Older BJJ Students. . .Don’t Make This Mistake with Your Mindset
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2023
- Today we have a question from Victor, who has an issue that all of us are going to, or already have, experienced at some point in our BJJ Journeys.
He is 56 years old, a blue belt, started training Jiu-Jitsu when he was 48 years old, and is a relatively small grappler.
Victor says he has no athletic background and has struggled with certain handicaps in the past. He also says when he's training, he feels a bit clumsy, and he really struggles to find any success during his rolls.
He says that he was recently rolling with one of the younger upper belts and became very discouraged. When his coach saw this, he said to Victory that he should "Just have fun".
This apparently triggered something in Victor, and he send this question:
What do you do when Jiu-Jitsu is no longer fun for you, and you know you're not going to get better?
Well, in this video I try to dive deep into that question and chew on a few ideas surround this issue that many people in the Grappling community run into at some point or another.
Hopefully if you've found yourself in a rut like Victor, then the ideas in this video are helpful to you.
- Chewy
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After 50 years old, the only person you need to be better than is the version of yourself if you were NOT training.
I'm 50 and I approve this message
Thanks Bro
55, white belt and I approve this message as well.
Spot on! Internalize that mindset before an injury happens…and you’ll have a good 20+ years left on the mat!
55 here and I'm a new white belt. I needed to here this. Thanks
I’m a white belt and there’s a purple belt in my gym I submit consistently. He’s in his late 50s and I’m 29 with min 70lbs on him. After every session, he’ll sit me down and tell me everything I did wrong and show me how to improve my technique. He has made me advance so quickly everyone in the gym has noticed my progress. His physical attributes might not improve and he might get smashed by lower belts, doesn’t mean his mental knowledge of the game isn’t advancing and he can’t be a good mentor or coach in the gym. Plus he’s probably more fit that most men his age.
Edit:
I think cos I said I submit him consistently, people assume I meant he doesn’t submit me or put me in bad positions consistently.
Totally agree with this. I'm 55 and got my Purple last Jan. I recently got submitted by a couple of blue belts (both got me in a bow and aroow lol). End of the day they have 30 years on me and are in a position to train more frequently. It's tough to deal with getting older and the expentation is a purple belt shouldnt be getting smashed by a blue belt etc. There is other factors, size, strength and age does matter in my opinion. Now I could sit and tell them a great escape for side they don't know but with 30 years and more training a week than me they gonna and do make life difficult for me when we roll hahaha.. but I can still improve.. Need to work on my Bow and Arrow defence for starters hahaha.
Even at the same age 70lbs would draw most rolls 50/50 imo
@@justsomedude5339 70 lbs isn't an immediate issue. It is when they get 3, 4 months in and stop doing stupid stuff that those pounds start to pay off for them. Give them a couple of years of training and 70 lbs is almost insurmountable unless you catch something sneaky.
Even with his age difference if your submitting him consistently and he's not letting you I have to question his standard and the standard of the gym I've rolled with guys the same age and there defence at the very least is exceptional especially at purple belt level where they have minimum 7 8 years under there belt for someone to be getting tapped by a white belt with that supposed amount of knowledge is questionable no disrespect to you but that would not happen in a high standard gym
@@pauldorman1355 Dude has 20-25 years and 70 lbs on the purple belt. After 4-6 months of training when a white belt starts to recognize most common sweeps and attacks, then those 70 lbs starts to be noticeable. You just can't force isolated attacks, but must rely on a coordinated chain of attacks, or catch opportunities during scrambles and transitions.
Boyd belts are a thing. Even at legit gyms.
I'm a 44 year old black belt and currently dealing with this issue. Having trouble trying to impose my will with the younger lower belts. I find myself enjoying the defensive game and surviving most rolls. I've embraced the cat and mouse game. Trying to catch my partners with sneaky submissions when they make mistakes. The essence of jiujitsu.
I’m a 52 year old black belt now. I need to keep hearing this message and reading comments like yours to remind myself of this.
56 year old black belt here! Started when I was 40. Definitely can identify and still suffer from “imposter” syndrome at times. Glad to see there’s a few of us out there🤠
@@ethanchandler709752 years old . Good for you bro! I'm 44 and hoping I'm still rolling well into my 50's. You are an inspiration.
@@jksmhr156 years old! Good for you man! I hope Im still on the mats well into my 50's.
@@artesuave2190 🙏
Thank you for this, i confess it did bring a tear to my eye listening. I’m 65 and about to hit 66, 8 years in, and a purple belt, and I struggle - physically I’m working through a knee injury, but mentally its tough as I get smashed by the young fast skilled guys and try to come to terms with them improving ( which is great to see and I do my best to help where I can ) and my slow decline :) it’s a tough comp gym with good guys who I know take care of me, just a couple of guys who go a bit crazy on the old guy sometimes but I don’t think they realise. The big battle is mental for me, sometimes I get home and my partner takes me in her arms because she can see my body is all bust up and my mental battle and a few tears get shed. But i love this art, i love being on the mats, i do the best i can with what I have, i love that moment just after being tapped when you get back up and go again, because that’s being alive, i love trying to learn new stuff, I’ll keep getting up off my knees until its game over. Much love from the UK.
