Is BJJ a lifelong martial art?

[SweepEm]

I"ve been fortunate in BJJ.

There was a list a long time ago, about who you've trained with and I had a list that was pretty damn long.

I am one of those old guys but people are still amazed when I tell them my age since I guess I don't look my age.
I have most of my hair and it's only now that I have a white hairs.

If you guys keep it up, well, you may find that there is a full field of old guys but for me, unless it's a huge tournament, there are either no others or one guy that is in
the same age and weight bracket.

So, I usually have a good news, bad news scenario when I go into a tournament and compete;

the good news: I got a medal, usually second place.

the bad news: there was only two people.

the last tournament I competed in, it was a small one and was paired up with a guy more than 10 years younger than me.
Maybe people will feel sorry for me if I limp up to the mat using a walker.

Oh, and I will be 45 next month.
So, I hope that I can inspire other guys to go out and train and not think that they are too old.
but I won't ever catch up to Hawk.
He inspires me to keep going on.

[MrPoopy]

Old instructor

My instructor didn't start training until he was 30. He's 40 now, and consistently kicks everyone's ass in class.

[Pancrase]

2 comments

1. I work in a professional corporate environment and I'm really surprized that more older (30's & 40's) guys don't stay or take the arts. I don't get it.
2. I've been doing martial arts for 27 yrs. now, 19 years of
kickboxing JKD/kali and 9 years of grappling BJJ/Shoot and I still learn as much as possible and am always looking for new techniques, drills, etc.
I will be 43 next month and recently started teaching MMA classes in L.A., if you stay in shape you can keep learning, training, teaching as long as you want. Just take care of yourself. Congrats to SweepEm for staying at it.

[GregG]

Suits and MA

I am now working in the corporate environment. The only folks I know who are also in the MA are people from another group I belong to: the SCA (a medieval reenactment group with a sport MA component).

I am trying to get back into it. I started Moo Duk Kwan when I was six and quit when my instructor graduated college and went back to Korea. I moved a lot with my parents, then with the Army. My experience is broad, but sometimes I feel like "2 years 16 times" instead of 32 years. Now I am traveling about 80% of the time and when I am home want to see my family.

There are a couple of interesting looking schools at home and I will start training there when I am home. What I need though is to find schools on the road who will take a student just every now and then. A high demand for their patience. :-|

But I am very good at learning that first two years.

[JaredExtreme]

LoL

"a medieval reenactment group "

[GregG]

SCA

Originally posted by JaredExtreme
LoL

"a medieval reenactment group "

And how would you describe it in one short sentence to people who may have never heard of it?