I started a few months ago, also at 58. It's fun, interesting, and I've dropped 15 pounds. I'm a horrendous athlete and have two fused lumbar vertebrae, but I won't let that stop me. I'm always the oldest in class, usually by far but the young people are all very cool to train with.
I am 70 and a blue belt. Been doing jiujutsu for 5 years and still can't get enough of it. I had a few injuries over the years. The key is finding partners who are gentle. Even for younger people, it doesn't make sense to roll in a crazy manner before you master the techniques.
I'm a 49 year old brown belt. I've trained with Royce, Royler, Rickson, Kron, Ryron, Renner and Rolker Gracie. I have never found a better teacher than Rickson and Pedro Sauer. Become a nightmare to submit and your attacks will come. "Jiu-Jitsu is timing, it's knowledge about the technique but it's timing" -Rickson Gracie
Thank you for sharing this. I'll have to remember and apply this "Become a nightmare to submit and your attacks will come" to often I think I'm looking and trying to hard for the submission.👍🤙
Training with legends. Also a plus..yeaaaa boi...yesaaaaa..studied rickson in 1998..his choke documentary came out...best documentary hands down..Yuki nakai..animo
Damn so since 31? You must be good. Or what do you think, is there like a time where aging and life sort of overtakes the uhh what to call it.... like the training to get better and more technical and capable and stronger and develop a fighters mindset aspect of it that you would have in your youth typically? So say when you're 21 and trying hard, learning rapidly etc and basically on an upwards ladder towards you're prime and peak ability you could ever achieve... the best you can be. And you might get shown up by that other guy the class golden boy perhaps....and you're mindset is "ok I'm going to keep training my ass off like have been and I reckon within three months I'll have improved enough and I'll overtake and embaress his highness there and more with each month." Do you still have that kind of (general, overall. Yet maybe a tad more mature... maybe haha) attitude and mindset about training? Or is it more like a downwards or at best level slope instead? Where you're like training more so as to maintain your current or even peak abilities and the physical and mental attributes necessary to apply them effectively... and to stave off the negative effects of the ageing process on it as long and best you can? If that makes any sense and you get the jist of what I'm asking? I suppose to put it simply... us there a point where you're not getting better and more dangerous every year but are trying to stay as good and dangerous as you can be and to slow down old age taking it from you as much as possible and practical? Ps: thanks fir your time and I'm sorry it's so long. Long hard few days I'm not all that with it atm. 🤪 And I hope it's not an offensive and rude question or topic to ask? I'm 31 so not all that old but, I ask with genuine interest and... I guess like to know what I'm in for too if I last that far. Although I really hate the whole aging process (and the death part) and what it does to people I know and love and admire and to those who have to watch it and want their turn... (the ancients saw it better as what it was/is... a curse, not natural, not good. Not some cheery sunny "it's just the natural circle of life" bullsh_t and freaking skin cream and dancing grannys and luxury retirement resorts as they sell it. They referred to old age as "the evil days" and "the time of troubles", "the shadow of death" and such. Anyway, depressing haha. But I'm a realist) To digress.. yeah so I hate the whole aging thing itself but always even as a young kid I've always had great respect for and interest in my elders and loved talking, hearing all their life stories, helping to pay my debt to them, and maybe most of all learning from them and their lifetime of hard earned knowledge, wisdom and experience. So yeah I'm not trying to be snarky or anything. And hell at 59 you're barely a spring chicken in the summer anyway or much past myself but I just been curious bout this for ages and how it apply to my own life of training/fighting and priorities.
@@iamshredder3587 Hey brother, I think I understand your question. Getting older, especially in BJJ, is like a give and take situation. You acquire a lot of knowledge but you have to be careful how you apply it. Learn not to force things and go with the flow when rolling. This takes some experience. At the same time, your gas tank and strength are not what they were when you were 31. My knowledge and technique is good but my athleticism and power are gone by 59. I don’t match strength with the young guys. That will just get me injured. I try to use all technique. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, just tap and learn from the situation. When in doubt, tap. Your BJJ career will last longer. Hope this helps
I started at 71 so I really relate and am appreciative of the mindset to conserve energy, modify where needed, be careful with choosing partners, no early sparing.
