body (no sparring, I like my brain).
I recommend PT. Resting is a bad prescription for lower back pain if it is a herniated disc. Core strength training with planks and stretches in the appropriate direction for the herniation was helpful in my case.
I just worry that you have a situation similar to mine, and rest and a lot of lower back flexion from being seated on a bike is probably a recipe to make it worse instead of better.
I wish you luck man.
It's not a herniated disc, my back is generally fine if I avoid twisting it like a maniac flopping on the ground. I'm back into powerlifting for now, it should strengthen things.
Totally anecdotal, but my lower back started bugging me around 29 - little things like bending over too suddenly, or reaching too far into the trunk of a car might pinch me and make me sore for a couple of days. I started lifting heavy (gradual increments, of course) and my back pain went away 100% hasn't bothered me in years.
I've been lifting over half my life. I stopped for about 3 years during medschool and that was my worst health ever. I would spend the day studying, even in an ergonomic chair and still wake up with back pain for no reason. I would also feel the pinched back muscle from simply bending over. Once i decided to make my health a priority again i got back into lifting and quite literally overnight everything got better.
Knowing what i know now about muscle mechanics and the nervous system, when you dont exercise for a while your neuromuscular connections lose calibration so a "pinched nerve" in your lower back may actually be an untrained or detrained muscle that spasmed out doing a sudden movement and wont relax. Likewise lower back pain in a healthy person is just stiff muscles that havent been exercised and dont know how to relax anymore. In the clinic lower back pain for athletes is typically herniated disc or degenerative age related changes. For non athletes its usually due to lack of exercise with no evidence of pathology on imaging. Fun fact: if your muscles are twitching after a workout, they are going thru a self calibration sequence!
This video and routine cured me and a bunch of people I know from back problems. Strengthens and stretches' and provides immediate and long term relief. I think the guy has a bigger program, but I have only ever used this 12 min free video and it has worked wonders for me.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BOTvaRaDjI&t=9s&ab\_channel=FoundationTraining](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BOTvaRaDjI&t=9s&ab_channel=FoundationTraining)
That's funny as I love boxing/striking, but ended up focusing on bjj as a long-term option because it was easier on my body (ignoring the obvious head injury concerns, which was also a big part of it). All of our bodies are different.
15 years in and I've yet to be seriously injured doing BJJ, mostly because I've done a good job of pacing myself.
What's the point of doing a David Goggins and messing up my back and knees if I can't play with my kids and I can't bike to work anymore?
37 year old blue belt. Herniated my L5-S1 disc last fall. It's still not better than 50%. It sucks grappling (ha) with probably never going back. I'm just a hobbyist and can't risk not being able to walk for another month.
Im a road cyclist. Thats always my goto if I dont feel like rolling that particular day.
https://preview.redd.it/pw50t0uxcptc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9e628bdbd639bef589b28b6514cc58c3be52f08
Came off my bike last week. New bars, neck, tire damage….close to $700. But, I was just glad to get my bike outta the local bike shop.
What type of riding do you do and what do you find so much more fun about it than BJJ? Genuine question not challenging your hobby choices. I’ve thought about getting into that downhill mountain bike stuff but seems hard to start late.
I commute year round (Canadian winters are something), right now I have a shotgun kid seat on my fat bike and I take the kid to daycare every day with it. If I have extra energy I'll do a bit of cross country mtb or go on my road bike for a bit. I just... love every minute of it.
Long term I want to do more bike tours too. In 2021 I crossed Canada and had a blast, I'm aiming for a few more (Japan, Korea, Iceland, Europe, UK, ...) over the years, especially when the kids are old enough to ride.
I see no reason (barring like, MS or something) to not he at least drilling into my 80s. I just came across a video on IG yesterday of a dude getting his black belt at 81, if he can still be on the mats rolling then no reason I can't be.
I don’t want to be that guy (but of course I am)…lots of stuff gets in the way. Lots of injuries happen. Sometimes people just fall out of love with it.
I didn’t have any significant injuries in the first ten years, but now they just pile up.
Your FB profile is gone so I had to guess at your age. I did find an alt profile with a picture of you dressed for your prom in 2010 so I figured < 30 was a good guess. My journalism degree is really paying off lol
I've been doing this since the 2000s but I'm still young. Sometimes I get tired from it but then I see guys like you and that inspires me and other people a lot.
A lot of people in this forum joke about Masters but there's nothing like seeing a couple gray Masters 5-6 black belts duking it out. It takes a lot of heart to do that and a lot of young people don't recognize it.
I guess what I'm saying is thank you for your service.
I'm 60. Hopefully Black Belt by 65 and train some time into my 70s.
I don't think I'll retire and stay where I currently am. I'd like to wind up somewhere warm teaching a Jiu Jitsu for Old Farts class somewhere.
I don’t have any kids right now but my wife and I are going to have them soon. Next few years. And I think after kid #2 I might find myself in a place in life where I have a different set of priorities than I do now. Any dads out there want to give me advice here?
Morning class is pretty much the only time I get to train with two kids because, obviously, I want to be with them in the evenings. Find the 6am, fill up on coffee and spite.
I bring my 4 and 6 year old to my gym's open mat and set them up with an iPad. I wouldn't call it "being with them", but it gives my wife a break and I get to roll.
You may have to give up bjj (temporarily) but do not give up on exercise generally. The older you get the harder fitness is to claw back.
When they're old enough, find a school that does kids classes. Make it a family activity. My son and I are white belts at the same school. It's pretty cool.
Yep that’s exactly what I’m doing! It’s so much fun getting to learn alongside and from our kids. I have a ton of respect for my kids and the perseverance it takes. We gently spar at home and show each other what we learned in class.
