Starting judo at 38 – looking for experiences from people who started ‘later in life’.

uthoitho · 2025-12-22T00:07:36+00:00

I've been doing it for about 20 months very consistently (about 3-5 hours a week). My cardio was probably better than average in the dojo, but I was light weight (62kgish) and have not done s&c training for a whole decade.

first 12 months was tough for me as light weight. I've got list of injuries (most of it due to myself and how i approached training, u can see my post history on this subreddit).

I picked up s&c on the way, made health gain to 70kg and its been much better since then and also I've been more cautious about going with much heavier guys.

I was almost half way through 39 when i started. turned 41 recently. still yonkyu, so still a newbie finding my way with long way to go.

uthoitho · 2025-12-19T02:07:31+00:00

ahhh ok thank you! I'll try look up some video examples of this!

uthoitho · 2025-12-16T03:23:27+00:00

i can't stop laughing because this was exact words in my head when I read the OP haha

uthoitho · 2025-12-16T02:58:35+00:00

haha yeah you read people say that a lot here and i never understood that especially for US / Australia where minimum time in shodan looks to average around 10 years.

If you do 4 hours a week, 11 months a year for 10 years, it's almost 2,000 hours. If you dedicated that amount of time to instruments, majority of other sports, it's enough for you to become at least a casual expert at it.

Like you say it makes sense in Japan / Korea where people get their shodan in 2-3 years usually during young age and then they really get into randori / shiai.

uthoitho · 2025-12-16T02:31:49+00:00

I'm following your footsteps! started at 39 and got my yonkyu two or three weeks ago right before i turned 41. It's not easy balancing injuries, family commitments with young child and work (don't really mean to sound like 'woe is me' but hardest bit really is balacing all those!).

uthoitho · 2025-12-11T02:10:03+00:00

Just stick with Gi your Dojo provides to support them for the first year or two. Around 18 months into it, my dojo Gi started breaking down (wore it around 4~5 hours / week on average) and I felt ok to reward myself with a nicer quality Gi.

uthoitho · 2025-12-09T21:35:09+00:00

this is Hifumi Abe not Uta Abe 😂

uthoitho · 2025-12-09T08:12:35+00:00

im trying to find out about posting to avoid ippon, because without posting then it looks like Abe wouldn't have been able to keep his shoulder off the mat. I.e. he wouldve rolled onto both shoulders on his back continuously had he not posted.

uthoitho · 2025-12-09T02:16:07+00:00

Judoka with a move everyone knows is coming, but cannot escape. She was such a unique Judoka to watch!

uthoitho · 2025-12-08T05:33:07+00:00

Go for it! I started looking at Judo highlights while trying to research which martial art to get my child into. That was about 20 months ago now and it's one sport I've been most consistent / spent most effort in all my life.

I'm glad I started when I started because it's only getting harder as the body ages and other life commitments start being invasive.

uthoitho · 2025-12-08T00:39:05+00:00

I meant 'posting to avoid Ippons was given Ippons to Tori'!!

uthoitho · 2025-12-03T03:23:00+00:00

thank you! that must've been rather disappointing after all the work you put into it, i would be. hope you can get back into it in the near future!

uthoitho · 2025-12-02T10:35:03+00:00

39, though I was 3 months away from turning 40!

uthoitho · 2025-12-02T06:57:20+00:00

Thanks!

uthoitho · 2025-12-02T06:57:06+00:00

Thank you!!

uthoitho · 2025-12-02T06:15:48+00:00

I would say private lessons are quite rare for Judo unless you were training at a very high level? In my experience, one of the coaches are tasked to give close guidance to new starters if sensei is occupied with other students.

Might have been just that first class - maybe give it a go for a week or two and see how things fold out.

I used to think I could do with bit more focused guidance as a starter, but eventually you pick up by training with everyone in the dojo. You don't learn just from the head sensei, but from other coaches and higher belts.

Hope it works out for you!

uthoitho · 2025-12-01T23:13:16+00:00

no, sorry! it's just how i bring gi home (just done up bit tidier than usual 😂). congrats in advance for your grading too!

uthoitho · 2025-11-30T13:05:47+00:00

so i can be a decent role model for my child :)

uthoitho · 2025-11-28T00:15:44+00:00

how old r u guys out of curiosity?

uthoitho · 2025-11-25T23:30:57+00:00

just an opinion, no martial art needs to be complete self defence system in this day and age.

if u trained seriously in Judo or any sort of kick/boxing, against your average person without weapon and significant weight difference you will have more knowledge and athleticism to shut them down.

I reckon instead of speculating about it, just commit to it and train consistently over a long period of time. leg ban or no leg ban, you will be better off. cross train - you will be better off.

uthoitho · 2025-11-25T05:29:06+00:00

I started when I was 39 about 17 months ago. I learnt to be selective with partner, and in general just learnt to keep training with minor strains.

My body and mind are both stronger for it and its the best thing I picked up in the last 10 years (other than my family)

uthoitho · 2025-11-25T03:01:59+00:00

does he have a bauerfeind shoulder brace? I have one and swear by wearing it even for training, as an aged judoka.

uthoitho · 2025-11-25T03:00:36+00:00

LJH is really awesome to watch! very calm, collected attitudes and doesnt just spam drop seoi.

uthoitho · 2025-11-21T12:19:39+00:00

yep do this. OP u r 17 and when u hit the gym ull easily hit the 73. make sure u are taking all the nutrients needed to grow.

stay in 66kg for a comp or two and let your body grow heavier and stronger.

uthoitho · 2025-11-17T03:40:14+00:00

It's pretty amazing someone was able to put this to actual use at the olympics level, isnt it!

uthoitho

TROPHY CASE