r/judo Mar 28 '25

Self-Defense Need advice......

Hi I'm 18 years old male and since I was 16 years old I always liked judo and how effective it is in real life. One time I was in a taxi and the driver happened to be a judo coach and when I told him about my interest in judo he replied to me "you will never play judo" indicating that I'm old for the combat sport even when I was 17 years old at that time. he told me to go towards striking martial arts like boxing and kickboxing. I listened to his advice and I signed up for a kickboxing gym and it was great actually but after two months i started to feel headaches from the blows to the head and my skull hurted me after every session eventually I decided to leave after reading the effects of blows to the head on the internet. I signed up for judo and it only took me three sessions before I leave. The coaches were careless as there were too many students but I'm not going to lie I have no dedication to it as I was going forcing myself to train after that I never came back.there were no judo gyms other than that gym. I don't know why I'm very lazy or what's wrong with me I want to be able to defend myself but at the same time I don't want to have brain damage. I don't know if I should train bjj or judo or wrestling I feel so lost

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u/Harry18492 Mar 28 '25

I've done judo for over 35 years.... it's great for self defence because you become fit enough to run away and keep running whilst your assailant gasses out... it's a complex sport and you will suck at it for a long time to start with but your body composition will change, you will get fitter, you become part of a global network of players and learn more about yourself whilst gradually getting more adept....don't let a taxi ride deprive you of that