I am a 70 year old blue belt, under Professor Mario Yokoyama( whom you know well) in Sydney Australia. Thank you Professor Rickson, you are an inspiration and a hero to me; Thank you!🙏
I'm 56 and got my blue belt last year. My experience when I started was that I pretty soon had to take a step back in order to protect my shoulder joints and my back. I then systematically strengthened these parts of my body so now I can train and roll even with the young folks who compete.
Started at 51. Very athletic. Look very young for my age. "Old man strength" :) Totally appreciate the counsel. First few months, just "try to win this roll" ... keep rolling and rolling and rolling with the younger guys in their 20's. Not only as a white belt, but at 51 ... my body let me know real fast: _Mate ... you are 51. Knock it off_ Took a couple of weeks to rest from an injury. Learned to roll, when I feel GOOD to roll. When I don't? I don't? Judicious use of strength as a supplement to the technique; with technique coming first. Finding good partners to roll with. Great Professor as an instructor. It's made all the difference. Thank you for sharing the wisdom and experience! Blessings ...
I started at 61, I have always stayed in shape. I don't hold back when rolling with much younger students, I just outthink them. You can always tap. If you look at it as just learning and not trying to beat up everybody its enjoyable, at the same time you are learning. Most of the real crazy aggressive students quit within six months anyway.
My brother from another mother, I started at 61 as well. and like you I am in shape and have lifting for years. But I do need the recovery time. Congrats!! Stay strong!
@@arob2919 Stop trying to win, work on technique, eventually it will work. Smaller people have an advantage they don't realize. They are faster and can fit in smaller spaces. I am 6-2 and smaller guys give me the most difficulty. Look at Marcelo Garcia.
Bless the old ones. Started by 50. Now 55 and proud to wear purple. Still the coolest thing is, to learn something new and sometimes to outsmart the younger ones😂😂 Osss
Beautiful - about to turn 57, 3-stripe purple belt - makes a lot of sense - tremendous respect, Rickson - I’ve learned a ton from you - I wish you well…
Great advice, thanks! I started BJJ at a sport club at age 68. I trained for a year, but then had to quit because I needed a knee replacement, not caused by Jiu-Jitsu. After recovery, I started back at a Gracie JJ school at age 70 and I'm still there almost a year later. I find the Gracie approach much better for me and I really enjoy it. I have so far avoided injuries that would put me out of training.
Im 72 and training Jiu-Jitsu for a year now. In class today doing #11 Elevator Sweep, I had my hips very wide and a heavy partner and I felt a little pain in my hip (the other hip is titanium 😂). So I take it easy. Prevent injury. Learn and practice with safety in mind. Thankfully my partners seem to take care of me and I appreciate they're willing to train with an old lady. ❤
I started bjj with 35 and this was already my approach to BJJ. "Dont commit to victory" describes it very good. Even if youre young, bjj can mess up your joints and its not worth destroying your body over a "fake" fight, sparring, or a competition for imaginative glory.
OOOSSSSSS Excellent video for those of us in our 50's. These are the exact things that Master Luiz Palhares told me back when I turned 50. Enjoy the sport, go at your own pace, listen to your body, etc. and it was worked VERY well for me. Now, I am a 54 year old purple belt and see no end in sight. Many thanks Master Rickson. OSS
yep, i noticed it in his face and hand tremor (P.D). Still, there are medications that work to hold it back. And developing techniques (already in experimental use) that implant devices that quell the tremors specifically. Wishing Rickson the best.
Great advice. I’m 54. I started under Rickson at 34, got my blue belt from him. Got my brown belt from Kron. I definitely play it smarter now and just try to enjoy rolling, hardly ever go for taps, but I hardly ever get tapped out either.
I'm 54 and have been training on and off for 24 years. I am at the point now where if I sweat and don't get hurt in class, I am happy. There will come a time when you aren't as fast, as strong or as agile and then your mind and technique will have to be whats left.
I'm 47 YO. Been thinking of training full time. I started practicing Silat and Escrima in 1993. I know a lot of takedowns and throws and armlocks. I don't know how to choke or go totally prone and roll. Escape. Get a good position. My battle plan is to take them down and arm lock them. I love ground work. I want to know how the experts do it!
Thanks Rickson! I started my martial arts journey at age 46 in 2005 - studied an American mixed martial art combining karate, judo, and Japanese Jiu Jitsu... moved from my dojo in 2017 as a ni-dan in my art but now... at age 65, I'm looking forward to advancing my newaza skills studying BJJ as a novice white belt. Thank you and your other commenters for reinforcing my resolve.
