If you are like me, (and I can’t be the only one), you are interested in jiu-jitsu but have some fear or doubt that keeps you from diving in. For me, that fear and doubt stemmed primarily from my current status in life. I am a forty-something professional (lawyer) with a wife, a bunch of kids, a weight problem, and a bum knee. I wasn’t looking to become the next great cagefighter and didn’t care to get regularly beat to a bloody pulp by a bunch of younger, stronger “kids.” If these (or similar) concerns resonate with you, please read on.

Given my concerns above, I was not looking for a lot of ego and bravado in my instructor or fellow students. Rather, I was looking for technically sound and fundamental instruction, provided in a professional and respectful manner. I visited a number of schools and was able to tell pretty quickly which would not be a fit for me, based on these criteria. Cobra Kai, however, seemed like a good fit from the outset.

Head coach/sensei Simpson (“Sim”) Go is extremely skilled both as a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and as a teacher. Sim’s teaching method is to highlight one or a few techniques and spend the first half of class teaching those and allowing us to practice these at half-speed with willing partners. The second half of the class is spent sparring (“rolling”) at or near full speed with resisting partners. Both elements are essential to sound jiu jitsu instruction, and class time is very effectively spent. Also important to me is that Sim displays a great deal of patience, humility, and respect for the art in his instruction.

Perhaps more impressive, and a testament to Sim’s sound instruction and the pervading culture he has instilled at Cobra Kai, are the other jiu jitsu students. Without exception, each has been helpful and concerned for proper and safe execution of technique. Ego has completely taken a back seat. Since I am a new student and an “old guy” to boot, there is little doubt each of my training partners could submit me virtually at will, particularly during the first few weeks of my training. However, each has tempered his own intensity with an eye toward a mutually productive learning session. This perfectly follows Judo founder Jigoro Kano’s principle of Jita-Kyoei: “mutual welfare and benefit.”

None of this is to say that practicing jiu jitsu is easy. Like all things worthwhile, it decidedly is a challenge, especially for someone like me with a little more “seasoning.” Among other things, as I slowly start to improve, my training partners are able to (safely and appropriately) “let loose” with techniques that much more. There has been no easy day of training thus far on my journey, but isn’t that ultimately what you would expect? I could spend the same training time on a treadmill, but at the end of the day, I would have gone nowhere, both figuratively and literally. When one advances in skill and rank in jiu jitsu, even to the lower belt ranks, one has really accomplished something.

The bigger point though is that while jiu jitsu is challenging by its very nature, Cobra Kai and Sensei Sim have given me the opportunity to succeed. I feel I have fit in with the “kids” and have had ample opportunity to learn, grow, and improve. I am happy to report improvement in my jiu jitsu (primarily expressed so far in an ability to defend against submissions longer and more effectively), as well as a very impressive weight loss.

I feel fortunate that I have chosen a fantastic place to learn this great art. If you are sitting on the fence, and particularly if your reasons for doing so are anything like mine, I would encourage you to do yourself a favor and try on that first class for size. You’ll be glad you did!