PLEASE RESPOND! to any practitioner of the sport

[wtf?studios]

I am 15 and my dad says i cant do jiu jitsu. here is the reason why: he says that since i am 15 and my cartalidge(sp?) is still growing in my joints, and the fact that jiu jitsu stresses joints so much he is afraid that i will mess a joint up, and pay for it for the rest of my life. i know there is always a chance in anything where injury can occur, but is it that great in this sport that i should not do it. Or at least wait until i am older. I would really love to do jiu jitsu and if you guys could help me out here that would be really nice. If you do respond please give an explination of why you responded that way.

[Ari Bolden]

Hey Bro:

I teach kids jiu jitsu (ages 10 -15). I understand your dad's concern but I think he may be a bit miss informed about the art. Any sport carries a risk of injury but a good instructor isn't going to allow kids to destroy each other. I've never had an injury in my kids classes.

Kids do all sorts of sports and martial arts, even from a younger age than 15.
Karate, Judo, Aikido, TKD....millions of kids have been practicing these arts for many years.

Jiu Jitsu is more than about "joint locks". It teaches self defense, body position, throws, wrestling ability and builds character!

Good luck!
Ari Bolden

[wtf?studios]

i know its more then about joint locks, but is there enough pressure put on joints to the point where my dad should freak out about it. and please tell how long you have been teaching i need a really good arguement to convince him.

[Ryan]

It sounds like you and your dad just need to go to a good BJJ dojo and sit in on a practice just to watch. Tell your dad that you could get hit in the mouth by a baseball and lose your teeth, misalign your spine from getting hit from behind in football, stub your fingers in basketball or break your collarbone wrestling. Nothing is an injury free sport. JUst go to a practice and show him how many younger kids have done it and have him talk to the parents of those kids.

[brazilian1337]

ive had probs like that too.. my mom didnt want cuz she tought i was gonna to be agreesive because in brasil many jiu jitsu practioners go to clubs and kill/fight each other all the time..
but i just said .. look at soccer dont u see they get injured too ? all sport has a risk , the thing is be careful use pads and dont push over ur limit

[Rangemaster]

Hey there bro. I feel your pain. 2.5 yrs ago I had this same discussion ....with my 15 yr old (5'10" 200 lb).
I had enrolled in a yosiekan Dojo and I was wanting him to train with the "kids" class. (with his 10 yr brother.)
But, after understanding that
1) training to do joint locks also teaches restraint and control.
(very useful in a fight or business)
2) training this way also teaches you how to protect your self in the "real world".
he has been in the adult class with me and is my best and most trusted training partner. He's now 4 kyu (thick syllabus) and a much wiser a man than I was at his age. :cool:

Don't sweat it, your dad is only being a dad. take him to a work out, let him see there's more to it than "joint-locks".
good luck