Wow, this brought everything into perspective. Thanks for sharing.
I've been in a lot of competitive activities, sports, art, music, philosophy, games and I feel like sports give the best perspective on aging. This question isn't heart breaking for an artist who won't hit a physical wall as early as someone who's into sports. I know construction guys who didn't "feel" old until they had back surgery at 68 and thats a demanding job where it would be more obvious. Bjj makes you feel old at 30. I cant tell if having constant reminders of my decline is good or not but im about to be 40 and it has definitely made me realize i need to pay better attention to how i spend my time. Find the things i really like doing and burn the last half on those activities. Hopefully i wont hate my decisions when im 80. Its all we really can do.
Thank you for the great words! For me besides what you said, the feeling I get after practice and some rolls I just never want to leave. That feeling of "Being" you just don't want it to end. I am more alive at that moment than any other and at age 55 that's saying something!!
@@chucklespkeep grinding dude. Love from the NW
@tokyodrift42
Kudos to you and your training at your age. Every warrior/sportsman/champion has one more big fight in him... yours is now mental with time.
Your are at the stage where just training is BIG achievement and I can only wish to be that resilient when I come to your curent age.
Just understand how many 65 years guys you know (I dont know any and I am oldest guy in my jim with 45 now...) that are going training and go go up against jounger guys... that buy itself is achievement!
I can only say
Srećne ti rane junače!!!
A lot will be lost in translation but rough traslation would be (happy wounds to you hero!)...greeting from old times from my reggion.
I am 53 and restarted bjj after a 17 year break. I was a blue belt back in the day. I really just roll for the friendships. I get better exponentially some times and lose ground some times. But my friendships gets stronger every time I roll.
This is the way
I started at 54 and was a white belt for 3 years do to injuries. I had the same funk at blue belt and my Professor told me “just have fun.” I’m now 63 and a brown belt. Won masters Pans 3X and masters worlds this year. I have a smiley face on my mouthpiece, literally. When big lower belts smash me I laugh and smile and say, “respect your elders.” This sport should be FUN!
60 year old brown belt. My main goal is to be able to keep doing this as long as I can. Meaning that I adapt to limitations I encounter. At the moment I'm training 3 times a week. After technique I usually start with lighter people to warm up and choose the bigger guys after that. My game is more on guard retention than explosive takedowns. If this means people advance quicker than me, so be it. And I do 10 minutes daily strength yoga to improve my core muscles and flexibility.
Great video Chewy. I'm a 56 year old female purple belt. I am a huge believer in weight training and strength training. Especially when we get older, we start to lose muscle mass and our muscle is our #1 body armor. Rest and recovery are just as important. But, above all is your mentality. Never tell yourself your true age. Your body does what your mind tells it!!! In my mind, I am maybe 36, lol... I'm still a tough roll with all of my teammates and still compete as well. I give that credit to lifting heavy!. Good luck Victor! Thanks Chewy!
Meh. Weights are fine. For injury prevention. As you get older, its all about techniques, frames and posture. These should be the first thing to train. The functional strength kinda comes with that.
Female, 56? I just came here to say you are epic!
I really like the approach "how many 56 y/o you know, that are doing bjj?" Also, there is a saying in weightlifting, that helped me a lot:"somewhere in China, there is a 16 y/o girl warming up with your max."
55 year old blue belt. I picked up John Danaher's video called Ageless Jui Jitsu, Winning when you are older and less athletic. It really is a great video for techniques and when rolling with younger people. I found it really improved my game.
Many thanks for the tip ! Much appreciated bro !
I had my 1st pro MMA fight at 41 years old. I'm now 55 and still feel and and believe I'm as strong, fast and skilled as ever. We should never get old mentally. We can accept change if and when we have no choice, but we should always fight it to the end. We're much more capable than we believe...
Love it!!! At 42!!!
Respect 💪 Hope to be like you in the future
Totally, many guys my age or even younger complain too much about age and I can assure it´s one of the reasons they get injured more often than me.
This
Thank you for the polarity! I am 60, Purpel Belt. After much resistance I now lift 3 days a week! It is a game changer. My partner and I visited California this year for a Aabazical. I went all the way with the training. I visited AOJ, and Victory in San Diego. Yeah I agree to a certain extent that age does change things mainly with recovery, and rate of learning! However, the adult mind has a exsperiential grasp on conceptual thinking. Youth can play a deffinate advantage, age has it's own beauties.
Next tounament 2024 IBJJF Europeans
Master 6, Purpel, Light Feather
For this nearly 47-year-old, I find BJJ to be strange in that the more I care about how I perform, and the harder I try, the worse I do. When I'm in a silly mood where I don't care at all, then I do great. It seems so counter-intuitive...but I've experienced this time and time again. So for me the key is to try not to care about something I care a lot about. I have a hard time getting my head around that, but strangely, that's how it works.
I get this too, I think it is because when you don't care as much, you just flow and that makes you just take what your partner is giving you.
I had the same in other sport, football especially. in BJJ I'm better when I really focus because I just don't have the muscle memory yet and still don't really have a game plan of any sort.
