Judo Beginner

flanno_7hi

Hi all,
I've been following the Judo at the Olympics and it looks like a really physical and cerebral sport. I've been looking online and there is a club down the road from me here in Chester.
I used to play a lot of rugby back in limerick but I haven't done any sport for about five years except go to the gym (where I don't exactly murder myself).
I'm just wondering am I too old to get started at 28. Do you have any advice for a noob?

Thanks everyone

Dermighty

flanno_7hi wrote: »

I'm just wondering am I too old to get started at 28. Do you have any advice for a noob?

Not at all.

Do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instead!

flanno_7hi

Dermighty wrote: »

flanno_7hi wrote: »

I'm just wondering am I too old to get started at 28. Do you have any advice for a noob?

Not at all.

Do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instead!

Sorry for my ignorance but why?

Dermighty

Because it's cool!

In all seriousness, both are great, personally I'd pick BJJ because I feel it's more practical for self defense and is more forgiving for people of different builds when they spar will larger or more powerful people.

There are people faaaaaar more qualified than myself to talk about it, I'm sure some of the Judo lads will weigh in. Training anything is better than training nothing. I hope you enjoy it if you get started

average hero

Dermighty, I know you are being friendly with your suggestion of BJJ and I am not attacking you so please don't take it as such, but the OP asked for advice regarding Judo. I am sick to death of BJJ dominating martial arts suggestions.

OP, I am delighted you are thinking of Judo. I am currently an Orange belt myself having just started last year.

28 is NOT too old to start. Judo translates to 'the gentle way' and the first thing you learn is how to break a fall so you don't get hurt. People have started Judo all the way up to age 40 and beyond. Etiquette is very important in Judo clubs so you won't have people dominating you when you first join if it's a good club - they will want to help you.

Your previous experience at rugby will give you a 'little' experience in tripping people, breaking of balance, and throwing people (some pro rugby teams train in Judo in Australasia) so you will have a slight advantage when you come in.

It is a practical self-defence, as it starts off in stand-up (a lot of fights descend into grappling matches - not all though ) and then it can progress to the ground.

There is a large learning curve, but there is no better feeling than when you start to cop on to the mechanics of it. I hope you will love it as much as I do.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

singlesnights

Dermighty wrote: »

Personally I'd pick BJJ because I feel it's more practical for self defense

While I love BJJ, I would never put it ahead of Judo when it comes to self-defence. I know plenty of doormen who swear by judo. Besides, you never want to go to the ground in a fight because you might be dealing with more than one opponent.

Anyway, the OP didn't say whether he is looking to do judo as a means of self-defence or simply as a sport. Either way, he's interested in judo and I'm sure the judo practioners on this forum will have some good advice and suggestions for him.

flanno_7hi

Thanks for all the responses guys.
I Didn't mean to cause so much of a debate. I wasn't really worried about self defence more the fact it looks like a really interesting sport. I looked up BJJ and I think I prefer the look of Judo. I am going to go give it a try as there is a club 5 mins drive from my house.
Any other advice for a noob? Should I expect to waking up in the morning with a lot of aches and pains (not really a bad thing in my book)? And how long do people normally train for before they start to compete? I miss the competitiveness of playing organised sport.

Would you guys recommend getting my fitness up in the gym for a few weeks before i try it out or just jump right in?

Dermighty

flanno_7hi wrote: »

Would you guys recommend getting my fitness up in the gym for a few weeks before i try it out or just jump right in?

A lot of people ask about this when they want to take up a martial art. Fitness comes with training so if you concentrate on going to class and working hard then you'll get good at judo and you'll get fit.

Cork24

The Guy asked about Judo not BJJ,


if your 28 your not Two old at all.. Your First Training will be break falls break falls and more break falls, you will learn the basic Hip throw, and a leg Sweep..

I dont think they will have you sparing in your first night, but then again you never know..

in my local judo club we would do a 15min warm up, then break up in peers and train on your fav throw or sweep,

then we end up doing some ground work I.E. Getting out of Hold downs, chocking, arm locks etc.. then in the last hour we do 30mins Ground fighting then the last 30mins standing fighting,

you will Notice how hard it is to throw people, your best bet if your slow but strong is learn a good sacrifice throw This means "you Sacrifice your own body to throw"

Dermighty

Cork24 wrote: »

The Guy asked about Judo not BJJ,

A bit late to jump on that bandwagon really.

singlesnights

flanno_7hi wrote: »

Should I expect to waking up in the morning with a lot of aches and pains (not really a bad thing in my book)? And how long do people normally train for before they start to compete? I miss the competitiveness of playing organised sport.

Well I've just started training in BJJ at the age of 37 so I have nearly 10 years on you. After each class, I feel a niggle or two afterwards but I think that's the case for anyone trying a sport which involves immediate sparring/rolling.

As for competitions, I don't know what the case is for judo practitioners. I've only had 4 classes in BJJ and am going to enter a grappling competition in October - it'll give me something to train for and the experience can only help me develop my BJJ game.

Best of luck!!

Dermighty

singlesnights wrote: »

Well I've just started training in BJJ at the age of 37 so I have nearly 10 years on you. After each class, I feel a niggle or two afterwards but I think that's the case for anyone trying a sport which involves immediate sparring/rolling.

As for competitions, I don't know what the case is for judo practitioners. I've only had 4 classes in BJJ and am going to enter a grappling competition in October - it'll give me something to train for and the experience can only help me develop my BJJ game.

Best of luck!!

Best of luck!

RoboRat

I started Judo aged 34 with a reconstructed knee so to answer your first question, no you are not too old.

Rugby may help a bit as you should have good balance and upper body strength but its not going to be a massive help as Judo is about technique.

In regards to being sore, yeah I was a bit sore for the first while but you learn how to land and also you get used to it so it's not something that should put you off.

I have had to stop doing Judo as I moved to an area where there is no club and to be honest I am really missing it. I am doing BJJ now and whilst I love it, I much prefer Judo.

Give it a go, if its for you, you will love it, if its not then at least you tried!