Better Lives with AIA Vitality: How Gareth started his fitness journey with Jiu-Jitsu

Despite the initial challenges that can come with starting a new exercise routine, the long-term benefits greatly outweigh these temporary obstacles.

AIA Vitality member, Gareth Beatson knows the benefits of regular exercise all too well. After struggling with his fitness and having concerns about his health, Gareth decided to make a change which saw him take up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Now, a few years on, Gareth says he is thriving both physically and mentally, and is currently a national title holder in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Working as a medical underwriter for AIA, Gareth is also a member of the Coromandel Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club which over the past year has won a number of national and regional titles. This led to their coach (known as a professor in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), Gareth, and six members of the team qualifying for the World Championships taking place in the USA in December 2023.

Below, Gareth shares his personal experience of incorporating regular exercise into his lifestyle, and the numerous benefits he has reaped from his journey over the past few years.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a self-defence, martial art combat sport based on grappling, ground-fighting and submission holds. It’s like a combination of wrestling and Judo. 

There are no specific skills required to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; the most important element of the sport is to ‘just turn up’. This is a phrase that is commonly heard among club members, which helps encourage everyone to get themselves to class to learn, get fit, and get healthier. It’s such an important phrase, as there are plenty of days when you don’t want to train for various reasons. But if you keep turning up and listening to your coach or professor, you will notice huge improvements.

During the pandemic and lockdown period I struggled with my fitness and was too nervous to see my doctor for blood work or to hop on the scales. At the time, I was 46 years old and heading towards some serious health problems. I joined the AIA Vitality programme and used it to start hitting my step target every day. I also started utilising the at-home workouts and meditation videos the programme provides.

Then two years ago, I went to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training session with a friend of a similar age and health, who had been going for a year and encouraged me to do the same. I had no intention of doing more than two sessions, but the ‘just turn up’ phrase stuck with me, and I was hooked. 

When I got on the scales the number terrified me, as I had never been anywhere close to that weight before. So, I changed my diet, cut out processed foods and started training competitively in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with great people around me. I am now 32kgs lighter which is an ideal competition weight for me. I also went to the doctor a month ago to get my full blood work done and have my blood pressure checked. The results were all perfect. In fact, my results were what doctors would expect from a very fit and healthy 25 year old!

In terms of how this journey has improved my mental health, I find that I now have more patience with my job, family and friends. If I'm having a tough day, I can go to Jiu-Jitsu training for a couple hours and leave as a totally different person. This is not only applicable to Jiu-Jitsu. Any sport or exercise is a great stress reliever! I even find when my kids are having a tough day and then go to Jiu-Jitsu training or rugby practice, they come home refreshed and with a more positive outlook.

Mental attitude is key not only for Jiu-Jitsu, but for any form of sport or fitness. There are always going to be a million excuses as to why you shouldn’t do something, especially if it involves exercise. This is why it’s important to find your passion. For me, that’s Jiu-Jitsu. I was overweight, slow and lacking energy which led to feeling exhausted within the first 10 minutes of training when I started. I was getting frustrated when I couldn’t remember techniques in training, but I kept turning up and kept training to better myself.

Although you are an individual, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu made me feel like I was part of a team and I now view my teammates as family. We are all there for each other and I think that helps when I’m feeling down. 

Try everything, even if you are only vaguely interested at the start! Finding your niche is crucial and it’s never too late to get started. If you try a sport and it’s not for you, try something different - as the passion must be there for you to continue turning up.  It’s also important to note that you are not alone and talking to family, friends, your doctor or a coach from a club you are interested in, may result in fresh perspectives and even a new activity for you to try. 

‘Just turn up’ has become my motto for everything I do in life now, whether that’s sport, family or work. It’s not just about the physical act of showing up, it’s about being mentally present and able to enjoy life to its fullest. 

I started the programme the day it was released, back in 2019 and to be honest, I didn’t give it much thought at the time. I got a smart watch through the programme which helped me record my steps, but I was still struggling to reach my fitness goals. I was also using COVID-19 and the lockdowns as an excuse to eat poorly and not exercise.

Through AIA Vitality, I joined a step challenge aiming to reach 7,500 steps a day for 50 points, or 12,500 steps a day for 100 points. This really helped get me out of a bad headspace and I made it my goal to hit my steps every day.

I think the biggest thing is the ease of AIA Vitality. You don’t have to spend money on special gym gear or equipment, it’s as easy as putting your smart watch on and going for a walk. There were days where I was getting up at 5am so I could go walking for an hour or two. It’s a great way to start the day and it makes you feel great - not just physically, but mentally too.