Surviving My Second Month of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 62 Years Old (The Trek to Base Camp)

 

Reflecting on the past eight weeks of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, I can't help but imagine myself climbing Mount Everest.

You know how people traditionally say you're "over the hill" once you hit 40 or 50?

Well, here I am at 62, climbing what feels like the highest mountain in the world!

So, was month two any easier than month one?

Simple answer to a fairly simple question... NO!

Let me explain.

The Journey Begins

Continuing with my Mount Everest comparison, month one was like taking that terrifying flight into Lukla Airport in Nepal, one of the world's most challenging airports to land at.

For those unfamiliar with climbing Everest, Lukla is where many trekkers begin their journey toward Base Camp. The flight itself is an adventure, and once you arrive, you're suddenly faced with the reality of what lies ahead.

That's exactly how I felt walking through the gym doors on Day One.

The intimidation of stepping onto the mats at 61, just days before my 62nd birthday. The shock to my system during those first warm-ups. And then, of course, the absolute beating my ego took during live sparring.

I thought I was in pretty good shape.

BJJ quickly informed me otherwise!

Month one was my arrival in Lukla.

Month two? The long, exhausting trek toward Base Camp.

The Trek to Base Camp

In a real Everest expedition, reaching Base Camp involves days of trekking through increasingly demanding terrain. You're not climbing vertical ice walls yet, but you're still hiking uphill for hours, adjusting to the altitude, and dealing with muscles that seem to be constantly reminding you of their existence.

And here's the kicker.

After all that effort, you're only reaching the starting point for the actual climb!

That's pretty much how month two of BJJ has felt.

Long, unglamorous miles.

Learning to survive the crushing pressure of side control. Figuring out how to breathe when someone considerably heavier is lying across my chest. Trying to convince my body that being folded into positions it hasn't experienced in decades is somehow a good idea.

I'm not exactly climbing the mountain yet.

I'm still working my way toward Base Camp, trying to establish a foundation without turning around and heading home.

And believe me, there have been moments when turning around sounded pretty appealing!

Learning to Breathe in Thin Air

One of the biggest lessons I've learned during my second month is that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a lot like climbing a mountain where the air feels desperately thin.

My greatest physical hurdle hasn't necessarily been learning techniques.

It's been learning how to stop sprinting.

When you're trapped underneath someone, your instincts scream at you to explode. Push! Twist! Fight! Do whatever it takes to get out!

But I've discovered that trying to muscle your way out of every bad position is a trap.

You burn through your energy reserves, your breathing becomes frantic, and before you know it, you're completely exhausted.

I'm slowly learning what mountaineers might recognize as a version of the "rest step."

Slow down.

Breathe.

Conserve energy.

Find a position where you can remain composed long enough to figure out your next move.

For me, that means learning to maintain my frames, protect myself, and stop treating every uncomfortable position like a life-or-death emergency.

I'm learning that sometimes the smartest thing you can do is stop fighting the mountain and start understanding how to move through it.

The Summit Isn't Always at the Top

My greatest accomplishment so far hasn't been a submission or a sweep.

It's been something much simpler.

Showing up.

For two months straight, there's been a very convincing little voice in my head telling me to stay home.

You're too old for this.

You're still sore from the last class.

You don't have to put yourself through this.

And sometimes, that voice makes a pretty convincing argument!

But my desire to keep climbing has been stronger than my desire to sit comfortably on the couch.

So I pack my bag, head to the gym, and step onto those mats.

Again.

And again.

At 62, my second month of BJJ hasn't been about collecting submissions, earning stripes, or standing on a podium.

It's been about continuing the journey toward Base Camp.

Learning to breathe in an environment that sometimes feels starved of oxygen.

Learning to pace myself.

And learning that progress doesn't always look like winning.

Sometimes progress simply means refusing to turn around.

Don't Forget to Enjoy the View

Now, as difficult as I've made this sound, I also need to tell you something else.

