Am I too old to start BJJ?

The short answer

No. About one in three of our adult members is 35 or older, and the same is true of the people who started on this autumn's beginner course.

The ages of our adult members

• Under 25: 20 %
• 25 to 34: 46 %
• 35 to 44: 27 %
• 45 to 54: 7 %
• 55 or over: under 1 %

Active adult members (18 and over) at all three academies, 1 November 2026.

Who starts as a beginner?

The beginner course in autumn 2026 looked almost the same:

• Under 25: 22 %
• 25 to 34: 42 %
• 35 to 44: 26 %
• 45 to 54: 10 %
• 55 or over: 0 %

So more than a third of the people starting from zero were 35 or older.

The academies differ

Sörnäinen is the youngest: 54 % of its adult members are 25 to 34. Kivenlahti is the oldest: 36 % are 35 to 44 and 13 % are 45 to 54.

What if I am over 55?

Members over 55 are rare with us: under 1 %. If that is you, contact us before you start and we will go through which way of starting suits you.

What makes it work at any age

• You do not need to be in peak condition to start, and you progress at your own pace.
• All instructed classes are supervised by an instructor.
• From day one everyone is taught to respect their training partner and to tap early.

How to start

New to BJJ? Start with the beginner course: 6 weeks, 12 sessions, 95 €. Read also your first class at AOGG.