getting flexible at an old age?

[Seymour Green]

Is it possible to get flexible at an older age. I'm 44yrs old with seriously bad flexibility, would I ever get the rubberguard or should I concentrate on more traditional bjj, Cheers

[BrandonWoolsey]

Hitting the right angle is the most important thing when you don't have the flexibility. Most anyone can play rg IF they hit the angles. Make sure your hips are not squared up. Hope that helps.

[NelsonLucca]

It also depends how flexible you were in te beginning. I took a couple of years off to get my life straight and after a week of butterfly stretches I'm back in double lotus. If you've never had the flexibility work the angles like Brandon said. Also, work on your butterfly guard. Playing butterfly stretches you out naturally while you roll.

[Scott Elliott]

Yes, it is definitely possible and something you should do anyway even if it's just for general health and well being. I'm 44 and so is Eddie himself! I have several members in my gym that are well into their 40's as well and all of them are improving their flexibility. Even though Tyler is correct in that angle is very important, being more flexible definitely helps and opens up more options. Without the flexibility, you will be limited in which techniques you can hit just like in TKD, Savate or any other kicking art. The more flexible you are, the more you can do. It's not absolutely necessary to hit those techniques, but man it helps and makes it more fun! (Which is also true in traditional BJJ, too, btw)

The good news, though, is that you are not trying to achieve some sort of super freak flexibility. It's mainly the full lotus that you'd be trying to achieve in any yoga class. It just takes serious commitment and dedication and you can do it!

Good luck!

[Rockanrollin]

You can do it! I will be 57 in October .
http://youtu.be/DrxyKRCPwdE

[Seymour Green]

Thanks for the encouragement, I need to start yoga

[kevinculp]

I think part of the problem is when and how we stretch as old athletes. If done wrong we are far more likely to get injured or loose flexibility. What I've read and heard from many in the field of sports medicine is that the best time to stretch is right after our training not as a post warm up before class.

[Henrik Bjork]

Can you elaborate on The angels issues in RG i can put my leggs in doubel lotus whit help of my hands.

[BrandonWoolsey]

Can you elaborate on The angels issues in RG i can put my leggs in doubel lotus whit help of my hands.

Think of it like this: you have person in guard flexible folks can pull rg from there. Non flexible people like myself, I also have bad knees non jiu jitsu related, have to hip out at an angle to get there so that the flexibility isn't an issue. However flexibility is required for things like crackhead. If you can double lotus you shouldn't have any issues tho. I will never be able to double lotus due to surgeries & injuries but with angles I can play basic rg path

[Apperz]

Eddie is 44!?!?!????!?!??!?!??