There is a saying that you are only as old as you feel. If the originator of that phrase meant physically, I am older than my biological age, but if they meant how I feel mentally, than I am still a teenage kid.
I started this blog to chronicle my journey into the word of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I have been a long time fan of BJJ, but I never took the plunge. There were times that I planned to sign up, but for one reason or another it never happened. In 2004 I signed up for an MMA class that was run from a Jiu Jitsu school. I tried a couple free introductory classes in 2006, and the place I began my journey into Krav Maga in 2008 offered BBJ classes. I enrolled my two daughters, then three and a-half and five years old in Jiu-Jitsu in June of 2017. Watching them train has sparked a fire in me to finally take the plunge.
Now 25 years after I first learned about BJJ, I have decided it's time to start. I considered enrolling in the school I have my two girls in, but they do not offer times that work for my schedule. Within a five mile radius of my home, there are a lot of BJJ schools. The San Jose area where I live is a hotbed of martial arts schools.
Yesterday I went to observe a class at a BJJ school not too far from my home. They offer an adult class starting at 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. 9:30 PM is late for me. It's the time I put my girls to sleep. It maybe a breakpoint for me. I was impressed by the warm greetings I received from the instructor and his students. He introduced me to each and everyone that walked by. There probably was a time in my life that I would have wanted to train with killers to prove to myself that I could hang with them. These days I try to avoid them because I don't want to get hurt. At my age, getting hurt means long recovery times and a decreased desire to return to doing what got me hurt.
While there, the instructor ask is I wanted to take the class. I told him I was not dressed to train, but he said he had a gi for me. Well, I can't say no to a free meal or a free class, so I took him up on the offer. Before we started, he asked my age. I told him I was 45 years old, but my mind still thinks I'm a 12 year old boy. Why 12? I must have had a great time when I was 12 years old. Anyway, he told me he would make sure the younger students would not injure me. He seemed to be my age. So maybe he knew something about his students that I did not.
He took me to the restrooms and handed me his black gi. I changed into it and walked out without a belt to close the top. One of his purple belt students gave me his white belt and began to try and explain how to wear the belt. I didn't want to seem cocky, but I just put it on and tied it before he could finish tell me how to do it. I've spent years tying belts for Aikido and Japanese JuJutsu.
We got on the mat and the first warm up was hip escapes. The instructor ask the same purple belt to take me to the corner and show me how to hip escape. I told him I have done it before. He asked me to show him, which I did. Then we rejoined the class. It felt good being back on the mat. Since 2008 I have only trained in Krav Maga. Krav is less structured and training is conducted on a hard surface while we wear our shoes. There are times we are in the parking lot between cars or against the wall. Anyway, being barefoot and a mat felt good.
After the warm ups, the first technique we drilled was the double armbar from guard. Ironically, this was the first ever technique I practiced when I trained in Vale Tudo. Some people learn by reading, some by writing, others by watching others. I learn by doing. Once I do something a few times, it because part of my muscle memory. I can not remember all the names of the Aikido or JJJ technique I have practiced, but I remember the movements. So although I have not practiced the double armbar from guard in over 15 years, I remember it vividly. It brought a smile to my face. It was an inside joke only I know.
I paired up with the only female and only white belt there to practice the double armbar. I have always liked training with females. They lack the strength to power through a technique , so they have to use leverage and good technique .
The next technic we drilled was an armbar from guard while hooking the opponent's leg that is brought up to 90 degrees. I do not know what all the technique are called. Then there was the technique of breaking the opponent's grip for an armbar by hooking their leg and using my leg across their face to get them to break their grip.
When all the drilling was done, we got into a circle and just talked. I thought the class was over by this time, but then we went into rolling. The instructor did not want me to roll since I was new. I wanted to, but I just sat with him and watched his students roll. I wanted to be humble, but my inner ninja wanted to test myself against these younger students. I believe they were all in their 20's.
After the class was over I spoke to the instructor. He was very complimentary of my first class. He said so many nice things about me that I felt like he was about to sell me. He didn't. I left with the pricing sheet and a smile on my face. I thought that this might be the school for me.
The next day I was so busy at work that I did not have time to email the instructor. When I got home I emailed him asking if I could train with him. I have not heard back from him yet, but I am hoping he will get back to me so I can begin training tomorrow night.
(At this time, I am not going to share the name of the instructor, the name of the school, or the students that train there. I do not have their permission.)
Question, At what age did you start your Jiu-Jitsu training?
-Tony