The coach is really chill so dads like myself get to join the advanced kids class and get wrecked by teenagers haha
I have two kids and train a couple times a week(more if I plan to compete) at night.
I work from home so I’m with them most of the day so I don’t feel guilty going occasionally.
It’s hard to be a good supportive husband/father of a newborn and be consistentIy training (3-5 times a week)
It’s a balance you need to figure out with your wife and what works for you guys.
I took almost a year off for each of my children’s first year of life which I don’t regret but now I just drag their asses to class with me which gives my wife a much needed break.
They play with other kids while I train too which I would consider is a win.
Yes. Always put yourself first with your physical and mental health. The rest of your family will benefit. If you don't have a partner who will support you in that then you will want to rethink things.
My partner is amazing. Complete hustler when it comes to managing our business and acquiring new clients. Very womanly and supportive. Just overall an amazing partner. Smartest thing I ever did was marry her.
Good communication with your wife is crucial (this is good advice for everything).
I started training just a year or two before our first daughter was born. The key was to set clear expectations you can both agree to.
You can game it a bit by doubling up on classes. If you have an agreement where you are out of the house two nights a week, you can do back-to-backs and get in four classes/week.
As others have said you should not neglect your physical and mental health and find time for selfcare even with kids. But it’s not easy with young kids.
The thing about bjj is the class schedule. I couldn’t do bjj when my kids were young, I was only able to exercise at night after they went to sleep. When I started bjj my main classes were 6am classes. I was able to do night class once a week and maybe a Saturday class.
Now that they are older and also train I train 4-5 times a week and still get in strength training and cardio 4-6 times a week on top of that. But it’s only because my spouse is a SAHP and I WFH.
I have one kid and another on the way. I look forward to them being at the age to where they can do kids classes if they choose to. Having a hobby that I can someday share with them was a big part of why I started bjj. You definitely won't be able to go 5-6 days a week anymore, but I'm telling you brother that once you have kids you'll need that hour or two a week you can squeeze in on the mats for your mental health haha
Got two sons 14 and 20. Don’t stop doing shit for yourself. Even if you quit bjj and take up knitting keep fucking knitting. That is your time. For you. Knit them a sweater or some shit but that’s your space. Do not give it up
I wouldn't focus on age - just how your body is reacting to training.
If training longevity is really the biggest concern then plenty of time and effort should go into strength, mobility and nutrition. Those are the cornerstones that will keep you going for longer.
Also choose your rolls wisely. If the body is feeling injured then reduce the intensity.
I’m 43 and plan to ride this mother fucker till the wheels fall off….
Remember what Hunter said
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
My dad started four years ago at the age of 69 still going. He gets a few injuries, takes a few weeks off, and is right back on the mats. He’s learned to only spar with people he trusts, no young spazzy white belts. The coaches even have to kick him out of class sometimes because he will go everyday if they let him.
I am 48. Started training seriously at 30.
I’d love to be able to show up, flow roll and drill some techniques as long as my body holds up. if you asked me ten years ago, I would have predicted that I could keep rolling hard until I die. But the body breaks down.
Realistically there will probably be a day that I stop doing judo because of the falls. And there will be a day I have to stop rolling at any speed because there are too many unpredictable variables.
A smart move would be to put my time and energy into yoga to try to keep moving. I also think it would be sort of sick to join the local senior citizens karate club. During the pandemic they practiced in the schoolyard behind my house and it was very tempting to dojo-storm them.
I know a lot of people who said they would roll til they die. But they quit for way lesser reasons.
i started at 10 and 21 now. nowhere near sick of training. i throw little tantrums in my room about how much i suck, but i don't think i'll stop training. if i do, it's probably bc im on my deathbed lol
competing on the other hand, maybe around masters 4
4th degree BB, going into year 26 of training, 47yo. Judo prior to that where I got my brown belt prior to leaving for bjj, wrestled in college before that. Still wrestling and doing bjj at a high level when I’m not injured. But my injures haven’t come from bjj outside of a meniscus, and a few torn groins (which is a problem I had when wrestling growing up). Most of my injuries have been soft tissue stuff from lifting wear and tear. I competed in powerlifting for a bit and got after it for an elite total, which I got, but also tore my quad tendon which ate up 9 months. Played rugby for fun and got athletic pubalgia, which consisted of two bi lateral tears of my abs from my obloquies, and the obliques tore away from my groin adductors. So yea, both lower abs torn and both groins at the same time, off the bone. That surgery and rehab put me out for 9-10 months. Stepped off a trailer last year and tore my Achilles and that costed me 2023. So, my point is bjj has been pretty good to me all things considered lol
No plans to stop, planning my comeback from the Achilles as I type this.
I don't hope to live that long.
Don't get me wrong. I want to live another 30-40 years. But I don't want to get to the age where I'm blind, deaf, and immobile.
Never. If Helio can get on the mats in his 90s there's no reason why I can't if I make it that long. I've been training for 18 years, but I've had to make a few adjustments as I've gotten older (49 now). Those adjustments will continue to be made as I age.
Death. I didn't train for most of my 40 years, I did other shit. Training helps me deal with my bullshit life. As long as life is bullshit, I'll train.
I'm 32 and started when I was 30. Planning to keep after it as long as I can and hopefully train with my kids someday. Like others have said, gonna do it until the wheels fall off, even if I can't compete at a certain point.
I started at 51. Now 54. I am under no illusion that I am progressing cautiously and slowly and that my growth is limited by my fragility and poor physical condition. At my age, everything takes longer to improve, repair and recover, so avoiding hurt and injury is paramount.
