Aging Martial Artist

UltimateGround
1

I know we have members here in the martial arts or that were former instructors. I wrote last year that I got a black belt the night before my 58th birthday. Since then, it’s been weird as I was on an off for so long that now I have the rank it’s not as impactful and seems like it’s just a formality. More than that is hard to enjoy.

Don’t get me wrong, I worked for it, studied and practiced. I even taught kickboxing and worked with guys in MMA to get Judo lessons for free in the same club. I have been in the Martial Arts since 1979. I have a 4th degree in old school TKD. The 70’s and 80’s were a different time. I did some boxing and since 2001 I have done Judo. In fact, I joined the old site because of it.

I guess what’s tough is that your body doesn’t respond. Every year you sometimes feel things are a little harder to do. I was sparring with some HS wrestlers showing them some newaza (groundwork) and they were all over it. They picked up everything. I guess it’s hard to see when you are on the decline and admitting to yourself that you just can’t do certain things. It’s like the old NFL guys that can’t let go when they know they should. I mean you do what you can but have any of you guys experienced this? I would be interested to hear.

2

I know some judoka nearing 70 who still compete. Their secret is strength and conditioning. They still lift albeit not as heavy. They may not train everyday anymore but up to 3x a week.

1 Like
3

I am an older martial arts but I still feel I am getting better. I get rag dolled and smashed sometimes by roided guys or people that are hammers, but I always put up a fight. I try to retain guard and get a sweep.

I charge the way I train so my body will last

1 Like
4

Guy should enter the ibjjf worlds

5

It gets much worse, at some point running is impossible, getting out of bed takes minutes and putting socks on is a major pain.

1 Like
6

My man, at your age, be grateful you can still train and show things to others. Take pride in that as that is the role of the aging MA. Share and train. Watch your prodigies grow. You won’t find greater pride than in serving others and fostering their growth.

2 Likes
7

I know you are talking to OP but I try to do this as well. Everyday I can train is a gift and I feel blessed to be able to roll at a high level, well by my standards. I enjoy helping the younger guys

1 Like
8

That’s awesome TD. People out there need a mentor, a teacher, or just a friend to show them something better, in many facets of life.

9

I try. I’m trying to be a better martial artist, a better teacher, and a better person in general.

1 Like
10

I have been teaching for years so I do help the younger guys. Some of the other Black Belts don’t do that, it’s like it isn’t on their radar.

1 Like
11

I do that. Weights, kettlebells and stretching. I also do sled work.

12

That’s most of us here. Performance-wise I probably peeked in my mid 20s, right before I had a major injury. After I mostly recovered, I came back and trained more. I never got promoted again, in part because I never lived in one place long enough.

I now know more about martial arts than I ever did before, and I can teach others. If I knew what I know now when I was young, I could have trained myself to be better at that time.

Getting promoted was never the top priority for me. Now it’s not a priority at all. Craig Kukuk was the first American black belt in BJJ. Somebody traced him down in Idaho and told him that actually according to the rules he should be the first American coral belt too. He said he didn’t want it and they should give it to someone who would appreciate it instead.

My goals right now are to get my son to level up as much as I can. And to stay healthy enough that I can keep training with him as long as I possibly can.

There are guys who were super-competitive when they were younger, and who didn’t enjoy promotions when they were older: Kukuk and Rickson among them. At some point, training hard was making these guys worse not better as they accumulated injuries.

Yesterday I was teaching my son to break boards. He told me he thought that I couldn’t do a break that I knew I could do. I just agreed with him.

13

I was joking with a younger guy yesterday. I quipped why am I helping you? You are just going to merc me later when I tell you how to beat me! We laughed

14

That’s why you’re nice to him now. So that he’ll remember you as a father figure a few years from now when he can kick your ass easily.

Did I mention I’m teaching my son?

15

I’m not even old yet but it’s really hard to care as much when you’re no longer competing and you’re good enough to protect yourself already. I prefer to lift and be in shape. I’ll train but I’m no longer locked in like I may have to protect my anus from Fedor one day.

16

Some guys are like this already. I can feel them backing off a little, they go for subs and stuff but they aren’t ripping them. I like this style better, get better flows and it is more sustainable for everyone. You also get better

17

It’s interesting from 18 to 28 you might not notice a difference. Even till almost 38. There is a guy I constantly battle that is 48 and that seems like a world of difference. I didn’t start slowing down a lot till then.