I built Choke & Chill because BJJ recovery for men over 40 should be honest, practical, and based on real experience—not hype. I’ve trained combat sports on and off from i was a child and carried more injuries than I care to count, and learned the hard way what keeps you on the mats and what takes you off them. This site is my honest take on bjj recovery for men over 40, based on experience, not theory.
Who I Am
My name is Michael. I’m 41, from Northern Ireland, and I work as a welder and fabricator. My life has always revolved around strength training and combat sports. I started with karate and boxing as a kid, trained and fought MMA for a few years in my twenties, and eventually stepped away after an injury put me out and life took over.
Outside of training, I’ve always stayed connected to fitness in one way or another. Even during long breaks from combat sports, I kept lifting, conditioning, and trying to understand how my body responded to different types of training. Some periods were more consistent than others, but the gym always pulled me back. That background gave me a better understanding of how strength, mobility, and recovery work together — especially as you get older.
Why I Returned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
When I hit my forties, I wanted to get back to combat sports without taking punches to the head again. BJJ was the answer and i already had experience as i trained the basics for MMA. It gave me the competition, the grind, the skill development and discipline i constantly looked for — and a way to push myself without the punches to the head.
My Reality Check: Injuries Hit Harder After 40
Like most men training BJJ in their forties, I learned quickly that recovery isn’t what it used to be.In the past I’ve dealt with trapped nerves in both shoulders from strength training, a torn intercostal muscle from MMA that kept me off work for over six weeks, From starting back to Bjj iv had the the usual list of tweaks, strains, and rib issues that every older grappler knows too well.
Why I Built Choke & Chill
I couldn’t find one place giving straight, no-BS recovery help for older grapplers. Everything online was either too basic, too salesy, or written for twenty-year-olds with bodies that bounce back overnight. So I started building the resource I needed myself — practical bjj recovery for men over 40, backed by experience and real results. The goal was simple: build a resource for older grapplers who want to train hard but recover smarter — without wasting time on trends or recovery methods that don’t actually do anything.
What You’ll Find Here
- Recovery methods that actually work
- Injury prevention tools for older bodies
- Cold plunges and cold therapy guidance
- Mobility that protects ribs, shoulders, and lower back
- Strength work that keeps you training long-term
- Honest product reviews — no hype, no nonsense
- Straightforward advice written for real life, not theory
Who This Is For
This site is built for men over 40 who love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but need smarter recovery to stay consistent. If you want clear guidance, honest experience, and practical tools to keep you rolling without breaking down, you’re in the right place.
Mission Statement
My mission is to help men over 40 stay on the mats longer through honest recovery advice, real experience, and clear guidance that respects the demands of older athletes.
Everything I share is built for BJJ recovery for men over 40 who want to stay on the mats without destroying their bodies.
Why You Can Trust This Site
I’ve lived this. I’ve trained through injuries, worked heavy labour jobs while recovering, and spent years learning how to train smarter as an older athlete. I also hold an Active IQ Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Gym), which gives me formal grounding in anatomy, safe exercise programming, and training principles.
I’m not a coach or a physio — I’m a BJJ student who has rebuilt his body the hard way. Everything you read here comes from experience, real injuries, and what actually works for bjj recovery for men over 40.
If you want recovery advice that’s real, honest, and built for older grapplers — why not get started by reading my full cold plunge guide here. welcome to Choke & Chill.
For reliable guidance on general fitness and injury prevention, I also follow resources from the Mayo Clinic.