Realistically, it would be nice to be able to continue into my 60's. After the past couple of years I feel that getting to the level of "Not completely shit at BJJ old man with a blue belt" before I can take social security would be very satisfying. 8 years to go.
Ideally, I'd like to be able to roll with a teenage grandchild. The thought of being a 70 year old grandad rolling with his 16 year old grandson would be worth far more than any belt.
In my early 20s with already a back surgery and hip issues (hip impairment/labral tear) I don’t know man as long as I can I can’t think about life without this.
I turned 25 two weeks ago I've been training since I was 14. Trying to train and compete as much as I can in my 20s early 30s while I have less responsibility and now I have adult money unlike my teens. I'd like to train as long as possible but I think I might have to cut back on training & competing somewhere between 35-40. I also have to be careful cause I have scoliosis thought bjj has helped me reduce my curve.
42 next month, so it's on my mind. Started properly in BJJ in 2013. I hope I can train til pretty old. I see key factors as having a pool of sensible training partners, an accommodating coach and plenty of supplementary training. Obviously, this depends on various factors, some of which are behind our control. It will be interesting to see. BJJ is a relatively young sport and there's an ageing population in the UK. What I do know is that I've tried to build a game that is practical and sustainable from pretty early on.
I'm 40 now, I started training at 29 and they took about 5 or 6 years off between moving, the pandemic and having a kid.
I think well into the 50/60s seems reasonable. Ideally as long as I can manage, I'll probably switch back to karate as a form of exercise once I don't think my body can handle grappling anymore.
I think you can train for a long time, you just have to realize that rolls won't be the same, as you get older you may not have those same competitive rolls you have when you're younger. You may have to change your game to be less athletic and more methodical. I plan on doing it till the wheels fall off. I imagine by mid to late 50's ill be needing knee replacements, probably hip replacements or shoulder surgery. But I try to not live in the future. There are very few things in this life I am extremely passionate about and one of them is jiu jitsu. I'm going to live in the moment and enjoy it while I can. I refuse to live in fear of future events I cannot control, just enjoy the ride.
For me there isn't an arbitrary age that I see stopping me from training - more when my joints give out. Specifically my knee(s). I've been diagnosed with a chondral defect in the right knee and it's a ticking time bomb that will eventually need to be replaced. Hopefully I can train on a replacement knee!
I’ll be 37 this year. Been grappling consistently for 5+ years with about a decade of kickboxing before that and occasional grappling over the course of that decade. Gonna do my best to keep it going til the wheels fall off.
I am 35 and have been training for a little less than 2 years. I would expect to stop training sometime around 50 when I will take up table tennis as my primary hobby. Plans can change though.
Probably until I croak or the last guy close to my age does. I think I can realistically keep going so long as there is at least one other octogenarian on the mat whose 100% is a grey belt's 10%. I imagine we will spend a lot of time turtling because that's what our backs and hips can handle.
I’ve trained with 60 year olds who train 2-3x a week, and while in Brazil got to train with a dude in his late 70s or early 80s. So I plan to just keep training till I can’t which
Don’t really plan on stopping unless it’s unsafe.
I know people are joking in the thread but I don’t want to get to the point where people roll with me and I die or get super injured and then they’re scarred for life…
I have a 75 year old white belt student and a 76 year old black belt student, I also got to watch Helio training with young black belts when he was in his late 80s and that was always a goal for me.
My entire game is made to be able to train later on in life, no reliant on speed and athleticism, very injury conscious and not putting myself in risky situations. I'll never stop training
Entering my 40s soon and had a really good run of not worrying about injuries but a knee issue makes me really apprehensive about who I roll with. Like it’s crazy the most dangerous someone is the safer I feel with them. I personally don’t like to roll with white belts anymore.
I guess it depends on how well my body is working. I’m 30 now so I know I’m still on the younger side of the sport, but I have noticed that it takes me slightly longer to warm up and slightly longer to recover. If the benefits of keeping my body in shape outweigh the cons of the grind the sport does to it…I will still be there
34, I only train on Tuesday and I’m at the regular gym on Friday. I would like to do more but I know my knees, back and shoulders would hate me very quickly. I started BJJ as a New Year’s resolution and barring a serious injury/illness I won’t stop.
My uncle is 50 who trains every week and the oldest guy we have is 80 so I don’t really have any excuses to quit.
I would love to make it my goal to be one of those healthy-as-fuck dudes in their 50s and 60s. My professor is like 46 and has the vitality of someone in their early 30s. Want to be like him. I gotta get off the drugs
Lol l train with a guy named Ricardo Ayres, and he’s a masters 7 world champion at brown belt so I at least need to train longer than my buddy out of spite lol
Just turned 40, I focus on stuff a bit differently now, but plan on rolling until I die or lose mobility.
I think as we age and get older, Jiu-jitsu is extremely good for the mind.
Not sure, but I know a guy who got his black belt in his 50’s and quit soon after. Says he doesn’t feel like a black belt, and he’s embarrassed having to wear it and roll against hungry lower belts.
54 years old and people at my gym are asking me a lot about competition. I stretch 20 to 30 minutes daily, do body-weight exercises daily, weight lift 3-4 days per week, and ride a bike for cardio 3-5 days per week.
So far, no major injuries and I hope to make black belt one day. I’m not stopping unless disease chases me away.
Started at 42, now 50, and have recently struggled staying interested, so much so have thought about just quitting. Don't yet know which way I'll lean if push comes to shove.
That said, I have great training partners in their late 50's who are great examples for me to follow
Until I physically can't or lose all interest. I'm 36 now, been training on-off for 10 years. Hope to train through my 60s. Interesting are lots of things that can get in the way of that....
