I want to take Ju-Jitsu but have never taken a Martial Art. I'm 29 is this too old?

Question

I want to take Ju-jitsu when I can afford it. I currently and 5 ft 8 inches

-180lbs. However I'm shy about walking into a class with people I don't know. Do they start you out slowly and with beginners. I've always been a shy person but can warm up after time. I don't want to be in a room with a bunch of meat heads feeling left out. I kinda look like some skater indie rocker. Not your average athletic person. Should I reconsider. What are begiining classes like?

Answer 1

I was 50 years old when I started. I took private lessons, you learn much faster and you don't have to worry about the classroom atmosphere.

Answer 2

No, you're never too old. If they are a good school then everyone will great you. In my Chung Do Kwan school we all have to great people who come in with the Chung Do Kwan handshake even if they've been there before. If we don't then we get pushups.

Answer 3

I know people who started martial arts in their 50's.  We have some masters in our school who started in their 30's.

They should start out slow with you.  If you already knew everything they'd give you a black belt at your first lesson.  Some schools have classes just for beginners, many have everyone in one class by age group so you'd be in with a bunch of adults from beginners to experts.  

You should make friends soon enough.  Learning the arts is a great bonding experience.

Answer 4

go for it, your not too old and you'll probably meet a lot of cool people there.

Answer 5

No you are definitely not too old to start in any martial art Jiu Jitsu or otherwise. 29 isn't old my friend, don't count yourself out before you even get started.

To the other part of your question, that will vary a bit from school to school. Some schools are set up to turn out fighters and that is what they want and are looking for. Most are perfectly happy to have just about anyone who wants to learn come in and join them. I would go around to a few local schools and speak with the instructors and be upfront with any concern you may have when you first talk to them. They may have trial periods that you could get in on and see what you think of the fighting style and the way that classes are run. Make your decision from there and you are good to go.

Good luck in your search!! Martial arts may be a good boost to your confidence to and help you break out of the shy shell.

Answer 6

Nope... "Old" is a state of mind!

You might want to consider sitting in on a class before you make any commitments just as a matter of "general policy."

Before you start anyplace, find a school where you are COMFORTABLE!

Answer 7

No. It is not too late. You are not too old. Go train.

E

Answer 8

Not at all. But keep your goals realistic. If you just want to broaden your personal knowledge get exercise, or just learn to protect yourself and loved ones, you are making a good choice. But if you're going in there expecting to be a champion cage fighter in 2 years, think again.

Answer 9

No, you are not too old, you are still pretty young.

it will be hard at the beginning, but if you persist and train regularly you'll be fine quickly.

good luck!

Answer 10

No, started at 33.  

Answer 11

They started me out with the one other person who was a white belt an it was a 2 person class for about 3-4 classes then he put us into a class with higher belts, I'm not sure if it was because were both very good (which I know we are, for one thing he took our belts and said he needs them because we got VERY high scores on the promotion test) or if he just normally does that. The people in the class are a green belt girl about our age, a brown belt who weighs like 250 pounds is 30 and very out of shape but he is still very good (so you could do perfectly fine) and a couple other kids that are our rank. (yellow belt with orange stripe going across the middle) So I think that you would do fine becuase I am shy also but I'm friends with these people now and one of the black belts is my friend and he helps me alot. The black belts are VERY VERY VERY friendly. Even the ones that look like they'll rip your face off (like a black guy with light blue eyes o_0 ) are friendly. So you'll have a lot of fun.

Answer 12

its never too old and have determination is you eyes to keep on going. it may be tough, but what's not when it comes to gaining something worth wild. Just go at your own pace and keep practicing, that's the only way you'll get better. There will be times that you want to stop a quarter of the way, it just means you need a break after over stressing yourself. But don't quit.