Ce sport est vraiment magnifique ! Je suis un grand fan de Rickson ! J'ai commencé le JJB à 40 ans mais malheureusement je me suis brisé les cervicales. Jusqu'à ce que ce malheureux jour arrive, allez au JJB me remplissait de sérénité et d'honneur. J'étais débutant et j'avais une grande soif d'apprendre. Il a suffit de tomber sur la mauvaise personne une seule fois et mon rêve s'est arrêté brutalement. Al hamdouliLah, ainsi est la vie ! Aujourd'hui je continue d'apprendre et de prendre du plaisir en regardant vos vidéos. Merci infiniment Rickson. ❤
Thank you very much Master Rickson. I’m a 66year old blue belt with some shoulder injuries and knee injuries. I actually started training hard and realized the injuries are getting worse. I understand what you are saying and will change my training mentality and take your words to heart. Thank you again!!!❤
Excellent points. I started almost a year ago at 49, but have had professional fighting experience in stand up arts so in the sense of overall conditioning it helped a lot but jiu jitsu was and is so different. You're learning to move your body in ways that are unique. And of course at all times I acknowledge my age, I've been lucky to be relatively injury free throughout my other experience in combat arts with solid flexibility etc. But I'm always careful and I leave my ego at the door.
I'm 36 and my body is just starting to feel all the years of treating it like a hammer. Just started BJJ, and hope I'm still practicing at the same age of all you guys!
Thank you very much. I have something going on in my life, physically, turning 58, and that was so important for me to hear for psychological aspects and my continued workouts. Getting injuries galore holding on to my brute strength.
53, been going on and off for over a year, most off due to injuries not from bjj. I learned to stretch more, changed my diet and realize that I need to learn techniques to beat the younger guys. It’s a journey that I am enjoying. I will also say that you need to find the right school that fits you.
I did Shao-Lin Kung Fu & Judo in my younger years but it's been SO long. I'm still in great shape & really want to get into Jiu-Jitsu. There's quite a few Gracie dojos in Vegas. I think I'm gonna go for it.
I'm 54. Had my second roll two days ago. I only started because my ten year old son is currently a grey-white belt, and I want to take a bigger part in his journey to his black belt. Having said that. I will say that I am genuinely enjoying the experience so far.
Simply brilliant ! I was still hesitant to go back for it at 54 but after these words I will listen again and again I feel confident about the goal and the journey 😊 thank you mestre for sharing this !
started at 50,,,,,55 approaching 56, 2 stripe purple, my share of wear and tear, and don't want to stop this art......and I don't always know when to back off with the young athletes but learning. This outlook is exactly what my instructor has been repeating so to hear it from Master Rickson is perfect. Starting to see the path now!
I tried a few months of BJJ which was taught here in Chicago by Carlson Gracie, but I could barely understand a word he was saying, and I quit out of frustration. Well, that an the fact that most of the students were big muscular guys and I was a slightly built guy in his mid forties at the time. If I was to start up again, I would only want to be taught by an older guy like Rickson who understands the challenges of getting older and who speaks english well. He's tempting me to try again, even though I'm now in my mid 60's. My cardio is sorta sucky, but I'm muscular for my age and in pretty good shape.
53 year-old blue belt at a South Florida Gracie-Barra school. Rickson's concepts and ideologies resonate with me. When going to class, I check my ego at the door and try to just have fun, learning what I can and help who I can. I recently tapped to an 18 year-old fellow blue-belt as he was over 50% to getting a submission which was inevitable at that point without me turning it into a deathmatch. It wasn't worth the risk of injury just to deny a tap. We reset and went again. No ego, just fun.
This is some great advice from the grandmaster himself! It is applicable to most martial arts. I am 62 years old and just started with Wing Chun Kung Fu. Same advice is applicable here. Thank you great Sir! 🙏😊
I am 52 and started at 50, and wish I heard this before sustaining multiple injuries. I was doing 6-8 classes a week prior to messing up my shoulders (yes...both), but after 2 months off I am planning on continuing, this time at a much more managable, realistic pace. Challenging, but not reckless. Thank you!
