Download a transcript of this episode here
Topics:
- [2:56] IVF Babies
- [7:24] BJJ And Longevity
- [14:51] Training For People Over 30
- [21:55] Changing Goals For Aging Athletes
Questions:
1. Problems with IVF babies
Ton says:
Hey fellas, The usual first up- great show and keep on keeping on! My wife and I having been trying to get pregnant for a year now and after doing some testing our inability to fall pregnant seems to be stemming from me. All the usual low count and are a bit slow mentally lol. It has been suggested that we will need IVF. I have read a few articles on IVF babies having some troubles later on in life. I.e more chance of autoimmune problems, cardio vascular etc etc. Considering IVF is so new and long term studies nil, do you have any ideas on pros and cons of IVF?? Cheers
2. BJJ + longevity / or how to become an older active dude while choking out suckers in my prime
Adam says:
Hey Robb and Greg
I have less of a specific question but more so wanted to get your guys opinion on BJJ/grappling/combat sports and also thinking ahead of how to become an active older dude. I’ve seen my grandfather and parents health deteriorate with age and I think a big part of it is that they have not stayed active. My goal is to be one of those 80 year old dudes who still goes on daily walks, and I feel the paleo/primal lifestyle creates a strong foundation to get me there. As a bit of a background, I am 30 and have been eating paleo for about 5 years now, around 8-10% bodyfat, pretty active – body weight work, kettlebells, surfing, and BJJ)
For the past year i’ve been training BJJ (both go an no gi) and love it. The only problem is that I do get banged up and have picked up some injuries. In the first few months I tweaked my knee and took a month off and more recently I sprained my ankle (grade 2 ligament tear) and took 3 months off to rehab and recover. I am 30 now and while recovery time sucks, I can deal with it. My concern is that a blown ACL at age 35 or 45 or 55 can totally be the injury that will affect me being the active old dude ( cant walk miles a day on shitty knees)
I guess I am asking for your advice on if there is any way to train in combat sports and also age healthy enough to remain active in the golden years, or is it picking up a new hobby. I know we can tear an ACL from getting out of a chair funny, but obviously there is more a risk in BJJ then sitting indian style…
3. Training for the 30+
William says:
Hi,
My question is for Greg Everett specifically. So I am now 34, and I was a competitive Olympic lifter(snatch 143 kilos/184 kilos at 94 kilos). I trained with a well known coach for many years(I don’t want to throw my coach’s name out), and I currently coach various athletes. I have noticed that in the last year and half that I seem to overtrain very easy. What I think is overreaching ends up being overtraining and I just feel horrible for days. I do eat Paleo and get plenty of rest.I have even tried to do one week on and deload a week, but still manage to overtrain. Many of my older kids that I coach can load for weeks, and come out feeling like a million bucks after a deload week(As they should). So since you competed at the American Open(I am assuming that you are over 30). How have you changed the way you train leading up that type of competition? I am not ready to do Masters lifting and would like to compete at the elite level for another couple of years. I guess my ego can’t take the reality that I am just going to keep getting weaker. My coach basically said at this point in my life I am just struggling to keep my sinclair, and that is just the way it is going to be. I refuse to believe this!
Thanks
William
P.S. I have to admit that I am a little nervous that your going find all kind of grammar errors so please don’t be to harsh!
4. Changing Goals for the Aging Athlete
Matthew says: Hey guys, thanks for all you do. My question is about goals, and even though I don’t want your answer to be specific to ME, I feel I need to tell you a little about myself for context: I consider myself to be a pretty well rounded recreational athlete. I had a pretty solid start as a kid with gymnastics and Kyokushin, wrestled in high school, and then spent some time in the Marine Corps. I’ve done the standard bodybuilding style training split, and even competed in a couple of bodybuilding shows. I became a firefighter in 2003, and learned first hand the concept of “functional fitness,” even thought I didn’t call it that. So, when I discovered Crossfit in 2008, I thought I’d hit the fitness jackpot, and dove in the deep end.
Fast forward to today. I’m 37 years old, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, my athletic performance just isn’t what it used to be. I would never have thought five years would make this much of a difference. I’ve maintained my strength well, but have gone backward in some of the Crossfit metcon benchmarks. The fact is it just fracking takes me longer to recuperate from an intense WOD than it used to. It also takes about 30 min worth of prep movements from Kelly Starrett’s site before I can even attempt a decent snatch, clean, or front squat. Unless I’m going for the occasional PR, I motor through the daily WOD in about 4th gear, and don’t really care about where my name is on the board anymore. My recuperation has gotten better since prioritizing my sleep and seeing my chiropractor regularly, but it still isn’t what it used to be. My main goat at this point in my life is to be as injury proof as possible. I NEVER want to be one of those guys in the fire service that goes down from a preventable injury; for example, a back injury from lifting a patient or carrying a piece of equipment.
You guys keep us listeners (somewhat) in the loop with regards to your personal lives, so I can tell you both know what it’s like to put your own training on the back burner. Career goals, work projects, and new baby girls change your priorities to say the least, so I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts on this, which finally brings me to my question: What do you guys tell your clients when they become discouraged by a lack of progress, or when they realize their best days as an athlete are behind them???
P.S. Greg, I was tempted to submit this question in Yoda grammar, but that would have just taken too damn long to write, and I don’t know you well enough to screw with you like that. But hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?
Adam,
Be selective with your partners and keepitplayful. You can focus on defending instead of attacking, and still be able to learn a TON… in fact, you’ll learn a lot more by training that way. I let people of every size and every skill level go balls-out on me, and I tend to keep it at a very slow pace, despite how hard they are moving. I generally make people (who are in better positions and SHOULD be using more efficient movements) tire out within 10-15 minutes, and then I escape, and submit. It’s a fun game, and it will certainly increase you mat longevity. I’ve been training for 20 years almost every day of my life, and I haven’t had many injuries over that time. Cauliflower ear has pretty much been the worst of it.
Tap early – you might want to fight a choke and that is ok. Do not fight joint locks. If your opponent has a good position, tap and start again. The point is not to find out how much you can hyperextend your elbow. You are not being tough, you are being stupid. 30 seconds of toughness can put you out for 6 months.
Listen to your body. It will tell you what you should and should not do. If it hurts or feels wonky, don’t do it. There are so many solutions to each problem in jits, that you can find one that works for you.
If you have back trouble, perhaps focusing on passing is better than being a guard guy. It is harder on the ears, but easier on the back. If you must be a guard guy, be a sweeping guard guy rather than a triangle guard guy. Again, it is easier on the lower back.
Good luck and remember why you are doing it. If the point is to have fun, have fun with it. It should not (always) suck (that much).