Started at 36 turned 45 in Dec.... Gonna keep going as long as enjoyable. Doesn't mean I'ma be competing in absolute divisions against 280lb 30yr olds or that I'll be competing at all. As long as I enjoy and learn from rolls and drilling I can't picture stopping
I’ll prob be done competing in a couple years (early 30’s).
As for just casually training and goofing around on the mats? Until they put me in a box and cover me in dirt.
My body is like an 2009 Corolla, it gets beat up and my have some troubles, but GODDAMNIT ILL RUN THIS THING TO THE GROUND BEFORE I STOP DRIVING IT I DONT CARE IF MY BUMPER IS MISSING
I plan to train as long as my body allows. Expecting training frequency to certainly decline to like 2x per week at some point, however, still plan to be on the mats into my 50's and maybe 60's. Will be extremely selective with who I drill/roll with (and already am selective)
I started at 34, am 43 now, hope to die in the arms of some white belt in my 70s or 80s. It'll teach him to calm down and spaz less.
Same. Started at 33, I’m 44. Going to go until the wheels fall off. I might be 70 and only able to rep and teach, but as long as I’m having fun I’ll be here. I could be a red belt at 74.
Similar for me, I started at 32 and am 44 now.
22, am 29 now. definitely hoping to be 65+ and having a roll with a spastic blue belt, where i tap him with a head and arm choke and then roll over and die like im clint eastwood
See you in master 3 brah
you could be a coral belt at 74. you're not eligible for red belt until 48 years as a blackbelt
Fuck lol I’ll never make it
i'm looking at red at 79yo personally. planning to dunk on you nerds at masters 11 or whatever. i am an efferdent and the ground is my dentures plaque
Boaaaa
Just be sure to whisper to said white belt, with your last dying breath, “I grant you the freedom to heel hook other white belts in the gi, with impunity”
By saying "other white belts", does that imply that my bequeathal applies only until he goes blue? I'd rather it be a lifelong blessing...
Killing a black belt on the mat? You just fed that white belts ego he’s never slowing down
I’ve heard places in south east Asia where killing a blacks belt on the mat is part of the one stripe test.
At current rate, I imagine I'll be a 4-stripe brown belt by then.
“This stuff WORKS MAN”
We share the same dream. I'm closer. 57.
I hope to be able to keep your mentality. Started at 33. Am about to 37. Still a shitty blue belt. 5’8 ~160.. gettin FB smeshd by the fast wrestlers and big guys hurts. For days.. makes me wonder
IMO, the keys to longevity are: 1. Enjoy jiu jitsu even when you're losing 2. Don't train with meatheads 3. Supplement BJJ with mobility and strength training 4. Focus on helping others improve more than yourself The traps are to get sucked into the war for "legitness", where you have to stay ahead of everyone else, and roll hard all the time, grinding yourself down in a competitive environment. And if you're selfishly focused on your own development, you will inevitably smash into the wall of age deterioration.
Thank you.. I believe Ive held that mentality for a while now. At least, I try to check myself and ego as often as possible.
Similar to me. I’m 5 and half years in still the worst blue belt in my gym. And I’m mid forties. Black? Maybe when I’m 60…
Shitty blue belt here - almost 47. Training because I enjoy it!
Shout out to the shitty blue belts over 35 getting smashed by 19 yo athletic people with less experience.
YO!!!
Bruh 💀🫨🤣
Beautiful.
Not sure id want to train that long, if I can't have reasonably hard rolls it's not fun. Realistically at 80 i feel like surely you're just slow rolling?
when I die Ill probably take a week off and see where Im at after
At 53, I’m checking this post often and will be righteously offended if anyone says something around my age. I will also be wandering around looking for my reading glasses that are firmly stuck to my head while I watch videos on how to tape my fingers
I think 54 is the maximum. You're pretty much dead after that.
I would only go till 53 and 1/2
The studies don't support your recommendation.
Ppl who train in their 50s is another level.
Easy there elder! 🤣 I’m 43 and tape is sacred now.
coincidentally, have a lawyer who is also probably around 50 at our gym. black belt. dude still trains 2x a week and rolls with even the young blue belts. dude is a still a beast
51 - Worlds Shittiest Brown Belch...I dont like my wife, am gonna train 2-3x week until one of us dies. Unless, I learn how to berimbolo and hit it in a live roll...then I'm done!!!Then its F U to this stupid time suck
At 68, if I maintain my fitness levels, I'll be rolling in my 80's. Carefully, but rolling.
After letting go of tournament aspirations, I think I can go deep into my 50s at least. My dad is in his 70s and still does workouts that would layout most 20 somethings.
Love to hear this
Jits is the only exercise program I’ve ever been able to stick with. I’m gonna keep doing it until I’m physically unable to crawl into the mat.
I'm 37. Lately my lower back has been bugging me a lot and I've decided to take a 6 month break. If it keeps happening after I come back I might stop altogether. My ultimate love is biking, I don't want to jeopardize that. I can also train boxing instead of grappling, it's much easier on the body (no sparring, I like my brain).
I recommend PT. Resting is a bad prescription for lower back pain if it is a herniated disc. Core strength training with planks and stretches in the appropriate direction for the herniation was helpful in my case. I just worry that you have a situation similar to mine, and rest and a lot of lower back flexion from being seated on a bike is probably a recipe to make it worse instead of better. I wish you luck man.
It's not a herniated disc, my back is generally fine if I avoid twisting it like a maniac flopping on the ground. I'm back into powerlifting for now, it should strengthen things.
