Starting BJJ After 40

Should I start BJJ after 40?

The short answer is – hell yes.  You can start, you should start, and the chances are pretty high that you’ll find yourself in competition sooner than you think.

Co-owner, Director and Head Coach at TFC, BJJ Brown Belt, Ben Johnston says – “I’ve seen guys over 40 start from day 1 and within their first couple of years they’re taking out state championships, and become some of the most competitive guys in the gym”.

A lot of people start BJJ because they want to learn self defense.  They often associate a skill like this with giving them the strength and aggression to protect themselves, however, a veteran of the game and another coach at TFC, Des Maea (Uncle Des), talks about BJJ being the ‘quiet art’. 

“It’s more about the technique and patience that you learn with BJJ”.  

He’s not wrong.

The legendary ‘Gracies’ talk a lot about leverage in BJJ.  While strength is helpful, you’re not reliant on it, and a good BJJ teacher will help you to learn grappling techniques that are suited to your body. 

Gi Or No Gi ?

Within BJJ there is also the difference between Gi or No Gi practice.

Gi is a traditional BJJ uniform, it has a likeness to a Kimono; consisting of a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring pants and a belt around the waist that fastens the jacket.  Like in other traditional martial arts, the belt indicates rank.

No Gi BJJ is simply the absence of the uniform.  In this form of BJJ, it is best practice and generally accepted to wear shorts and a rash guard.

So should you start with Gi or No Gi BJJ?

Much of the BJJ community would agree that they are almost entirely different sports.

Traditional Gi BJJ is slower paced and more technical.  The gripping of the clothing means that a wider range of submissions are available.

No Gi BJJ is faster paced and more dynamic, you don’t have to be as skilled in the art of BJJ, as you can wrestle, grapple and wriggle your way out of things.  However, this can also present a higher risk of injury, as practitioners rely on techniques that put a lot of strain on joints, like leg locks, wrist control movements, underhooks and body locks.

It’s often recommended that beginners start with Gi, so that they can build a solid foundation of technique, and learn all of the fundamentals of traditional BJJ.

But not everyone agrees.

Because No Gi BJJ is far more practical, and synthesizes real world conditions, Ben Johnston advises beginners to start with No Gi.

Either way when you’re starting BJJ after 40 you can’t go wrong.  Whether you choose to do Gi or No Gi.  You will probably find yourself getting familiar with both over time. 

You’ll also be in good company.  Many celebrities actively practice BJJ after 40, including living legend Chuck Norris, who is a BJJ black belt.

Other celebrities you might be familiar with are –

Guy Ritchie
Ed O’Neill
Joe Rogan
Jason Statham
Keanu Reeves
Tom Hardy
Nicolas Cage
Kelly Slater

And

Mel Gibson

Overall, BJJ after 40 is a great choice.  The community is so supportive.  In fact, this is something BJJ is known for, which is one of the top reasons it’s a lifetime sport.  You make friends and connections that transcend life’s circumstances, on the mats we are all the same.

And because it is not reliant on fitness or strength to get started, it also offers low barrier entry for people who don’t have a history of strong athleticism, or those who have struggled with old injuries.

Getting started is really easy too.  The popularity and culture of BJJ is universal, so you can type ‘BJJ Classes Near Me’ into your search engine of choice and you’ll no doubt find a class close by.  Even if it’s just in a local community hall.

Here at TFC, what we value in a BJJ class is having a diverse mix of people and chill vibes.  We also have 2 BJJ black belts in lead coaching positions.  The experience of a BJJ black belt is invaluable, especially for those who come to us wanting to learn self defence.

You probably even have the right outfit to get started.  Pull out your beach shorts and rashie, chuck a towel in your bag, and make sure that you’re clean with fresh breath, and that’s pretty  much all you need.

BJJ after 40?  Hell YES.

You can read more about starting BJJ at TFC here.