I’m a 51 year old blue belt who started at age 47. I am rehabbing an arm injury due to a kimura at a tournament. Both of my opponents were in their 30s. There is a huge speed and strength gap between me and guys that age, which continues to grow. That said, I appreciate Chewy’s advice, and will focus again on good drilling, defense, and using my mind, which is getting sharper, while my body is becoming dulled.
I'm older too, 52, I set the tone with the younger guys.... basically take it easy on me and don't be explosive. It helps, and I let them smash me and then I just become aware of their techniques. I work a more defensive game, just hold them off as long as I can. It's the Boyd Belt system, every 20 pounds and every ten years younger difference between the people rolling equals one belt...so if you are 54 and the blue belt is 24, he's basically a purple or brown belt. So just enjoy the roll and hold them off as long as you can.
Seems to me, the problem revolves around "getting better". Seems to me, Victor is talking not about getting better but getting 'the better' of the guys he's rolling with. I share all the problems Victor mentions (I'm a 73 yo blue belt) and, as Chewy says, we have no choice but to accept certain limitations (think; Helio was a sickly light-weight; JJ Machado is missing half his hand...). But we can always get better - better than yesterday. My own attitude is that I want to give the young Turks trouble when they roll with me; I rarely will beat them, but as long as I force them to work to beat me, I can live with that and go home satisfied. Now I measure myself in comparison, not to them, but to the me of yesterday. Have a learned a new move, or improved an old one? That is my goal. My philosophy these day is that I can't get any younger but I can get better. And we can all get better. So, whilst I'm not the best person to offer advice....my advice is, get out there and irritate the crap out of the young Turks and go home happy. Hope that helps.
I’ve been training about 15 months in BJJ, I’ve been training Krav for about 5 year. I just turned 77. I consider this my exercise. I try to have fun and learn as I go. Slow and easy. Some days are good some not so much but I enjoy it
This really hit home - I am female, 1 month away from my 61st birthday. Started BJJ at around 53, now a Brown Belt. My Coach has said similar things to what Chewy says- have fun etc. When I hear that stuff I feel 'insulted' I am in class as often, probably more than anyone else. Do all rolls. Do private lessons. I lift weights at least once a week (probably should do more). I never competed because any of the competitions my teammates went to did not have any competitors in my belt-age-weight bracket (maybe if I traveled to other locations or went into a higher weight or lower age- could have). I often feel like I work hard at BJJ for no reason. So why not train less often 'have fun'? - well I can't have fun unless I feel competent. When I do miss a class I suffer from FOMO.
Guess trying to say I wish that I was doing what I'm doing as a 20-30 year (heck even 40 year old) person. Not because of physical limitations, but because I would be 'more important/relevant ' - not just the old lady 'having fun'.
I love these conversations because at 73 I struggle with thoughts of "are you stupid" for continuing to do jiu jitsu (just started at 72)? But, I keep focusing on just learn as best you can. Yes, the ego doesn't like getting smashed and submitted all of the time, but I just tell the ego to shut up. I love a song titled, "Don't let the old man in". Anyway, what are the alternatives? Give up, learn nothing, die faster... Thanks for the insights.
72 years and doing Jiu jitsu, I must say: Bravo 👏
Hi chuck. I’m 72 1/2 and started when I was 70. I just got my blue belt. It’s funny how the “youngsters” like to pat me on the shoulder like I’m some sort of good luck charm. It’s nice to know that there is someone as dumb as I am doing this. Ha!
Larry, Thanks for the reply. It's great to have company in the adventure. I don't know if I'll ever get a blue belt, but I am learning. The young guys are great with me in my gym. Every once in a while, I'll catch one taking it easy on me and I tell them to make me tap. The other day I was close to a submission on a brown belt and he said, "oh no you don't you old bastard." We laughed and kept rolling. Best to you.@@larryjohnson5221
Sorry if I sound like a downer but I'm going to give an alternative option if you're not enjoying something that you have been doing for quite awhile -- BJJ or otherwise: walk away.
Seriously. Just walk away from it. Take a break. If you miss it and if it's meant for you then you will come back to it. In fact, sometimes taking a long break can work wonders. Your body recovers, your head gets clarity. In fact, you might come back better and find that moves you struggled with because you thought of them too much come to you easier because you are now going on instincts and your subconscious (called unconscious-competence).
You're not a "quitter" for not doing something that you do not enjoy. It's not your profession, it's not your life, there are other things out there you can be enjoying. Life is too short to make yourself miserable doing something that you don't enjoy anymore whether it's a lousy job, lousy relationship, or a hobby that no longer gives you that passion.
Here's another idea: drop the group classes for now and find a BJJ coach who offers private lessons. Sometimes group classes are the counterproductive and a downer if you are the prey for other apex predators. It feels like you are making no progress. But working with a BJJ coach one-on-one will give you a baseline metric from week to week.