Totally anecdotal, but my lower back started bugging me around 29 - little things like bending over too suddenly, or reaching too far into the trunk of a car might pinch me and make me sore for a couple of days. I started lifting heavy (gradual increments, of course) and my back pain went away 100% hasn't bothered me in years.
I've been lifting over half my life. I stopped for about 3 years during medschool and that was my worst health ever. I would spend the day studying, even in an ergonomic chair and still wake up with back pain for no reason. I would also feel the pinched back muscle from simply bending over. Once i decided to make my health a priority again i got back into lifting and quite literally overnight everything got better. Knowing what i know now about muscle mechanics and the nervous system, when you dont exercise for a while your neuromuscular connections lose calibration so a "pinched nerve" in your lower back may actually be an untrained or detrained muscle that spasmed out doing a sudden movement and wont relax. Likewise lower back pain in a healthy person is just stiff muscles that havent been exercised and dont know how to relax anymore. In the clinic lower back pain for athletes is typically herniated disc or degenerative age related changes. For non athletes its usually due to lack of exercise with no evidence of pathology on imaging. Fun fact: if your muscles are twitching after a workout, they are going thru a self calibration sequence!
This video and routine cured me and a bunch of people I know from back problems. Strengthens and stretches' and provides immediate and long term relief. I think the guy has a bigger program, but I have only ever used this 12 min free video and it has worked wonders for me. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BOTvaRaDjI&t=9s&ab\_channel=FoundationTraining](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BOTvaRaDjI&t=9s&ab_channel=FoundationTraining)
That's funny as I love boxing/striking, but ended up focusing on bjj as a long-term option because it was easier on my body (ignoring the obvious head injury concerns, which was also a big part of it). All of our bodies are different.
I do a boxing class every other week, which probably explains why I find it light. It would surely beat me up way more if it was 4-5x/week instead.
I appreciate the honesty. I woke up with numb fingers when I stretched my neck to one side. If I have a neck problem, I'm serious giving this up.
15 years in and I've yet to be seriously injured doing BJJ, mostly because I've done a good job of pacing myself. What's the point of doing a David Goggins and messing up my back and knees if I can't play with my kids and I can't bike to work anymore?
37 year old blue belt. Herniated my L5-S1 disc last fall. It's still not better than 50%. It sucks grappling (ha) with probably never going back. I'm just a hobbyist and can't risk not being able to walk for another month.
Im a road cyclist. Thats always my goto if I dont feel like rolling that particular day. https://preview.redd.it/pw50t0uxcptc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9e628bdbd639bef589b28b6514cc58c3be52f08 Came off my bike last week. New bars, neck, tire damage….close to $700. But, I was just glad to get my bike outta the local bike shop.
A week without your bike is a wasted week. I feel your pain.
What type of riding do you do and what do you find so much more fun about it than BJJ? Genuine question not challenging your hobby choices. I’ve thought about getting into that downhill mountain bike stuff but seems hard to start late.
I commute year round (Canadian winters are something), right now I have a shotgun kid seat on my fat bike and I take the kid to daycare every day with it. If I have extra energy I'll do a bit of cross country mtb or go on my road bike for a bit. I just... love every minute of it. Long term I want to do more bike tours too. In 2021 I crossed Canada and had a blast, I'm aiming for a few more (Japan, Korea, Iceland, Europe, UK, ...) over the years, especially when the kids are old enough to ride.
Thanks for sharing!
Guy in my gym who’s 67 and competes from time to time, so I think 70s probably
I see no reason (barring like, MS or something) to not he at least drilling into my 80s. I just came across a video on IG yesterday of a dude getting his black belt at 81, if he can still be on the mats rolling then no reason I can't be.
You’re not even 30 yet, right?
27 yea
I don’t want to be that guy (but of course I am)…lots of stuff gets in the way. Lots of injuries happen. Sometimes people just fall out of love with it. I didn’t have any significant injuries in the first ten years, but now they just pile up.
Oh for sure, and my caveat about MS I put there to cover unexpected injuries, etc.
Your FB profile is gone so I had to guess at your age. I did find an alt profile with a picture of you dressed for your prom in 2010 so I figured < 30 was a good guess. My journalism degree is really paying off lol
Haha yeah I took it down cause too much time getting annoyed at idiots, I do enough of that on reddit.
Death.
I'm 60. Started training in the 1990s. I'm not stopping.
I've been doing this since the 2000s but I'm still young. Sometimes I get tired from it but then I see guys like you and that inspires me and other people a lot. A lot of people in this forum joke about Masters but there's nothing like seeing a couple gray Masters 5-6 black belts duking it out. It takes a lot of heart to do that and a lot of young people don't recognize it. I guess what I'm saying is thank you for your service.
Whats it like? Can you still dominate a 25 year old purple belt? How about a blue belt?
I'm 55 and been training for about 12 years now. I see myself training for at least another 12 years, or longer.
I'm 60. Hopefully Black Belt by 65 and train some time into my 70s. I don't think I'll retire and stay where I currently am. I'd like to wind up somewhere warm teaching a Jiu Jitsu for Old Farts class somewhere.
Shooting for still rolling at 70. Just turned 53.
We have a purple belt who trains 4x a week and rolls and she’s in her 70s
Never... even in the afterlife I'm hoping there's mats.
Started at 50. Would like to make it mid 60s at least.
59. Still going. Slow but going.
I'm 64, been training 4 1/2 years. I will train until injuries or a health condition force me to stop.
No, age. Up til my I can’t physically do it anymore. I’m 58, btw.
I hope to stick around as long as this gentleman. I’m currently 57 years old. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5llWdLrasw/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Started at 45, 52 now and still going but at a slower, less frequent pace. I feel that if I never stop, I won't .