I started bjj two years ago at 57. I am 25-35 years older than anyone in our school except our instructor, who just turned 50 and a brown belt who is 49. It is the toughest thing I have ever done but my mobility is much better, I've lost 30 lbs and I feel great. Everyone is very understanding regarding my age and capability and always give me slow rolls when I feel I need them. I would encourage any older folks to start training, just take it slow and be particular about who you roll with.
I started with 53, I'm now 56. It's important to understand that your body is not already ready to "assume" hard scrambles, but perfectly can enjoy the roles, and to be hard to get taps. oss!!
The most important thing about doing bjj after 50 is what you do off the mat. You have to do more stuff off the mat than you do on the mat and then everything this man just said applies on the mat. Strength training... Mobility training.... rehab rest.... sleep..... diet is the most important part. Treat your time on the mat more like a cherry on top the dessert that you get for the all the work you did before. if your body's telling you to take the day off take two days. Muscling through is a guaranteed way to shorten your life on the mat Good luck and be very careful.
I was doing it about 7 years ago, i guess i was 45ish and i learned the hard way, that i had to take extra considerations - just use common sense. Warm up BEFORE you even get there (stretching i mean..more so than warm up) and just take it easy. As the great Rickson says, don't use power or speed as if you were 30! 😉
I'm over 40 and more than 25 years of full contact sports and Tough martial arts... I'm thinking about learning grappling and jiu jitsu in order to keep improving and saving my health. Being 6'4 and 215 lbs I used to mostly rely on my striking power but now I start to realize that there is a fitting method for each age.
I'm 58 , still train in various martial arts but I agree you have to control yourself . I warm up slow and steady especially with bag and pad work and rarely go full power . I focus more on 2 man drills , timing and positions . The hardest thing has been balance and tumbling because your inner ear changes with age . Having a job painting houses helps me though . When it comes down to it and you need your skills in real life , you're going to move fast and strong just from the adrenaline alone so don't worry about that . Yes you'll probably get injured but it won't be as bad as if you didn't train at all. Keep your strength and cardio training going and you'll be all set.
Very wise comments! They apply to any Martial Art: Karate, Judo, Aikido, etc.. I’d love to try BJJ, but I’m 77 with very thin skin. I did roll at a JJ Dojo many years ago. We had a great time and they had me teach striking to their kids and adults. Years later when I was retiring and closing my Karate Dojo, I took all my students out to dinner. The JJ Sensei’s happened to be there and spoke to me as we left. They thanked me for dropping by their Dojo and said that they had incorporated some of my suggestions into their curriculum. They were very nice guys!
Thank you for sharing Mestre. I’m 50 and about 1 year into jiu jitsu. I have many young guys, mostly new to my gym, who always want to roll with me. They’re always rolling like they have something to prove. I had one guy who was twice my size and 1/2 my age who keeps wanting to roll with me. Per my coach, I’ve learned to roll only with people I know. When I turn down rolling with the younger & more aggressive guys, they start talking sh!# and start saying stuff to other students. Not sure why I’m being singled out…
I respect this man with all of my heart. Eclipsed by the kabuki behind Tyson. Rick son is a true Aztec warrior who was always prepare to die. I started my own Gracie barra academy at 34, by 50, my body was broken, but now I roll to be untameable, I love you Rickson, I too endured a pain similar to yours with Rockson. You tried to fix Jiu jitsu in America but Americans turn everything into a hamburger. Forget about the glory they seek as opposed to the inner journey . I’m very sorry about the Parkinson’s, but it’s the warriors end, since the Viking’s you cant swing an axe on a battle field without paying a price. You are the king of the Matt, your humility, honour, breath work,even your crazy uncles diet was decades ahead of its time. I wish you would have united 1 Gracie clan in the states, you would be a listed Fortune 500 company by now with 5000 Academy’s taking jiu jitsu back from the no gi point hunters to a formidable ground based attack The anaconda doesn’t need the back fangs of the Californian Diamomd back rattlesnake I’m glad to see Da bronx using your techniques to close the distance to get to the rear naked joke . Always your father said, a man can still fight with a broken arm... so put him to sleep Much respect from South Africa. Your student for everJames Loudoun McCallum Remember . You will always be the bad ass Love & light champion
I started at 64, 9 months ago, and I will be 65 in a week. I have multiple severe injuries to my spine , shoulders, and hips but most of the people I roll with understand I have injuries and work with me. Most don't know just how bad they are because I keep showing up even though I am limping and usually can only make 2 classes aweek. I train about 20 minutes away across the Stae line in another town so they don't see that I have to walk most places even at home with a cane while I am waiting to have a hip replacement. My Doctors also want to fuse at least 5 vetebrae in my lower back plus a reverse shoulder replacement, I already have 3 veterae in my neck fused from years ago. I have a few more injuries but the point is not to whine but let people know when you are injured so they limit how hard they roll with you. I don't want pity I am competitive by nature. I can;t hip escape or bump. jump around like most but I do what I can and what I can't I try to figure out or get my instructor to work with me to find another way. Obviously it's usually easy for someone to pass mt guard so I work on survival and frustrating my partner waiting for them to make a mistake . I of course don't know enough yet to set them up but I do see oportunities to try to do certain techniques I can attempt. My goal is to survive and be able to get to my vehicle alone after class above everything else, next is to try to learn not to put myself in a bad position, next is if I see a way to attempt a submission then I will . No, it's not easy but life is not easy so I do what I can when I can then rest and recuperate then go again. Hopefully after my hip replacement and recovery I will be able to at least use my hips a little more, that should make a huge difference alone, the rest of the surgeries I am holding off on until there is no way I can even function without them. It is what it is , me against myself. Noone else's goal but my own. Keep going as long as you can and never give up but work smarter not harder.