These videos are incredibly helpful. I started three months ago at age 60. (60th birthday present to myself) Thoroughly enjoying this process. But it’s clear I have to manage the pace. Done CrossFit for years (scaled) half hour of CrossFit and I’m exhausted. A half a minute of jujitsu and I’m destroyed! 🤣 How I compare to other players never even enters my mind. How fast I improve is also not a consideration. I have embarked on a new journey. And my approach is mechanics First, consistency, then gradually increase the intensity. In other words, focus on learning the technical, show up consistently, and gradually increase the intensity of rolling. Also focused on enjoying every aspect of the journey. Enjoy the learning, enjoy the camaraderie, enjoy the stiff neck and the bruises on your arms. (I just tell people my wife abuses me😂) i’ve been building a BJJ daily yoga routine and weightlifting routines based on my research. Yoga pretty much every day. Weights two or three times a week. Garmin running program two or three times a week. Think of myself as an athlete. Not just as somebody who does BJJ. Training for life and all the challenges that come with it. I’m not battling aging. I’m battling the effects that aging has on most people. People think aging causes weakness and stiffness. I disagree. Sitting on your ass causes weakness and stiffness. After only a few months, the jury is still out on whether or not my approach is the way. But that’s part of the fun. We shall see.
Great share. Thank you! 58 yr young blue belt. Not ready to quit!!!!!
I'm out of the jits game after a bad neck injury several years ago, but I always try to adopt "white belt mindset." What I mean by that is I'm always trying to understand more, learn better, never assuming I'm above (or below) training certain drills or basic techniques, etc. You can be a master with enough dedication, but you should *always* remain a student, whatever your discipline in life.
Thanks for the vid, Chew!
i just turned 57 and I am a blue belt training on and off for about 9 years. This video was some inspiration for me as I been off the mats for about 2-3 months. I will be starting back in November
I was at my strongest at the age of 58. I was at my most flexible at the age of 18. I was at my fastest between the ages of 20 and 45. I was at my best in jiu-jitsu at the age of 51. When I look back, all of those have been as a result of which ever style of training was predominant in my life at that time. At the age of 56 there is a lot of gas left in the tank. I am now 64 and I get good at whatever I spend a lot of time doing. As far as aging, I noticed that my body is more susceptible to injury now, but with my history of training and knowledge of nutrition, I am able to mitigate the injuries. Once again, I echo Chewy’s sentiment: Have fun!
i was the unathletic bookworm guy myself. started in my 30s, got smashed for years, and now, at purple belt, i'm finally starting to enjoy the sport. you will get better, it just takes time. what helped me through the blue belt was focusing on escapes and guard retention from the bottom and pressure passing and having a solid base from the top. just keep training and see it as a way of personal development.
Similar story here. I was a bookworm manlet that did plenty of cardio.
I started BJJ in my late 30’s. Lifting weights and adding 30 lbs really helped my game.
Now that I’ve hit a strength plateau, I’m focusing on maintaining strength while improving strategy (I’ve gotten decent at sneaking in submissions).
Dope
Starting at 46 yrs old, im a Brown Belt at 54. Struggle with this all the time...
Just show up.
JJ is not for everyone, but if you like it, just get to the gym. You get a little better each time.
Its a long slow uphill climb. Your progress ebbs & flows, be consistent. Its worth it.
Be careful with Expectations indeed!
Great video thx.
47 year old Blue bet battled many injuries and trying to learn to adapt so I can keep training. Thank you for the pep talk 🤙it helps
Thanks I needed this. I'm 35, bluebelt (for
35 is not old ! You have decades of solid rolling ahead. One thing that helps is being selective about training partners. Instead of going at the bigger tougher people every day, call out less skilled people occasionally and work on aspects of your game that you haven’t developed as much. I’m still young (29), but my body is slowly letting me down because of injuries. I’ve been figuring out how to adapt my game to my body through these rolls, and I’m getting hurt a lot less often now. Be safe and keep training
Broken body is a byproduct of jits I’m afraid ….
You are very young to have these feelings. I am 48 years, train muay thai and go to the gym for running and weight lifting 3xweek. You need to make stronger your body now that still your hormones are high. Once they decline it is more difficult. Most important, tap early to do not get injuries that put you away of the mats and gym.
Thank you! Needed to hear this exact thing. Appreciate the empathy you have for old blue belts lol.
The jiu-jitsu life philosopher. The more I listen to these, the more I am impressed with you man. What a great, real, take on this. 44 year old 155lb recently minted black belt here. Ive been training since ~1995, but had no one to belt me until 2016 when I got my blue. First hand experience of going from being able to do wild things on the mat to "oh, if I try this, Ill be walking like a hunchback tomorrow". Anyways, keep it up man, these talks are great for anyone at any stage of their jiu-jitsu journey.
Wow, Victor, I really hope you stick with it bro, you got this, it will get better. I hope you grow from this, look back on it and are proud of your resilience! I agree with your coach, have a fun time wrassling with your brothers💪😎💓
I’m still greatly enjoying training after 24 years. I’m a 60 year old black belt, a bit on the smaller side, but the quest for a better understanding of the bio mechanical science of the art and strategic and improvisational thinking has me improving. I’m definitely a better BB than I was at 52. Taking care of the body through diet, supplements (no TRT) and regular S & C goes a long way. You can call me a hobbyist, but shit, I’m living a holistic approach to keep doing the thing.
Hey Victor! I can relate. I am a 55 year old blue belt. Trust me when I say that you WILL get better.