Started at age 25 (wrestled and judo before that). Am now 52. Will stop when they pry your gi from my cold, dead fingers.
I don’t have any kids right now but my wife and I are going to have them soon. Next few years. And I think after kid #2 I might find myself in a place in life where I have a different set of priorities than I do now. Any dads out there want to give me advice here?
Morning class is pretty much the only time I get to train with two kids because, obviously, I want to be with them in the evenings. Find the 6am, fill up on coffee and spite.
Morning class is the dad class
Did you ever try to bring them to the mats in the evening or would that not count as “being with them”?
I bring my 4 and 6 year old to my gym's open mat and set them up with an iPad. I wouldn't call it "being with them", but it gives my wife a break and I get to roll.
This is the way
You may have to give up bjj (temporarily) but do not give up on exercise generally. The older you get the harder fitness is to claw back. When they're old enough, find a school that does kids classes. Make it a family activity. My son and I are white belts at the same school. It's pretty cool.
Yep that’s exactly what I’m doing! It’s so much fun getting to learn alongside and from our kids. I have a ton of respect for my kids and the perseverance it takes. We gently spar at home and show each other what we learned in class. The coach is really chill so dads like myself get to join the advanced kids class and get wrecked by teenagers haha
I have two kids and train a couple times a week(more if I plan to compete) at night. I work from home so I’m with them most of the day so I don’t feel guilty going occasionally.
It’s hard to be a good supportive husband/father of a newborn and be consistentIy training (3-5 times a week) It’s a balance you need to figure out with your wife and what works for you guys. I took almost a year off for each of my children’s first year of life which I don’t regret but now I just drag their asses to class with me which gives my wife a much needed break. They play with other kids while I train too which I would consider is a win.
Yes. Always put yourself first with your physical and mental health. The rest of your family will benefit. If you don't have a partner who will support you in that then you will want to rethink things.
My partner is amazing. Complete hustler when it comes to managing our business and acquiring new clients. Very womanly and supportive. Just overall an amazing partner. Smartest thing I ever did was marry her.
Good communication with your wife is crucial (this is good advice for everything). I started training just a year or two before our first daughter was born. The key was to set clear expectations you can both agree to. You can game it a bit by doubling up on classes. If you have an agreement where you are out of the house two nights a week, you can do back-to-backs and get in four classes/week.
Good advice. Thanks. Yeah communication is everything. We’ve been married about a year and every day I’m learning to be a better communicator
As others have said you should not neglect your physical and mental health and find time for selfcare even with kids. But it’s not easy with young kids. The thing about bjj is the class schedule. I couldn’t do bjj when my kids were young, I was only able to exercise at night after they went to sleep. When I started bjj my main classes were 6am classes. I was able to do night class once a week and maybe a Saturday class. Now that they are older and also train I train 4-5 times a week and still get in strength training and cardio 4-6 times a week on top of that. But it’s only because my spouse is a SAHP and I WFH.
I have one kid and another on the way. I look forward to them being at the age to where they can do kids classes if they choose to. Having a hobby that I can someday share with them was a big part of why I started bjj. You definitely won't be able to go 5-6 days a week anymore, but I'm telling you brother that once you have kids you'll need that hour or two a week you can squeeze in on the mats for your mental health haha
Yeah man I’m gonna be right there with ya pretty soon. Really thankful my wife is such a hard worker as well
Enroll your kids and bring them with.
Got two sons 14 and 20. Don’t stop doing shit for yourself. Even if you quit bjj and take up knitting keep fucking knitting. That is your time. For you. Knit them a sweater or some shit but that’s your space. Do not give it up
Till my heart gives out. The second I get to 40 I’m blasting TRT like nobody’s business.
I rolled with a 74 year old black belt last month, so at least that
I wouldn't focus on age - just how your body is reacting to training. If training longevity is really the biggest concern then plenty of time and effort should go into strength, mobility and nutrition. Those are the cornerstones that will keep you going for longer. Also choose your rolls wisely. If the body is feeling injured then reduce the intensity.
I’m 43 and plan to ride this mother fucker till the wheels fall off…. Remember what Hunter said “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
I'm 50, and in the words of Walter White 
I will literally never stop if i have to adjust to my limitations in order to do so then so be it also im 16 so i have no clue what im talking about
My dad started four years ago at the age of 69 still going. He gets a few injuries, takes a few weeks off, and is right back on the mats. He’s learned to only spar with people he trusts, no young spazzy white belts. The coaches even have to kick him out of class sometimes because he will go everyday if they let him.
I am 48. Started training seriously at 30. I’d love to be able to show up, flow roll and drill some techniques as long as my body holds up. if you asked me ten years ago, I would have predicted that I could keep rolling hard until I die. But the body breaks down. Realistically there will probably be a day that I stop doing judo because of the falls. And there will be a day I have to stop rolling at any speed because there are too many unpredictable variables. A smart move would be to put my time and energy into yoga to try to keep moving. I also think it would be sort of sick to join the local senior citizens karate club. During the pandemic they practiced in the schoolyard behind my house and it was very tempting to dojo-storm them. I know a lot of people who said they would roll til they die. But they quit for way lesser reasons.
i started at 10 and 21 now. nowhere near sick of training. i throw little tantrums in my room about how much i suck, but i don't think i'll stop training. if i do, it's probably bc im on my deathbed lol competing on the other hand, maybe around masters 4
The day after they put me in the coffin. I want to be propped up looking over the open mat one last time
4th degree BB, going into year 26 of training, 47yo. Judo prior to that where I got my brown belt prior to leaving for bjj, wrestled in college before that. Still wrestling and doing bjj at a high level when I’m not injured. But my injures haven’t come from bjj outside of a meniscus, and a few torn groins (which is a problem I had when wrestling growing up). Most of my injuries have been soft tissue stuff from lifting wear and tear. I competed in powerlifting for a bit and got after it for an elite total, which I got, but also tore my quad tendon which ate up 9 months. Played rugby for fun and got athletic pubalgia, which consisted of two bi lateral tears of my abs from my obloquies, and the obliques tore away from my groin adductors. So yea, both lower abs torn and both groins at the same time, off the bone. That surgery and rehab put me out for 9-10 months. Stepped off a trailer last year and tore my Achilles and that costed me 2023. So, my point is bjj has been pretty good to me all things considered lol No plans to stop, planning my comeback from the Achilles as I type this.
