[JMD]

....at the moment I am extremely unfit. I'm not one of these people who claim to be unfit when they really mean they haven't trained in a few months, I am genuinely extremely unfit. I would struggle to do more than 5 push ups or run more than 500 yards without being completely out of breath. I've been pretty inactive for more or less 15 years. So in summary I'm 32 years old, very unfit, and overweight (although not hugely overweight, just a beer gut and a bit chubby)

So my question is, do I need to get fit before attending bjj classes? Is there a level of fitness I need to attain before I would be able to make it past a warm up!? Please be brutally honest!

[Amave]

nope


by going to BJJ you will get fit end of story

[blackjack]

6 months ago i started BJJ. I came from 0 althetic background I wieghed 245lbs (6 feet tall) of fat and no muscle. I am 44 years old.

The first 2 months I would have to run out side the gym to vomit durring warmups. Durring situps two great guys would sit on either side of me and pull me up with them. 3 weeks into training I broke 2 floating ribs sparing beacuse my abs were too weak to support a 170lb man on top of me.

Fast forward 6 months. I atteneed my first BJJ tournament wieghing in at 203.5lbs a total wieght loss of 41.5 lbs and I put on substantial muscle to boot.

Don't wait to be fit to start BJJ, BJJ will make you fit if you attend reglarly and start eating right.

[jackjitsu]

Start immediately. USE bjj to get into shape.

Other forms of exercise are SOOOOOO boring in comparison, you may quit before you get started.

6 months from now you will look in the mirror and see a new, leaner, tougher man. Seriously. The chubby guys are the ones you see the biggest change in.

Dont put it off... just do it... its ok if you die in class every day and dont finish.
I started BJJ while quite sick, used to puke almost every day from the exertion.
SO GLAD I WENT. Changed my life, literally, big time.

[lstbred]

+1 for everything thats been said, just go! if you show you really want to be there and try, people will go out of their way to help.

[clinzy]

Nothing will get you into shape for BJJ like BJJ. One of my friends used to run marathons before she started BJJ. Her first BJJ class kicked her butt. She's a black belt now.

[JanneM]

There was a former president of Finland (Urho Kekkonen) who once said "all the reasons that prevent us from exercising are excuses"

[mofo]

Last May I started, I was 40 & very out of shape. 5'11 & 225. I am now 175 & training for a tourney at the end of the month. I puked my first night of training and now I normally stick around for the second class most nights to make sure I "get it".

Good luck. Stick with it. BJJ saves lives.

[muttonwar]

I almost died twice last year because of my health. I have severe asthma and I cant breathe out of my nose because of sinus problems. I took 3-4 months off bjj when I ended up in the hospital and had to have surgery.

I went back still not being able to climb a flight of stairs without being out of breathe. 3 weeks after started training again I got walking pneumonia and STILL competed in my first tournament. I had to take an inhaler between matches. I took 3rd place.

Tell your coach how you feel and what kind of shape your in. Take it slow. Take a break between rolls if need be. Listen to you body. DO ALL OF THIS IN CLASS AND ON THE MATS. Go to class, you wont regret it.

Dieing on the mats surrounded by friends is better then dieing at home alone feeling sorry for yourself. At least that how I look at it.

[lstbred]

[Noodles]

Starting when you are out of shape can be your best foot forward. You will go in humble, and yo0u will focus on technique since you don't have the muscle to power your way through opponents.

I have noticed that many guys that are in good shape with lots of strength tend to quit BJJ pretty quickly- I think it is due to being frustrated over not being "good" after the first few weeks.

As a white belt you're gonna get your butt kicked regardless of strength and conditioning. might as well get started now, and learn as you get more fit.

P

[muttonwar]

Just to add, today I am going to see my doctor because my normal asthma meds have not been keeping up with my symptoms. I have been running out of breathe in class and getting dizzy.

Doc appointment is at 4:15 and class is at 8:00. Rest assured I wont be missing it on the off chance my lungs quit on me.

The only reason to ever miss class is if something is contagious. Then its about the wellbeing of your team mates.

Otherwise grab your balls in one hand, your Gi in the other and march your out of shape ass to the gym. I do it every week and i never regret it. Even when the trip home is lengthened by a trip to the ER for a hit on the nebulizer.

[wookieman]

Everything said in this thread is so true. I was 210 lbs when I started BJJ, not huge, but headed on a road to worse health. 6 months later I'm 176 and hoping to hit 166 in time for a tourney in May. I've lost most of that weight since December when I cleaned up my diet. We have another guy that started in november, he's about 6'4'' weighed 270 when he started and is down to 230. He has his first MMA fight on Saturday.

My first few classes I almost puked. I remember almost passing out on the floor while one of my coaches stood over me and made sure I was ok. The guys at the gym were nothing but encouraging. When I wanted to quit rolling from exhaustion they pushed me, not in a mean way, but in a way that brought out the best in me, until I left it all on the mat. When I finally had enough they continued to encourage me.

My stamina has improved, my stress level has decreased, and I'm generally a more fit person both mentally and physically.

Find a gym with positive environment, and sign up today. Focus on walking through the door at least a couple times a week. Stop making excuses.

[spartanmachine]

I'm not a huge fan of Nike but there slogan is in order here:

Just Do It!

[JMD]

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement

I spoke to the instructor, and I'm starting next week.

[J.Park]

outstanding! you'll be glad you did.
I'm a complete amateur as ive only been to 5 classes and 1 seminar so far.
I can only say don't get discouraged. The more you go the better and more comfortable you'll be and better shape you'll get into!
best luck

I'm hooked.

[wookieman]

Awesome! Welcome to your new addiction.

[blackjack]

Congrats on the decision. Just keep in mind the first few months are really tough, apart from real injury and contagous disease just come to class no matter what.

Also start eating right, it makes a huge difference to your ability to recover between classes.

[gspmmafan]

Before I started I was really worried about this issue myself. I had been lifting weights for a long time but I thought my cardio was non existent. I had played team sports in high school and had been out of that for about 4 years. I would have started about five months before I did if I had been able to get over my unjustified fears. It was absolutely nothing like I was worried about before starting. When everyone says just go that's really the best thing you can do.

[scifigal]

I started when I was 33. I had a black belt in tv watching. I watched 40+ hours per week. This is no exaggeration--I have 3 TG of tv shows in my apartment right now and I download shows every day/week.

Class was tough when I started. I couldn't jog/run far, I couldn't do forward rolls, I couldn't do very much. I was uncoordinated, and my body was a parked car. Now I feel like my car is an older running model--not the kind that's completely reliable, but one that you pray before you start the engine every time. One that you'd take to the store but not on a road trip.

The answer: go to class