I'm fit over 50 too, and I found that focusing on ligament and tendon strength helped me improve. Blue belt at 56 is impressive by the way!
Ha! I’m a blue belt at 72 1/2. Two weeks ago. Started at age 70. It is pretty tough knowing that I’d probably beat half the guys IF ONLY I’d started at 30-40.
Thanks chewy!!! I am 45yrs old( sambo background) and, got my blue belt. I felt the same way and i am struggling letting go to my younger self and, just having fun... thanks to your video, i realize others have gone down this road.
Oss
I luv listening to Chewy’s podcast and watching his videos. He seems to always hit the nail on the head. As an older grappler, this makes a lot of sense.
Trained for maybe 8 years in my 20s and early 30s. Life and work pulled me away from consistent training, and later, injuries due to combat operations, kept me from the mat. I am 51 and have recently, a year ago, started training again. Years ago I heard an interview with GSPs trainer, Firas Zahabi, talking about the best BJJ fighters in the world train playfully and gently. In fact, the best fighters hate to spar or roll with a partner who tries to hurt them, or goes hard. This was a game
changer for me. I approach my practice like playtime. Stay loose, and fluid, and sometimes, much to my partners dismay, I will laugh or giggle. I would never train with a young buck who rolls like his life depends on it. I avoid young bulls with fire in their eyes! They always hurt people and alienate their training partners. It should be enjoyable and energizing to train. Not a lesson in pain, anger, and frustration. Most people under 30 probably think that sounds weak. I’d argue the strong man understands discipline and self-control. Besides I spent years training, because my life DID depend on it.
Not ONCE did I benefit from flirting with injury or taking everything to the extreme. Can’t fight battles with a broken body and spirit. Enjoy the journey…..
Very timely clip Chewy and bang on with your advice. I’ve personally gone through this process and reconnected with life on mats in my 50’s as a blue belt. I’ve accepted that I’m not going to be competitive with others half my age. But I really enjoy bringing a slower, deeper thinking aspect to the youngsters I train with. Getting them to not kill your partners, relax and enjoy the process.
To the person who sent in the question mate just keep turning up. If nothing to show that Jiu Jitsu can be for life.
I’m a 51 year old BJJ white belt (and a TKD black belt). I’m slowly making my peace with getting slower and less flexible. Never give up! 😊
Nailed it at 4:17! . 52 yr old brown belt here.
Thank you for this..I'm one of the older guys (45) at my gym. I do struggle with getting smashed in class, but I'm still learning and having fun. Simply enjoying the journey while trying to not let expectation weigh me down.
Chewy, love these videos geared towards older hobbyists - please do more when the opportunity arises.
I am 41 year old guy from India. I was born in a household where if I fought at school or someone bullied me ; I use to get told that I AM wrong and I should avoid conflict at all cost. That ruined my self-confidence to an extent that I thought just "standing up straight" is an act of defiance against the other person.
A week ago I went to my first EVER No-Gi grappling class in Thailand. Go bruised badly, my toes were burnt from the rubber guard mats, my toe skin peeled..but I had tears in my eyes n happiness on my face.
It was the first time I won against a formidable opponent... myself.
I can relate so much to this. AI started Judo 10 years ago and after about 5 years moved straight into BJJ. At 43 years old, blue belt now, for a long time I was beating myself for not being better than I felt I should be. Instead I started to just focused on simple techniques, and try to just enjoy the experience. I even started to ignore the goal of trying to get my stripes and just keep turning up along with kettlebell exercises. Soooo many kettlebell exercises! I don't quite have the stamminar as some of the younger guys but I have the techniques down and its made going to BJJ far more fun.
59 purple. The struggle is real. Have to know your limits and respect them. Keep soldiering.
I needed to hear this post. Thank you!
Man - I needed to hear this today- 44 year old blue belt who just "popped" / "tore" a hamstring. It popped so loud, the room stopped to see if my knee was disintegrated. It was dumb luck, just slipped in a puddle and it was a freak injury. Need to take a few weeks off - which I'm dreading - and all kinds of "do I want to do this" thoughts started creeping in. Thanks for doing these videos.
I need this right now. I originally started Jitsu at 33yrs old. Had to let it go for outside reason, family, work and such. Just came back 6mo ago, now 47yrs old and feeling my limitations that I definitely didn’t feel back when I was 33. My headspace has been off Bcz of it. I’ve tried to remind myself, to just keep going for the exercise, for the mental break, for the camaraderie but the aches and pains and the endless tapouts (lol)… but this video reminded me… just have fun with it. Bcz I do love it. So thank you 🤜🏼🤛🏼
64 here....two years on. White 4 stripes .5'4" and 150. I get smashed a lot. It is still fun, but I do have doubts how far I can go with this. I can not do what I did 30 plus years ago but certainly am better than I was four years ago and 100 lbs heavier. I have been assigned a cumulative disability percentage of 86% by VA Canada That and my age are mere numbers . I did a double class tonight for 2.5 hrs after riding my sport bike almost 200 miles this afternoon after a Hockey game at noontime. Repeat tomorrow. Growing old is not boring!! Good luck Victor.