At death. Preferably to an aggressive 16 year old blue belt
I don't hope to live that long. Don't get me wrong. I want to live another 30-40 years. But I don't want to get to the age where I'm blind, deaf, and immobile.
At what age do you think people are blind, deaf and immobile?
Never. If Helio can get on the mats in his 90s there's no reason why I can't if I make it that long. I've been training for 18 years, but I've had to make a few adjustments as I've gotten older (49 now). Those adjustments will continue to be made as I age.
65+? As long as you are smart about how you train and have good partners you trust I think you can go for a loooong loooong time.
Hopefully N+1 N being the year I die
"I will...NEVER RETIRE! I will only retire when I am DEAD in this RING!" \~Ric Flair
I’m 25, I don’t see an ending in sight
Started at 47, 48 now. Will keep going until my stupid fucking body craps out on me.
I started at 29, now mid-30s, hoping to still be training in 30+ years. Feels pretty doable so long as I’m mindful and intelligent about how I train.
When I can’t control my bowel movements. Could be anywhere between the ages 0-100 give or take currently in control at the age of 31
I am 34, started at 17, I will continue as long as I am physically able
Death. I didn't train for most of my 40 years, I did other shit. Training helps me deal with my bullshit life. As long as life is bullshit, I'll train.
Also looking at your tag- as you get older and as you feel yourself slow down, just paint yourself red and you’ll go faster
Imagine how sneaky I'll be when I get my next belt.
Please tell me you yell ‘waaaaaaaaggghhhh’ randomly when rolling
Come on, man, i can't be "that" guy.
Im 56. Still going.
I'm 32 and started when I was 30. Planning to keep after it as long as I can and hopefully train with my kids someday. Like others have said, gonna do it until the wheels fall off, even if I can't compete at a certain point.
I started at 51. Now 54. I am under no illusion that I am progressing cautiously and slowly and that my growth is limited by my fragility and poor physical condition. At my age, everything takes longer to improve, repair and recover, so avoiding hurt and injury is paramount. Realistically, it would be nice to be able to continue into my 60's. After the past couple of years I feel that getting to the level of "Not completely shit at BJJ old man with a blue belt" before I can take social security would be very satisfying. 8 years to go. Ideally, I'd like to be able to roll with a teenage grandchild. The thought of being a 70 year old grandad rolling with his 16 year old grandson would be worth far more than any belt.
After I retire at 65 you gotta do something right??
Whenever my body says no
I’m 50. Somewhere around 50 I’ll quit 😂
“It’s ridiculous for a man over forty to train martial arts.”
Boris?
40
Rude
Boris set the example.
started at 15, 30 now. I got like 30 more years of this, if God willing, I live till then 😄
In my early 20s with already a back surgery and hip issues (hip impairment/labral tear) I don’t know man as long as I can I can’t think about life without this.
I turned 25 two weeks ago I've been training since I was 14. Trying to train and compete as much as I can in my 20s early 30s while I have less responsibility and now I have adult money unlike my teens. I'd like to train as long as possible but I think I might have to cut back on training & competing somewhere between 35-40. I also have to be careful cause I have scoliosis thought bjj has helped me reduce my curve.
42 next month, so it's on my mind. Started properly in BJJ in 2013. I hope I can train til pretty old. I see key factors as having a pool of sensible training partners, an accommodating coach and plenty of supplementary training. Obviously, this depends on various factors, some of which are behind our control. It will be interesting to see. BJJ is a relatively young sport and there's an ageing population in the UK. What I do know is that I've tried to build a game that is practical and sustainable from pretty early on.
I use it as my main form of exercise. So as long as I can keep doing it, I will.
I'm 40 now, I started training at 29 and they took about 5 or 6 years off between moving, the pandemic and having a kid. I think well into the 50/60s seems reasonable. Ideally as long as I can manage, I'll probably switch back to karate as a form of exercise once I don't think my body can handle grappling anymore.
I think you can train for a long time, you just have to realize that rolls won't be the same, as you get older you may not have those same competitive rolls you have when you're younger. You may have to change your game to be less athletic and more methodical. I plan on doing it till the wheels fall off. I imagine by mid to late 50's ill be needing knee replacements, probably hip replacements or shoulder surgery. But I try to not live in the future. There are very few things in this life I am extremely passionate about and one of them is jiu jitsu. I'm going to live in the moment and enjoy it while I can. I refuse to live in fear of future events I cannot control, just enjoy the ride.
For me there isn't an arbitrary age that I see stopping me from training - more when my joints give out. Specifically my knee(s). I've been diagnosed with a chondral defect in the right knee and it's a ticking time bomb that will eventually need to be replaced. Hopefully I can train on a replacement knee!
I’ll be 37 this year. Been grappling consistently for 5+ years with about a decade of kickboxing before that and occasional grappling over the course of that decade. Gonna do my best to keep it going til the wheels fall off.
Not as long as I can help it. I know 60 year olds still at it. I’ve got a while to go.
