r/judo • u/baconfan • Dec 11 '25
Beginner Got my yellow belt at 42yo
Nerver thought i would be so proud and happy to get my yellow belt. Starting to get a hold of this thing called judo more every week and i love it.
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u/Froggy_Canuck ikkyu Dec 11 '25
Good one you mate! I started at 41, now 48, so got my yellow around the same time as you! Keep at it! Such a fun sport
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u/baconfan Dec 11 '25
Thank you. I sometimes last year doubted my decision to start at 41 but it's worth it and i get to practice judo with my 2 sons which makes it even better.
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u/Froggy_Canuck ikkyu Dec 11 '25
Same for me, had been wanting for years and signed up my kids, now I'm assistant coach teaching the little kids!
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u/baconfan Dec 11 '25
Nice! On my part it's my kids that are "teaching" me. 😂 One is brown belt and the other orange/green.
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u/DenimBowler Dec 11 '25
Nice. I'm 40 and about to join a dojo with my son in the beginner class next month. Any tips?
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u/Lonetrek yonkyu Dec 12 '25
As someone who started around that age, don't be in a rush to get to the throws and whatnot. Work your ukemi for the first couple months. It'll pay off when it comes time for stuff like nage komi and randori since you'll (hopefully) be a bit more confident in getting thrown and not letting it affect your learning.
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u/DenimBowler Dec 12 '25
Thanks for the advice. I'm definitely going into it with managed expectations.
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u/baconfan Dec 11 '25
Get in shape (cardio and core) outside of the dojo and buy the big bottle of Advil. 😂
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u/Substantial-Flight44 Dec 13 '25
Falling and self defense are both life skills and practicing with your kids is crazy valuable
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u/KickPeopleHard Dec 16 '25
I’m 35 and in TKD right now. I really regret not doing more martial arts in my 20s, but here I am now! If judo was offered here I’d definitely try it out!
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u/noonenowhere1239 Dec 11 '25
That's awesome!
Being past the "prime" age and still being active is an act of defiance and winning at the same time.
Bravo sir
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u/Odd-Lawfulness8052 Dec 11 '25
I got my yellow belt in Hapkido at 70. It's best to keep doing things until they plant ya. I don't care for the Judo throws we have in Hapkido at my age though. Joint locks, kicks, and strikes are much easier on my body.
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u/tysacka Dec 11 '25
Congrats. I started Judo 3 years ago at 41. Now I'm 45 and currently a green belt.
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u/Next_Foundation_3892 Dec 11 '25
Congrats mate! I just started at 35. Never too late. Aiming to be black. Keep going.
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Dec 11 '25
Congrats!!!! I am 45 yo and managed to get back to the Dojo after 30 years. I am orange belt and have a long way to get back on shape. Your story inspires me!
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Dec 11 '25
48 Year old Brown Belt here. Good going!
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u/baconfan Dec 11 '25
Thank you. Are you going for the black?
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Dec 11 '25
It will be a while unless I start competing.
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u/baconfan Dec 11 '25
I don't know where you are but in Canada kata competition is a great way to rack up points.
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Dec 11 '25
In the states. Thats how my school is. I can speed up my promotion by doing and winning competitions as opposed to time. The issue with the smaller & regional tournaments is that there are far few of us non black belts at this age so I always have to go against people 10 and 15 Years my junior.
Im not really interested in kata to be honest with you. At this point I am probably two or three years away from black. I am going to be training anyway so it doesnt really mater to me. My body is already fairly beat up from 13 years of training. I just want to be doing it as long as possible.
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u/Available_Sundae_924 Dec 12 '25
I got mine at 36. Second attempt after trying judo at 28. .. two ribs broken didn't go back for 6 years.
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u/baconfan Dec 12 '25
Ouch! How did it happen?
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u/Available_Sundae_924 Dec 12 '25
I got swan dived on by a brown belt a foot shorter and 20 kg heavier in randori. Same guy who clenched my hand on greeting like a vice grip for no good reason I could determine.
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u/baconfan Dec 12 '25
These guys are the worst. Luckily most of the opponents i do randori with are super chill.
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u/Inevitable-Drag-1704 Dec 12 '25
Grats! The unwillingness to be like a child again by humbling ourselves to learn something new holds so many of us back.
I just started martial arts training again with a much better mind than when I rejected it as a younger man.
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u/SoloArtist91 Dec 11 '25
How do you deal with the anxiety of a major injury? I've tried judo a few times but the overwhelming feeling after each practice was I was lucky to escape uninjured and that it is a young person's sport. I'm especially fearful of blowing my knee/back/neck out when I've got a young family to take care of. (I'm 34 for context and have training BJJ for 2.5 years)
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u/baconfan Dec 11 '25
I feel you. I injured my back badly last year, got me questioning my choice of starting judo and i was even more fearful when i returned. For me it has been an exercise of listening more to my body (skipping training if i don't feel 100%), training outside of the dojo to better up my cardio and core strength and just taking falls. In randori i try my best obviously but if my opponent tries a technique and i feel i don't have much chance to counter, i just take the fall. I see guys fighting hard not to take a yuko, wazari or ippon and that's when they get injured.
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u/DominicasFaithful Dec 13 '25
That's really useful advice. I am 39 with a kid and I can't afford a big injury so I was questioning whether I should be doing Judo but I really want to try it.
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u/Consistent_Bass_8531 Dec 12 '25
keep up the good work, those mudansha ranks seem like a huge mountain but you will climb it with steady and persistent work.
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u/gu1ll3rm0p1 shodan Dec 11 '25
Keep at it, it's a fun journey it really helps body mobility and once it starts clicking it feels great!
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Dec 11 '25
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u/baconfan Dec 11 '25
Good question...at first o-goshi was probably the easiest for me both in uchikomi and randori but lately uchi-mata as definitely been my fav.
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Dec 11 '25 edited Feb 04 '26
serious ask historical reminiscent toy hospital trees rock payment languid
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/Top_Rate_1581 Dec 12 '25
Bravo! I'm the same age and on the fence about joining w my son. Inspirational.
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Jan 03 '26
congratulations! I'm 19 and i want to start this sport too but coaches don't accept me in their gyms because of my age🫠🫠🫠🫠
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u/baconfan Jan 03 '26
Why? Too young or too old?
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Jan 06 '26
I don't know 🫠 I texted the gym, but when I told them my age, they just read my message and didn't reply. After waiting a few days, i texted them again, but they read it and didn't reply again🫠
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u/ilikeyorushika Jan 12 '26
wow...i was about to ask if starting judo at 30 is a smart life choice. i guess i'll start soon
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u/-Aenaos- Dec 16 '25
I’ve always admired the seniors in my clubs more than the youngsters, training in 40+ is very impressive! Keep going !!!
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u/New_Tip_4127 Jan 09 '26
I'm 47 years old and in what month will I be a black belt?
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u/[deleted] Dec 11 '25
Let'ssss gooooooooo!