Thanks so much for posting this. I was going to ask exactly the same question on instagram. This helped a lot
Thank you!i needed to hear this🙏
48 blue belt 2 years now. I’m an ultra heavy with a pro power lifter background. I love watching these kids develop there game. I told one today, listen you guys are the future of this sport, I’m doing this just to be active and cause I love it. I’m here for you guys to teach what I can. I’m a pressure pass guy with a pretty good developed deep half. The young guys live rolling with me cause I still have strength and size and because of my background I give advice on how to move with pressure. We do 10 round Mondays 😢. Professor starts the clock 5min rounds 1min rest. I’m the old guy I give them 6😂😂😂. You young guys are the future but Jiu jitsu is special cause you could learn from the old guys sometimes it’s not technique it might be patience or thought process or motivation. God bless this sport and the Gracie’s for bringing it to the world
Im feeling this post at 43! .. great topic chewy!
41 year old blue belt of 5 years. Needed this video big time. Thanks Chewy
I have done Jiu Jitsu for 15 years. I am 47. I found playing and having fun and not really caring to much has improved my Jiu Jitsu.
This question almost pertfectrly describes me. 56 year old guy here who walked in off the street with NO experience about a year ago. Totallyt hooked! Been traing in MMA for a year and no-gi bjj for about 9 months. Competing is not a goal. I want to build skills and push and expand my limits. So far, I tap every time I roll and it never gets me down. Have complete respect and camaraderie from my coach and all the much younger guys/girls in the place. I'm a slow learner... age for sure contributes to that. But I progress. Current goal: blue belt in the next few year would be great. Either way, I ain't quittin".
Well said CHew. Im 43 blue, and this mindset has served me well.
You always give heart felt advice 👍🏼👌🏼
Thanks for this video. Am 49 yr old white belt and hope to do this for a while. Already feel bad some days when can’t keep up. Getting Stripe feels like billion miles away. Blue belt feels like another universe away. But hearing stories about people a little older then me doing this let’s me know being a 50 plus guy with a Blue Belt is possible. Plus doing this stuff has helped me lose a couple pounds and generally feel better. It’s better than being on a treadmill or universal machine because hear we are learning something. And does break up the work pay bills buy useless stuff and go home routine . Also this will sound kinda popcorn-corny. But am already looking up to Victor. He’s doing this and made it to Blue belt. And we both old enough to remember when music was actually good on the radio. Good luck man.
Great video and great advice!
Great question. I am a 53 year old black belt. Blue belt for me was the hardest in terms of progress. I never felt I could get any better, smashing it one week, smashed the next week. The key is I kept going. Enjoy
I always feel these mindset videos are even more important than technique videos.
Master Class🤙.. thank you for the insight!
Hi Guys
I'm very similar to the guy in this video. I'm 56 a newly crowned purple belt. I started at 50.
Enjoy the struggle, enjpy the admiration from your fellow playerrs, enjoy being fitter than most people 15 years younger, I even enjoy tapping.
Please stick with it brother.
OSS.
Hi Professor
Once again unbelievable advice👏👏🙏🙏. I just want too state 2 things sir, which you mostly thought about it, but you only have so much time in the video.
First: Victor I applaud you to the loudest of what you are doing at this time in your life. Now let’s remind ourselves, that you were a book worm all those years, with no athlete background and that was at 48.
Here you are now at 56 still doing it.
2nd: Prof. Chewy and your coach are absolutely right, just have fun and enjoy the ride, it has been 8 years, you are better you are more athletic, you are not a quitter, you are a JJ player and it’s your journey, just as much as your classmates. I’ll tell you this sir if you come to piece with yourself in JJ, your growth will continue and you won’t even realize it, one last thing.
FYI: I am a 57 year old, and I start JJ at 52, so I know actually where you are coming from. And so you know, I set rules to certain classmates in the classes I attend, then it will be there decision to roll with me or not, remember it’s my journey just as much as theirs.
DONT QUIT!!
OSSSS
My free advice , which I'm working on , is to develop a game that works with my attributes. Increase use of guard and improve pressure game .
To be honest I was recently feeling a bit burnt out with Jiu-Jitsu. What changed it for me? I felt a rejuvenation when I went to the Origin Immersion Camp in August. While, that's not always an option as it's only available to a few hundred people once a year, I think that a different view is what it was. Having a different experience from the usual. Training with a whole group of people that were outside of my norm. All of the people at your gym, know your game and what to expect. I'm not saying change gyms. But maybe try to attend a seminar in another area. I think I started getting better again after I found enjoyment in it again.
So well said; great advice!
70-year old purple belt, started three months before my 63rd birthday. Yesterday in rolling I got five good head-and-arm chokes against fully resisting young blue belts; (two in the no-gi class, not sure what rank they had). I do not see how this person can say they cannot get better. You can always get better while you are still alive.
56 ? Ok, with the last years in my grappling journey, I realized there was an age for certain belt. For example, becoming black belt at 60 might bring more trouble to a man who doesn't expect to lose, cause younger guys don't care if he's 56 or 60, they see the black belt, they smell blood.
On my part, 51, with my vintage blue belt, I know better. i have a huge bag of tricks and technical moves to avoid getting hurt by the young guys. But earning a black belt at 60 wouldn't do much good imhop, cause I can see the guys coming at me like hyenas charging lions at midnight.