The views along this climb have been absolutely beautiful.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has awakened muscles that apparently decided to retire decades ago.

It's challenged my coordination, balance, flexibility, and endurance in ways I never anticipated.

But perhaps even more importantly, it's challenged my thinking.

Old habits and thought patterns are being questioned almost every time I step onto the mats.

And that feeling of accomplishment after completing a class?

It's downright intoxicating!

There's also something else I never expected.

The camaraderie.

I've spent much of my adult life perfectly comfortable being an introvert. I've never felt the need to surround myself with a large group of people.

But the BJJ community has been a pleasant surprise.

The encouragement, patience, and willingness of others to share their knowledge have made this climb considerably more manageable.

And, believe it or not, downright enjoyable.

It's a reminder that even when you're climbing your own mountain, you don't necessarily have to climb it alone.

Mind Over Matter Really Matters

If there's one lesson that stands out above the rest from month two, it's this:

Mind over matter really does matter.

During my first few classes, I was gassing out so quickly that my immediate thought was to increase my roadwork.

I could already run 5K without a problem.

Maybe I needed to start running 10K?

Maybe I needed more endurance training?

But as I continued studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, something kept catching my attention.

The repeated emphasis on the mental aspects of the sport.

Staying calm under pressure.

Controlling your breathing.

Being patient.

Learning to think instead of simply reacting.

Then I started coming across references to meditation.

That rang a bell!

I've studied and practiced Transcendental Meditation (TM) for years.

So rather than immediately doubling my physical conditioning, I decided to put more emphasis on something I was already familiar with.

Calming my mind.

Learning to relax.

And paying closer attention to my breathing.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still strength training whenever I can, and physical conditioning remains an important part of my lifestyle.

But combining a calmer mindset with the technical knowledge I'm gaining has made a noticeable difference.

I've spent countless hours watching instructional videos about building frames, guard retention, and escaping bad positions.

And slowly, things are beginning to click.

I'm still getting smashed on the mats.

But at least I'm beginning to understand why!

The Unexpected Rewards

Continuing to show up remains the single most important part of this journey.

But having a definite goal has also made an enormous difference.

It's that goal that keeps me awake at night watching BJJ videos, reading articles, and trying to understand techniques that seemed completely foreign just eight weeks ago.

And beyond the aches, pains, and occasional bruised ego, the benefits have been priceless.

For one thing, my body feels more limber than it has in decades.

I'm not saying I've suddenly become a contortionist, but after only two months, I'm noticing improvements in how I move and how my body feels.

Another unexpected benefit has been my sleep.

For decades, I've struggled with getting enough rest, often sleeping only four or five hours a night. Even prescription sleep medication didn't always help.

Now, after an evening of BJJ, the adrenaline sometimes keeps me awake for a few hours.

But once I finally fall asleep?

I'm sleeping more soundly than I can remember.

And I'm actually taking naps!

Who would've thought?

Apparently, all I needed was to spend a few evenings each week getting folded into a pretzel by people half my age.

I'm sleeping like a lazy teenager these days!

Of course, I can't say BJJ alone is responsible for every improvement, but the changes I've noticed since starting have been remarkable.

Still Climbing

So here I am.

62 years old.

Two months into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Still sore.

Still learning.

Still getting smashed.

And still absolutely loving the journey.

I'm genuinely excited to see where this road takes me.

My hope is that by sharing these experiences, I might inspire someone in their 50s, 60s, or even beyond to consider trying something they've always wanted to do but thought they were too old to begin.

It doesn't necessarily have to be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Maybe it's boxing, hiking, swimming, dancing, or something entirely different.

The point is that getting older doesn't mean we have to stop challenging ourselves.

As for my Mount Everest analogy, I figure that somewhere around the six-month mark, I might finally reach my own version of Base Camp.

And that's when this climb could really start getting interesting!

Until then, I'll keep putting one foot in front of the other.

One class at a time.

One lesson at a time.

One small victory at a time.

Just show up.

Thank you for reading.