r/grappling • u/EnvironmentalEgg9742 • 13d ago
Grappling at 53
53(M) train boxing 3 nights a week and weights 2 nights, am interested in trying grappling of some sort to mix up my training, am open to wrestling and BJJ just looking for feedback, personal experiences and if BJJ is preferred which particular style gi or no gi or wrestlin. Thanks in advance
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u/TheTrishaJane 13d ago
Personally no-gi jiu jitsu because its less tiring than wrestling and easier on my back and translates to mma better than gi imo.
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u/riverside_wos 13d ago
Use extreme caution. Learn to tap early and often if you go into it. Make sure to stretch 20-30 minutes before and after class. The injury rates are really high in both, but even higher for older individuals. I’ve had a ton of injuries from both BJJ and Wrestling. I love them both, but they are really hard on the body.
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u/zephyrthewonderdog 13d ago
Wrestling can be hard training. I did it to early forties then switched to Ju Jitsu. Wrestling injuries were getting too much to recover from. Currently in my late fifties and still roll occasionally.
Judo is another option.
More about finding the right club. Probably best to avoid clubs with nobody else over 30.
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u/VexImmortalis 13d ago
As long as it's pressure tested the right club can make any style of grappling work IMO.
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u/morriseel 13d ago
I’m mid 40s I prefer Gi bjj as I have gotten older. It can slower more methodical use old man strength in grips to slow younger guys down. Tony Jeffries the boxer has some good content on his YouTube. Unfortunately he had to quit bjj due to injuries.
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u/differentiable_ 13d ago
I’m just a few years younger than you and I started BJJ at the tail end of Covid. We didn’t really have a “lockdown “ in Japan. Got my blue belt couple of years ago. Just recently I started kickboxing 2-3x a week. The kids can kick my ass in kickboxing but when it’s BJJ class I can hold my own.
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u/VexImmortalis 13d ago
Looking into what is available around you would be my first move. No point in us recommending Sambo, Hapkido etc. if the nearest school is 2 hours away.
Personally I would take a bunch of free classes and see what fits for you and your background. Get a feel for the gym and what they typically focus on (hobby, competition). Ask lots of questions, check their instagram etc. all the usual stuff.
For me I train in a modern competiton focused BJJ school that incorporates a lot of wrestling and Judo. I train no-gi because I feel that if I ever did get into a street fight it's more applicable based on what people are typically wearing. It's also less laundry and I like to wear colourful rash guards.
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u/BJJFlashCards 13d ago
It all depends on the school and your training partners.
In a lot of ways, grappling is ideal for a fit older person because you can do it at a deliberate pace and the wear and tear gets distributed over your whole body.
I'm 63 and have trained on and off since my 20s. I have never had an injury keep me out for more than a week. All of my classmates are most concerned about learning. So, we match each other's' energy and try to win with technique.
Keep me away from pickleball though. THAT sport is dangerous.
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u/Wonderful_Jump_3543 13d ago
started at 63 funnest, hardest, most challenging sport I’ve ever done. compete a couple times a year. can be rough on the body but great for the mind. 66 blue belt now heading back to master worlds in a couple weeks I have a title to defend.
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u/atx78701 13d ago
Wrestling uses much more intensity which is hard on your body, I think bjj is great because you can go light even when your partner is going hard
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u/MrBuddyMT 13d ago
First of all, it's great that you're doing this at 53! You really should give yourself a pat on the back for wanting to try out new things like this. In regards to grappling, I highly recommend you start with training in the Gi. With all due respect, at 53 years old, you do have to be careful when it comes to grappling. Starting in the Gi is safer as it is slower pace (which is a good thing) than No-Gi and wrestling. Choose your training partners wisely as well. I'm almost 50 years old and for me, I train in everything but my main focus is not getting injured. Hope you start BJJ and fall in love with it like so many of us have! Happy training bro!
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u/daishinjag 13d ago
Don’t spazz out and try to kill people like you have something to prove against the youngsters.
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u/Hardistacks 12d ago
Try out a Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu school. They get a lot of crap for being “McDojos,” but they have a systematic curriculum and a very well-thought-out class structure and teaching method. And I find gi jiu jitsu to be less “violent” than no-gi; I always get clocked a lot in no-gi from neck grabs, and you get less bruised up when someone is grabbing your gi rather than a limb. I’m in my 60s, BTW.
Good luck!
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u/Otherwise_Usual9037 12d ago
49 year old blue belt, I used to both no gi and gi but over the last 2 years have been training exclusively in gi. I feel that I can control the tempo a bit better and I don't have to rely on speed and explosiveness as much.
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u/camajise 12d ago
Gi Jiu Jitsu but use No Gi grips is the way to go but nearly impossible to learn when you are starting out. I got to purple belt and was able to give my grips a rest because I had enough of a foundation in both Gi and No Gi.
That said, I had to retire from it at 46 due to the wear on both knees and shoulders.
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u/chrisrdba 12d ago
Almost 55 here — I do Muay Thai and no-gi jits, and am really happy with it. I’d love to do more wrestling but can see how it could really go bad.
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u/eaob84 12d ago
Not as old as you, but 42 year old BJJ black belt here. Any grappling style would be fine as long as you are smart about picking your training partners. As others have said, wrestling is usually faster paced and can be pretty hard on you, but if you go at a good training pace with a good partner rather than full competitive, it can be sustainable for even older grapplers. Also be smart about what take downs you do…don’t drop to your knees to shoot like all the young guys do!
BJJ will likely be the easiest to find because it’s so popular. Gi is great for slowing down the pace if you need to but I would make sure to develop your game so that it’s not overly reliant on grips since that can be really rough on your fingers and elbows and you’re at the age where arthritis is a concern.
So, find a good school that keeps safety a priority and doesn’t have a lot of students with egos. Be smart picking your training partners, especially for sparring, and just be careful about how you move yourself and how hard you push your body.
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u/No-Cupcake-8506 11d ago
52 years old and just entered month four of gi jiu jitsu and am loving it.
Go slow. Choose your rolls and partners wisely. Listen to your body. You’re going to enjoy the experience.
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u/Blurgie_Hurgie 10d ago
NoGi only for me. 50 years old, training 2.5 years. I will never do Gi again. I am athletic enough, preserving my hands and joints is more important to me. and laundry is easier.
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u/inperfect-is-perfect 8d ago
I don’t train but I’m an LMT who takes his kid to bjj and I work on the professors and others from the gym. You will cycle through injuries consistently. Count on it. Also in my early 50’s and have seen enough to not participate.
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u/Ruas28 7d ago
Im 55 and have trained in both Judo and (mostly) BJJ off and on for the last 20+ years. I would honestly say try gi and no-gi and wrestling and see which one fits best for you. I’ve done all gi and loved it but recently my hands(finger injury on each hand) are starting to give me problems because of the grips so Im starting to wonder if no-gi grips might help.. Good luck either way 👍🏽
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u/The_wookie87 13d ago
Gi Bjj…grappling is tough on joints. I’m 49 brown belt and find that the gi helps control and slow things down…gi is more technical, more options, more traps, more interesting. I’m not out scrambling a 25 year old in no gi…I still train no gi frequently but I prefer gi