So my expectations had drastically dropped down to almost nothing. I'm beginning to have fun again.
Word. 62 and a no stripe WB atm. I got into it so I can get my socks on easier. lol
I recently started BJJ, 44 years old. I think the guy's problem is about the meaning of the word "improving". If you are older and you start together with a teenager, the fact that he's git more stamina than you, and he beats you, doe snot mean you are not improving. If you were testing yourself with people in your same situation, age plus experience, you would see that you are improving indeed. Now the fun part.....yeah I get that, if nobody is in your same situation is difficult to have fun maybe, but you can manage
Thank you I needed to hear this
Listening to this and reading the comments. Man life is tough. If only we could be 25 forever 😞
I love this video speaking as a 43 year old white belt (3 stripes 😊) and training for 2 yrs now! Love the game
I want to do one or your seminars and Jordan teaches Jiu-jitsu! Love both of your channels
Lol, I'm 31 and I felt the same way. I'm probably almost a blue belt, but I'm lanky and light weight, not athletic, terrible cardio... the excuses go on haha. It's hard for me to even endanger my heavier (or sportier) teammates, especially the ones that are growing with me. I'm definitly getting better, but I REALLY need to focus on the details in technique, not just the "principles", because it REALLY matters when you're at a size or weight disadvantage. If my angle is off a bit for anything (escapes, positions, submissions) then it doesn't really work, if my grips aren't good for my arm length, I don't have much to compensate with, if my takedown positioning and off-balancing isn't perfect I can't just pull someone down and the list goes on. This, in the long run will make me a great BJJ practitioner IF I stick to it. Maybe not the best performer, maybe still one of the most frequent tappers in the dojo, but I'll be able to use that knowledge to teach and make teammates even better for their competitions etc. Also, the longer I stay (no matter my age until I'm REALLY old) the easier it is to control and submit new people, which is the point of BJJ. The point of BJJ is not to compete against BJJ, it's to defend yourself against bigger but untrained attackers.
Chewy...Motivational speaker. Well said, sir.
I'm 43 about to turn 44, out of shape with one hell of a dad bod, and no cardio to save my life. I just started my BJJ journey 1 month ago & feeling the same way as Victor. The oldest white belt I have rolled with is 32. I get smashed 70% of the time, mostly in the last 30 seconds of a 3 minute sparring round. The little victories have kept me interested and hungry to grow. I'm hoping Victor can stick with it & hope I can do the same
Keep training bro. We’re all on a journey. Some to be the next Gordon Ryan some just to get the blue belt. Your body will decide when you can’t train and that will really suck.
Chewie, great video - thanks! As a very mediocre 56 year old brown belt, I can say I struggle with the younger guys a lot. I started at 49 after a long time off from martial arts wanting to get back to something I love doing. I've got a lot more miles on the ol' carcass with some messed up bits and pieces - couple of bullet holes too. Some days I really struggle just getting out of bed to go and get my ass kicked on the days I roll. I usually have one day a week that is a hard rolling session and train at least three other days a week. The benefits of just going to class or rolling always far outweigh the dent to my fragile ego. If I go to class, even a fundamental class, I always learn something or have a take away, and the hard rolling days are usually the best days with a core group of friends (real friends) who are worth spending my time with anyway. Realistically, I'm probably in better shape and tougher than the vast majority of 56 year olds, and the mental health benefits of Jiu Jitsu are immeasurable. I'll continue to plug away for as long as I can and work on the stuff that needs working on. Will the young guys continue to give me a hard time? Yes, but so what? As long as I'm having fun, learning new skills, and spending time with like-minded people, something good will come out of this journey.
This one hit for me, Chewie. Thanks.
Man what a great couch thanks for all
Just enjoy the process rather than the destination. If you have open mat, work on your weaknesses in order to improve, also try & learn new submissions & stalling tactics to slow the pace with younger opponents.
There is always a puzzle to solve,a problem,a submission needing tweaked…a position that needs dissected. It’s never ending and we should always strive for knowledge. Purple and 55. I will never quit. I will never stop
First of all, you're a blue belt 👍I've been procrastinating and haven't even started BJJ.
This video is a perfect example of "getting better" for ourselves, choosing yourself. Your growth can be purely mental on the mats. Can you fight to stay positive within small goals? Are you better than yesterday? It'll eat you up if you care about outdoing others, be there for your pace. This applies to everything in life.
Looking at shorter goals like fitness? How many burpees in x time or kettlebell complex rounds in x time compared to last month? Learning/hitting new techniques(?), can +1 each of those and make sure you're mentally keeping those in the library long term. That's growth, brother! How much time you survive, how many submission attempts you get out of, how many successful and fluid techniques you hit per session?
Keep hitting youtube listening to the Gracies, Jocko, Chewy, Jordan Peterson. It's a journey upward when you give yourself permission to zigzag and push for small wins.
Thank you so much Chewy…. I hope I got to speak with you sometime… you talk about the exact questions that I often think off.
Happy to help!