I'm 53, love BJJ, wish I had started sooner. The injury potential at our age is very much a factor, not going to lie. Especially rib injuries. Even if you take it easy and find a gentle rolling/drilling partner, it's still possible to get hurt. If you can get past that curve in the beginning (you'll be in pain constantly as your older body continues to adapt and absorb the 'trauma' of rolling), they say it gets better. Haven't reached that point yet 😅
Great advice. Always tap, and always protect yourself. Talk to your training partners and just verbal tap or say “stop” if needed. Ask people to slow down, then ask them again. If they don’t respect that, let them know in a constructive way and move on. Be a good partner and let weaker people / women work their game. Be humble.
I am a 62yr old 130lb blue belt, started at 58. Thank you very much for the wise and encouraging words.
I am restarting at 56...you give me inspiration.
I’m thinking at 50 and @christopher is giving me willing to do so!
I started a few months ago, also at 58. It's fun, interesting, and I've dropped 15 pounds. I'm a horrendous athlete and have two fused lumbar vertebrae, but I won't let that stop me. I'm always the oldest in class, usually by far but the young people are all very cool to train with.
Be proud 💪 Respect
At 56, I am apprehensive. But, you, and this video inspire me. Thanks.
I started at 50 and It has done wonders for my depression.
Jiu-Jitsu really makes me happy.❤
Same for me, such a positive energy to fight depression
I joined a BJJ dojo in Aomori, Japan as a birthday present for myself on my 53rd birthday. I'm 55 now and still training.
I am 70 and a blue belt. Been doing jiujutsu for 5 years and still can't get enough of it. I had a few injuries over the years. The key is finding partners who are gentle. Even for younger people, it doesn't make sense to roll in a crazy manner before you master the techniques.
Very true
salute you sir
Thank you. ❤❤❤
I'm a 49 year old brown belt. I've trained with Royce, Royler, Rickson, Kron, Ryron, Renner and Rolker Gracie. I have never found a better teacher than Rickson and Pedro Sauer. Become a nightmare to submit and your attacks will come. "Jiu-Jitsu is timing, it's knowledge about the technique but it's timing" -Rickson Gracie
Pedro is totally one of the best, did you train with him in UT with Dave Bancroft?
Thank you for this. I am focused on becoming a huge challenge to conquer first
Thank you for sharing this. I'll have to remember and apply this "Become a nightmare to submit and your attacks will come" to often I think I'm looking and trying to hard for the submission.👍🤙
Training with legends. Also a plus..yeaaaa boi...yesaaaaa..studied rickson in 1998..his choke documentary came out...best documentary hands down..Yuki nakai..animo
59 years old. Been training BJJ for 28 years. This is the best advice for any age.
I’m 41 and started with this man and his son Rockson 24 years ago. I’m forever grateful 🙏🏽
You must be a beast dude. Did you ever compete?
59 years old, 40 years of jiujitsu.
Damn so since 31? You must be good.
Or what do you think, is there like a time where aging and life sort of overtakes the uhh what to call it.... like the training to get better and more technical and capable and stronger and develop a fighters mindset aspect of it that you would have in your youth typically?