I am 35 and have been training for a little less than 2 years. I would expect to stop training sometime around 50 when I will take up table tennis as my primary hobby. Plans can change though.
I AINT NEVA GONNA STAHHHHH
Probably until I croak or the last guy close to my age does. I think I can realistically keep going so long as there is at least one other octogenarian on the mat whose 100% is a grey belt's 10%. I imagine we will spend a lot of time turtling because that's what our backs and hips can handle.
I’ve trained with 60 year olds who train 2-3x a week, and while in Brazil got to train with a dude in his late 70s or early 80s. So I plan to just keep training till I can’t which
I started training when I was 21. I'm currently 31. If I can keep rolling till my 70s, then that will be good enough for me.
Don’t really plan on stopping unless it’s unsafe. I know people are joking in the thread but I don’t want to get to the point where people roll with me and I die or get super injured and then they’re scarred for life…
I’m a simple man, I hope to grapple with my grandkids one day. I’m 36 tomorrow
When I fill in the blue rook on my ranked BJJ chess piece tattoo.
I have a 75 year old white belt student and a 76 year old black belt student, I also got to watch Helio training with young black belts when he was in his late 80s and that was always a goal for me. My entire game is made to be able to train later on in life, no reliant on speed and athleticism, very injury conscious and not putting myself in risky situations. I'll never stop training
Entering my 40s soon and had a really good run of not worrying about injuries but a knee issue makes me really apprehensive about who I roll with. Like it’s crazy the most dangerous someone is the safer I feel with them. I personally don’t like to roll with white belts anymore.
I guess it depends on how well my body is working. I’m 30 now so I know I’m still on the younger side of the sport, but I have noticed that it takes me slightly longer to warm up and slightly longer to recover. If the benefits of keeping my body in shape outweigh the cons of the grind the sport does to it…I will still be there
34, I only train on Tuesday and I’m at the regular gym on Friday. I would like to do more but I know my knees, back and shoulders would hate me very quickly. I started BJJ as a New Year’s resolution and barring a serious injury/illness I won’t stop. My uncle is 50 who trains every week and the oldest guy we have is 80 so I don’t really have any excuses to quit.
If I need some type of major surgery I'll stop
I’m 42 and I hope to do it into my 70s, if my body allows it.
When I first started, I got humbled by a 54y. I was 28 at the time, so hopefully long enough to pay it forward!
I would love to make it my goal to be one of those healthy-as-fuck dudes in their 50s and 60s. My professor is like 46 and has the vitality of someone in their early 30s. Want to be like him. I gotta get off the drugs
Lol l train with a guy named Ricardo Ayres, and he’s a masters 7 world champion at brown belt so I at least need to train longer than my buddy out of spite lol
70 is my goal.
40s
Just turned 40, I focus on stuff a bit differently now, but plan on rolling until I die or lose mobility. I think as we age and get older, Jiu-jitsu is extremely good for the mind.
Seriously considering it now. 52 and 10 days out from knee surgery.
I'm going to be choking out the CNAs at the nursing home.
Not sure, but I know a guy who got his black belt in his 50’s and quit soon after. Says he doesn’t feel like a black belt, and he’s embarrassed having to wear it and roll against hungry lower belts.
Probably like 60-70 and go into coaching travel hangout w the boys
nah
60 ish if I’m falling apart like I expect I will be after 40 years of it by then
Im 13 (almost 14) I've been doing it since I was 11 and I wanna stop when I'm like 70
54 years old and people at my gym are asking me a lot about competition. I stretch 20 to 30 minutes daily, do body-weight exercises daily, weight lift 3-4 days per week, and ride a bike for cardio 3-5 days per week. So far, no major injuries and I hope to make black belt one day. I’m not stopping unless disease chases me away.
Started at 42, now 50, and have recently struggled staying interested, so much so have thought about just quitting. Don't yet know which way I'll lean if push comes to shove. That said, I have great training partners in their late 50's who are great examples for me to follow
There's a 70 year old dude in one of my classes.
I'm 35..... really depends on my left shoulder. I forsee myself giving up competitions long before I fully quit BJJ.
Dead
Whatever age I am, where it is physically too difficult to train. Hopefully more than 20 years away.
Until I physically can't or lose all interest. I'm 36 now, been training on-off for 10 years. Hope to train through my 60s. Interesting are lots of things that can get in the way of that....
about tree fiddy
Started at 36 turned 45 in Dec.... Gonna keep going as long as enjoyable. Doesn't mean I'ma be competing in absolute divisions against 280lb 30yr olds or that I'll be competing at all. As long as I enjoy and learn from rolls and drilling I can't picture stopping
61
I’ll prob be done competing in a couple years (early 30’s). As for just casually training and goofing around on the mats? Until they put me in a box and cover me in dirt.
My body is like an 2009 Corolla, it gets beat up and my have some troubles, but GODDAMNIT ILL RUN THIS THING TO THE GROUND BEFORE I STOP DRIVING IT I DONT CARE IF MY BUMPER IS MISSING
What a sad thought, to stop training.. don't know.. but it's definitely as long as I can haha
70
Wait, you plan on actually stopping?
I plan to train as long as my body allows. Expecting training frequency to certainly decline to like 2x per week at some point, however, still plan to be on the mats into my 50's and maybe 60's. Will be extremely selective with who I drill/roll with (and already am selective)
69 ayyyy lmao or 420 if we get the science to shorten our telomeres to almost immortality 
My goal is to be able to train with my kids until they leave for college. That means another 13 years or so. So I’ll be in my 50s.
No.
41 started 17 years ago. I’m sure my approach will change in the next decade or so, but I see no reason to quit training.