Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

 It has been a little over a month since I last posted an entry, and for good reason.

At the end of April, my son began taking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That meant a whole new schedule that I needed to adapt to. Twice a week, we drive a half hour each way to training. We stay for the entire hour-and-a-half class, so it has been a pretty major adjustment.

Aside from fitting this new schedule into my life, I have also dove in headfirst into learning everything I can about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After all, I am pretty much my now 10-year-old son's training partner. So yes, with that said, I have been spending plenty of time on the mats myself.

Proof that it's never too late to learn something new. At 61, I'm taking my first steps into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while sharing the journey with my son.

 Some people may think it's no big deal—a grown man practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a 10-year-old. Well, first of all, my son has been training MMA for the last two years. Getting him to stop throwing punches and trying to ground-and-pound me has been a task in itself. He does great in class, but when he's rolling with Dad, all bets are off.

 For those unfamiliar with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it is based on the idea that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves against a larger, stronger opponent through leverage, technique, and proper weight distribution. Believe me when I tell you, my son understands that concept very well. Sparring with him for two hours during open mat sessions—which we attend regularly at his club—is an intense workout. Much more intense than most people would imagine.

 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a whole new world that I have entered, and I am absolutely loving it.

 As I usually do whenever I become interested in something, I started researching everything I could about BJJ. Naturally, I wanted to know if it was a good fit for a 61-year-old. To my surprise, I discovered that many people begin their BJJ journey in their late fifties and even their sixties. Of course, training at this age requires a different approach than it does for the twenty- and thirty-somethings who make up a large percentage of practitioners, but it is certainly possible.

 Aside from a slew of other things I've been dealing with and working on, this is the main reason I haven't been posting much lately.

 I also feel compelled to share that I am currently working on a book that I hope to release later this year: Gettin Fit After Fiddy (50): Choosing to Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle. That's the working title for now. It may very well change once I get deeper into the editing process, but I'll definitely keep everyone posted.

 On top of that, I am about to embark on my first official vacation in over four decades. Although I have traveled extensively throughout my life, it was always for one reason or another and never what I would truly consider a vacation. This time is different. So expect some vacation-related entries in the future, because living a healthy lifestyle doesn't stop just because you're away from home.

 In closing, I want to share one more piece of news.

 Because I have been enjoying BJJ so much, I decided to sign up for classes myself.

 Meeting all of the practitioners during open mat sessions had a huge impact on me. For the most part, this healthier lifestyle journey has been a solo endeavor, aside from the activities I share with my son. Becoming part of the BJJ community feels like stepping into yet another new world.

 I recently met with the head coach, who was surprised to learn that I have never formally trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He said he could tell I had some experience somewhere along the line. The few years I spent wrestling as a kid clearly left their mark, and practicing MMA alongside my son over the last two years has helped me progress more than I realized.

 I am excited to see where this journey leads and look forward to sharing my progress along the way.

 Most of all, I hope this inspires anyone who thinks it's too late to try something new. At 61 years old, I'm still learning, still growing, and still stepping outside of my comfort zone.

 It's never too late.

 Until next time, thank you for reading.