Training Jiu Jitsu Based on Your Age

Something we have to understand is that our goals change over time. A young college student might be 100% committed to going to tournaments and winning medals, but then later on as his career or home life changes, he could find his Jiu Jitsu taking a back seat. His goal might go from "Win big events" to "Keep ticking over" or maybe "Master the martial art".

Sometimes, it happens the other way around. Someone joins Jiu Jitsu with no particular goal in mind, but then finds it so interesting or exciting that their ambitions increase rather than decrease over time.

But the important thing to remember is that you'll definitely change over time. Because of the time it takes to get to Black Belt, and the physical and lifestyle changes that staying on that path encompass, you won't be the same person that stepped on the mat on your first day.

We define our entry points in the diagram below. This hangs in the coaches' room in Kyuzo, to remind everyone who is taking a class that training is a lifelong journey, and that individual differences are one of the great strengths that a big club like ours has. Everyone who walks in the door brings their own personalities, experiences, and qualities.

The chart shows the entry point for every member, but also shows that it's just an entry point, not the whole journey.

Even within the age ranges, there's a variance. You might be a young Adult, but have no interest in the sport of Jiu Jitsu, or you might be a Master who loves to compete. The important thing for us is to help you in whatever path you're on.

The previous model of training, before people strated to take up things like Jiu Jitsu in their 30s and 40s, was that you started as a child, then became a competitive adult, then quit and went to play golf.

Now the model has to be more sophisticated and adaptive to people's needs, age, and athletic abilities. This means that you can step in and start at any age- 30s, 40s, 50s- and the system will take care of you. And, it means that you can age through each stage of your life and continue to train.

This chart isn't everything. It's just a way of expressing how we think about the people who walk in the door, and how to get the best out of them.

Have a look, and don't forget to ask questions!

See you on the mat,

Barry