It has been said over and over that Jiu-Jitsu is good for any age and anybody.
While difficult and challenging for certain groups of people, I think we can all agree this is true. We have all seen the very young, the very old, and the handicapped do well and enjoy the art.
In fact, on multiple occasions, I have seen a few 80-year-old blue belts here in Oregon compete against each other, and this makes me so happy. To see two people who normally would live a sedentary lifestyle competing in a martial art which they both love is truly inspiring.
This got me thinking about how good BJJ is for the over-40 population. We often hear the term “BJJ over 40” and “old man Jiu-Jitsu”, but many of us take this idea for granted.
Jiu-Jitsu offers many great benefits to the over-40 population. Here are a few of the top things I came up with.
- New Passion– We often hear the term mid-life crisis around this age and this usually involves doing something to try and feel alive again after settling into what we now consider an average life. Some do this by buying new and expensive things, traveling, having a fling, or taking up a new hobby. Jiu-Jitsu is an awesome mid-life crisis. It is so much more sustainable and beneficial then simply spending money or living some short term event.
- Increased Health– Many people in their forties end up exercising less and many end up overweight. If Jiu-Jitsu is taken up, then practitioners over 40 will begin to regain lost health and possibly prevent or combat any worse conditions.
- Family Bonding– Many practitioners who get into BJJ after 40 end up signing up with their children or significant other. This is so good for the family. Many people in their thirties, forties, and fifties end up becoming detached from their family life somewhat. As kids get older, they automatically search for independence and tend to spend more time with friends than family. I have seen Jiu-Jitsu change this first hand and bring families back together.
- Stress Reliever– Lets face it. We all deal with stress. The over-40 population usually has it the worst, though. They often have the most bills, the most mentally-demanding jobs, a family to provide for, a retirement to plan for, and many other goals. As with all physical exercise, Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent way to relieve this stress.
- Sustainability– While many people work all their lives or at least to 65, some people are able to retire early at 55 or so. This is great, but sometimes, this leads to boredom and loss of interest in many things. Some people who retire just lose their passion for life. If a person can become involved in BJJ before this time, then he or she will always have something to work for.
Are you a BJJ practitioner who started after 40? How has BJJ affected your life?
The post Benefits Of BJJ After 40 appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Times.