So say when you're 21 and trying hard, learning rapidly etc and basically on an upwards ladder towards you're prime and peak ability you could ever achieve... the best you can be.
And you might get shown up by that other guy the class golden boy perhaps....and you're mindset is "ok I'm going to keep training my ass off like have been and I reckon within three months I'll have improved enough and I'll overtake and embaress his highness there and more with each month."
Do you still have that kind of (general, overall. Yet maybe a tad more mature... maybe haha) attitude and mindset about training?
Or is it more like a downwards or at best level slope instead?
Where you're like training more so as to maintain your current or even peak abilities and the physical and mental attributes necessary to apply them effectively... and to stave off the negative effects of the ageing process on it as long and best you can?
If that makes any sense and you get the jist of what I'm asking?
I suppose to put it simply... us there a point where you're not getting better and more dangerous every year but are trying to stay as good and dangerous as you can be and to slow down old age taking it from you as much as possible and practical?
Ps: thanks fir your time and I'm sorry it's so long. Long hard few days I'm not all that with it atm. 🤪
And I hope it's not an offensive and rude question or topic to ask?
I'm 31 so not all that old but, I ask with genuine interest and... I guess like to know what I'm in for too if I last that far. Although I really hate the whole aging process (and the death part) and what it does to people I know and love and admire and to those who have to watch it and want their turn... (the ancients saw it better as what it was/is... a curse, not natural, not good. Not some cheery sunny "it's just the natural circle of life" bullsh_t and freaking skin cream and dancing grannys and luxury retirement resorts as they sell it. They referred to old age as "the evil days" and "the time of troubles", "the shadow of death" and such. Anyway, depressing haha. But I'm a realist)
To digress.. yeah so I hate the whole aging thing itself but always even as a young kid I've always had great respect for and interest in my elders and loved talking, hearing all their life stories, helping to pay my debt to them, and maybe most of all learning from them and their lifetime of hard earned knowledge, wisdom and experience.
So yeah I'm not trying to be snarky or anything. And hell at 59 you're barely a spring chicken in the summer anyway or much past myself but I just been curious bout this for ages and how it apply to my own life of training/fighting and priorities.
@@iamshredder3587 Hey brother, I think I understand your question. Getting older, especially in BJJ, is like a give and take situation. You acquire a lot of knowledge but you have to be careful how you apply it. Learn not to force things and go with the flow when rolling. This takes some experience. At the same time, your gas tank and strength are not what they were when you were 31. My knowledge and technique is good but my athleticism and power are gone by 59. I don’t match strength with the young guys. That will just get me injured. I try to use all technique. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, just tap and learn from the situation. When in doubt, tap. Your BJJ career will last longer. Hope this helps
Started at 47 and could not agree more. Thank you!
I started at 71 so I really relate and am appreciative of the mindset to conserve energy, modify where needed, be careful with choosing partners, no early sparing.
@Corsicanario😂
It is great to hear from all my fellow old men. I started at 60, two stripes on my white belt at 61. Only wish I had started sooner!
I am a 70 year old blue belt, under Professor Mario Yokoyama( whom you know well) in Sydney Australia. Thank you Professor Rickson, you are an inspiration and a hero to me; Thank you!🙏
I'm 52 and am just starting BJJ. Thank you Master Rickson for your words of wisdom.
I'm 56 and got my blue belt last year. My experience when I started was that I pretty soon had to take a step back in order to protect my shoulder joints and my back. I then systematically strengthened these parts of my body so now I can train and roll even with the young folks who compete.
Started at 51. Very athletic. Look very young for my age. "Old man strength" :)
Totally appreciate the counsel. First few months, just "try to win this roll" ... keep rolling and rolling and rolling with the younger guys in their 20's. Not only as a white belt, but at 51 ... my body let me know real fast:
_Mate ... you are 51. Knock it off_
Took a couple of weeks to rest from an injury. Learned to roll, when I feel GOOD to roll. When I don't? I don't? Judicious use of strength as a supplement to the technique; with technique coming first. Finding good partners to roll with. Great Professor as an instructor. It's made all the difference.
Thank you for sharing the wisdom and experience! Blessings ...
I started at 61, I have always stayed in shape. I don't hold back when rolling with much younger students, I just outthink them. You can always tap. If you look at it as just learning and not trying to beat up everybody its enjoyable, at the same time you are learning. Most of the real crazy aggressive students quit within six months anyway.
