Jiu-jitsu is for adults of all ages and creeds, inside those four walls you will run into many people from many different walks of life! It is very easy to make excuses on why you are not ready but just know no one is completely ready when they start anything new!
Choices are the only things that allow us to move past our excuses and a great example of choosing a greater lifestyle is none other than Alex Martinez, CO-Owner of Ares East Mesa BJJ Academy. We had the pleasure of interviewing jiu-jitsu black belt instructor and navy veteran, Alex Martinez this last weekend to talk about his journey.
Alex is a great example of a human that went from a dark place to loving what he does daily and finding purpose! Putting personal excuses aside to change for the better is no easy task but doing so has changed the lives of millions that decide to take the leap each year.
Jiu-Jitsu For Adults: Starting Something Later in Life with Alex Martinez
Weighing in at almost 250 lbs, Martinez was in bad shape, both mentally and physically. Alex was convinced, out of spite by his wife’s co-worker since he would not shut up about it. Martinez painted a picture of a time when he had to take breaks after walking up a flight of stairs.”I had no desire to do anything. At one point I thought I was going to die from a heart attack from just walking up the stairs.”
“This sport changed my life,” said Alex, ” I do not know where I would be if I did not discover the sport and committed to it”. Outside of the changes in the mirror, Alex recalls that the mental aspect of the sport was the most impactful to him. “The mental changes have been the biggest difference for me. I am a better husband, father, and friend because of the lessons I have learned on the mats.”
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Those that do join and stay committed find something you cannot find anywhere else. The brotherhood formed around this community and the personal benefits of jiu-jitsu is unmatched. No other martial art will give you the feeling I am explaining. The average age of an adult starting jiu-jitsu in the United States is 28 years old and we have personally seen people walk in at the age of 60!!
We firmly believe that jiu-jitsu is the best tool that someone can use to make themselves better humans. We were meant to be athletic, our bodies were forged in times when it was a necessity to be able to hunt, run, and fight. Jiu Jitsu gets us back to our primal roots and allows us truly tap into our human potential.
Alex got his black belt under 4x IBJJF World Masters Champion Paul Nava who also runs a gym based out of Phoenix, Arizona.
Martinez has recently also dived fully into podcasting and has been steadily pumping out content. He has interviewed top-level competitor Josh Cisneros, who will be competing at the world championship ADCC this fall in Las Vegas.
It is never too late to change and try something new. We hope that we can use this story as inspiration to go out and make it happen! If you are considering joining a gym we would be honored to hear about it! Jiu-jitsu is a true passion of ours and we plan on doing this till we cannot anymore! Be sure to go through our website to find all the things you need in order to be the best jiu-jitsu practitioner you can be!
Happy Rolling!