49 year old recent Blackbelt here who didn't start until he was 38. On my good-body days I can hold my own with our crew who compete and place in world-level events - at least for single round. I can hold my own with competitive colored belts that are 15, 20, even 30 years younger than me but, eventually I know this too will fade. That said, I make myself happy by living vicariously now. Last week we had a 14 year old boy win his ADDC Open Division against stiff competition and he escaped a couple of close takedowns with a roll-out I taught him when he was maybe 8 or 9 years old. Seeing things I taught my students come into play when they roll in class or compete - and most importantly the joy they have in finding success - is what will keep me in the game as long as I can still crawl my old broken (3 bulging disks, old--paratrooper knees, healed-over vertebra fracture, arthritis in hips) backside onto a mat.
This applies to anything. Raced bicycles for years, and got frustrated as hell when guys who just started would be dropping me after a year or so. Just got to the point that I was thrashing myself every week and not making any progress. Finally hung up my wheels because it wasn't fun. Picked up the guitar and spent years playing and even though I'm improving slowly and everyone is better than me, it's still fun and every once in a while I have a breakthrough.
I rolled with a 70yo purple belt today. Medium build. He's my inspiration!
I am almost 50. I have had a lot of bad injuries from dislocated ribs, busted hands, torn biceps ectr. As we age we just are not as good. It is the fact of the roll. After I hit purple after about 10 years, I quit. I didn't want to do it anymore. Lower belts that would never hold a candle to me gave me a hard time. Regardless of what anyone says, size and age are a factor. For the young black belts that say just keep training....age will catch you. You will have to decide whether to keep going or be seen as someone who shouldn't have your belt. That is the reality of it. I realized that the only thing that stopped me was my pride....Oh, all jiu-jitsu guys say there is no such thing but it is that very thing that keeps us coming in. My advice to the aging group, is just show up. Do your best, if you get rag-dolled by some young guy, that's the natural progress of things. All the younger belts always ask me questions on defense. I don't get caught often but often times I let the lower belts work. At a certain point, you don't care anymore.......And that will always make you deadly.
I wonder if the guy asking the question has kids or family. I've always said if I get tapped a hundred times a session but it keeps me strong enough I can be around more years with my kids, then I call it a huge win. I'm mid 40s and growth is great but there's so much more - just being strong enough show up is a win... And a humble mid 50s guy working a sweat can be proud of themselves and should never feel they need to compare themselves to a 20yr old.. enjoy the ride - it's keeping you fit, healthy and on this earth longer
Every time I hear people answer this kind of question its the same thing, ‘don’t place expectation on yourself, consider your age’…. The biggest problem is the expectation everyone else puts on you, most other students do not consider your age or your skill level, they just look at you as someone they can dominate… as 52 year old blue belt I can tell you, it is not fun to get smashed all the time and even though I like doing BJJ, I don’t enjoy it because there is to much ego inherent in the sport… BJJ clubs need to place more emphasis on drills and flow rolling and not be so competition orientated… this is why 70% of people drop out at Blue belt… because the clubs and coaches are not making it fun.
I'm 40 and a purple belt (again). I started when I was 28 and worked my way up to purple the first time. Then I got into a motorcycle accident, gained a crap load of weight, and basically had to build up the strength to walk again. Now after years of effort I've lost the weight, got my strength back and I'm a purple belt again after starting over at a new gym.
Jiu-Jitsu isn't always going to be fun...it's about dedication. If you believe that you're not going to get better then you're not going to get better. I believe that I'm one day going to be able to tap my Helio Soneca 4th degree black belt instructor....and as a result I'm going to get better.
Keep your head in the game.
I'm a 59 year old blue belt you nailed it I enjoy the grind and the workout plus I'm with great people
I'm 58 brown belt 3rd degree and I have been submitted here and there by lower belts specially guys who are competitors or much younger and faster ones.
I'm more worry about teaching what I know to others than about my ego
None of the guys in my gym disrespect me they actually come to ask how to do better in their game. I feel their respect and their admiration for us the oldones .
Some of my friends who are older and advanced face the same thing but what really matters is to learn a science and not beating everyone. If someone at brown wants to quit is because he has learn that the only thing that matter is to win or loose. Time to rethink the philosophy of this art.
1 very important thing. We are an inspiration for the new generations and we have a social duty to teach them that this is the right path and to be away drom.drugs or alcohol this is life the other is death.
I am a 59 year old brown belt and one thing I learned is that out of all the matches I’ve had, the only one who wins all the time is Father Time. I’ve accepted the fact that even strong white belts could muscle me into a tap but that’s ok. I keep saying that god forbid I get into a street fight to defend my family that my odds have tremendously increased because of what I’ve learn. That gets me through the tough rolls at my school and I enjoy myself in class.
I've been doing judo for awhile, and getting older myself. I currently have been out of class because of a bad injury (it sucks to get old lol) and work. But, last time in class I was the second oldest on the mat, even older than the instructor. All other students are teens and college students. When I get to that point, I find it helpful to focus on helping the teens with their techniques, or, if I am too frustrated, just take a couple weeks off. When I return, I feel more focused and perform better.
Really old guy here, haven’t we all gone through the phase of thinking we’re going backwards in our training?
Kudos for starting with and sticking with bjj at his age!
Thanks Coach