Spot on!
51 and hope ti be soon Purple
My brother from another mother, I started at 61 as well. and like you I am in shape and have lifting for years. But I do need the recovery time. Congrats!! Stay strong!
@@arob2919 Stop trying to win, work on technique, eventually it will work. Smaller people have an advantage they don't realize. They are faster and can fit in smaller spaces. I am 6-2 and smaller guys give me the most difficulty. Look at Marcelo Garcia.
Bless the old ones. Started by 50. Now 55 and proud to wear purple. Still the coolest thing is, to learn something new and sometimes to outsmart the younger ones😂😂 Osss
67 and starting BJJ as a hobby. Timely and perfect guidance. Thanks for what you do.
Thanks rickson ive been injured for 2 years. Im now 54 been. Still trying to heal. My motivation is still strong. Hope i can make it back.
Beautiful - about to turn 57, 3-stripe purple belt - makes a lot of sense - tremendous respect, Rickson - I’ve learned a ton from you - I wish you well…
All the best to you.
Great advice, thanks! I started BJJ at a sport club at age 68. I trained for a year, but then had to quit because I needed a knee replacement, not caused by Jiu-Jitsu. After recovery, I started back at a Gracie JJ school at age 70 and I'm still there almost a year later. I find the Gracie approach much better for me and I really enjoy it. I have so far avoided injuries that would put me out of training.
51 yo newbie here. Thank you!
53 here, started at 51. My girls (11 and 15) have a full year on me LOL. I love it. I do play carefully. I appreciate these words from a legend.
Great to see other 50+ practitioners commenting here.
Muy inteligente excelente
Im 72 and training Jiu-Jitsu for a year now. In class today doing #11 Elevator Sweep, I had my hips very wide and a heavy partner and I felt a little pain in my hip (the other hip is titanium 😂). So I take it easy. Prevent injury. Learn and practice with safety in mind. Thankfully my partners seem to take care of me and I appreciate they're willing to train with an old lady. ❤
I started bjj with 35 and this was already my approach to BJJ. "Dont commit to victory" describes it very good. Even if youre young, bjj can mess up your joints and its not worth destroying your body over a "fake" fight, sparring, or a competition for imaginative glory.
OOOSSSSSS
Excellent video for those of us in our 50's.
These are the exact things that Master Luiz Palhares told me back when I turned 50. Enjoy the sport, go at your own pace, listen to your body, etc. and it was worked VERY well for me. Now, I am a 54 year old purple belt and see no end in sight. Many thanks Master Rickson.
OSS
About to begin my journey in Jiujitsu.
Most bjj gyms became commercial.
Most are very expensive.
I hope Rickson talk about that.
Lot of gyms discourage ppl from starting the journey
Great advice, Master Rickson
Finally..some reassuring content from the master for those of us who are 'masters' in age . Looking forward to reviewing your additional content .:0)
I am 68 and now 3 stripes white belt started Jiu-Jitsu December 2022; Training 2hrs 3-5 days a week and I think beggining to love it
I’m praying for master Rickson he’s a legend and I hope he heals
What happened to him?
@@sliderx1897 he has early stages of Parkinson’s
@@sliderx1897I believe he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s
@@sliderx1897Parkinson’s sadly :/
yep, i noticed it in his face and hand tremor (P.D).
Still, there are medications that work to hold it back. And developing techniques (already in experimental use) that implant devices that quell the tremors specifically. Wishing Rickson the best.
Great advice. I’m 54.
I started under Rickson at 34, got my blue belt from him. Got my brown belt from Kron.
I definitely play it smarter now and just try to enjoy rolling, hardly ever go for taps, but I hardly ever get tapped out either.
That is a a very good approach, I think! Hardly go for taps, but hardly get tapped either. Just enjoy it.
Who did you get your black belt from?
This really is wise, outstanding advice and guidance. Thank you.
I'm 54 and have been training on and off for 24 years. I am at the point now where if I sweat and don't get hurt in class, I am happy. There will come a time when you aren't as fast, as strong or as agile and then your mind and technique will have to be whats left.
Thankyou!
I'm 47 YO. Been thinking of training full time.
I started practicing Silat and Escrima in 1993. I know a lot of takedowns and throws and armlocks.
I don't know how to choke or go totally prone and roll. Escape. Get a good position.
My battle plan is to take them down and arm lock them. I love ground work. I want to know how the experts do it!
Thanks
I started at 57. I am 64. It can be done. But know that it can be both fun and extremely challenging. For me, mostly psychologically.
Thanks Rickson! I started my martial arts journey at age 46 in 2005 - studied an American mixed martial art combining karate, judo, and Japanese Jiu Jitsu... moved from my dojo in 2017 as a ni-dan in my art but now... at age 65, I'm looking forward to advancing my newaza skills studying BJJ as a novice white belt. Thank you and your other commenters for reinforcing my resolve.
You are all kids. 😊 I am 75. I started 18 months ago.
Ce sport est vraiment magnifique ! Je suis un grand fan de Rickson ! J'ai commencé le JJB à 40 ans mais malheureusement je me suis brisé les cervicales. Jusqu'à ce que ce malheureux jour arrive, allez au JJB me remplissait de sérénité et d'honneur. J'étais débutant et j'avais une grande soif d'apprendre. Il a suffit de tomber sur la mauvaise personne une seule fois et mon rêve s'est arrêté brutalement. Al hamdouliLah, ainsi est la vie ! Aujourd'hui je continue d'apprendre et de prendre du plaisir en regardant vos vidéos.
Merci infiniment Rickson. ❤
Wise Words Master,
Thank you very much Master Rickson. I’m a 66year old blue belt with some shoulder injuries and knee injuries. I actually started training hard and realized the injuries are getting worse. I understand what you are saying and will change my training mentality and take your words to heart.
Thank you again!!!❤
55 year old purple. Has changed me forever
Rickson is a living legend. Thank you for all you’ve done!
Spoke like a true master and mentor. Respect!🙏
Excellent points. I started almost a year ago at 49, but have had professional fighting experience in stand up arts so in the sense of overall conditioning it helped a lot but jiu jitsu was and is so different. You're learning to move your body in ways that are unique. And of course at all times I acknowledge my age, I've been lucky to be relatively injury free throughout my other experience in combat arts with solid flexibility etc. But I'm always careful and I leave my ego at the door.
Best advice a real master can only offer. Muito obrigato mestre
Timely and great advice
I'm 36 and my body is just starting to feel all the years of treating it like a hammer. Just started BJJ, and hope I'm still practicing at the same age of all you guys!
Wery good advice.
And, good health to you sir.
Thank you very much. I have something going on in my life, physically, turning 58, and that was so important for me to hear for psychological aspects and my continued workouts. Getting injuries galore holding on to my brute strength.
53, been going on and off for over a year, most off due to injuries not from bjj. I learned to stretch more, changed my diet and realize that I need to learn techniques to beat the younger guys. It’s a journey that I am enjoying. I will also say that you need to find the right school that fits you.
I did Shao-Lin Kung Fu & Judo in my younger years but it's been SO long. I'm still in great shape & really want to get into Jiu-Jitsu. There's quite a few Gracie dojos in Vegas. I think I'm gonna go for it.
I started at 50. Best advice Rickson just gave. You do t have to compete every roll. Technique and flow sometimes is better than winning.
Wise words. Thank you Master.
Thank you Great One
I'm 54.
Had my second roll two days ago.
I only started because my ten year old son is currently a grey-white belt, and I want to take a bigger part in his journey to his black belt.
Having said that. I will say that I am genuinely enjoying the experience so far.
Thank you, Sensei!
Love this legend. Oss
Simply brilliant ! I was still hesitant to go back for it at 54 but after these words I will listen again and again I feel confident about the goal and the journey 😊 thank you mestre for sharing this !
Amazing advice, thanks to the mentor . I am 58 , started around 50, love the art, may God bless us to keep going till our time comes.
When you put up videos like this, please specify in the title whether you're talking about jiu-jitsu or "Brazilian jiu-jitsu".
started at 50,,,,,55 approaching 56, 2 stripe purple, my share of wear and tear, and don't want to stop this art......and I don't always know when to back off with the young athletes but learning. This outlook is exactly what my instructor has been repeating so to hear it from Master Rickson is perfect. Starting to see the path now!
I started taekwondo close to 50. Its been hard but very satisfying. I've never felt better. All these tips are spot on.
I tried a few months of BJJ which was taught here in Chicago by Carlson Gracie, but I could barely understand a word he was saying, and I quit out of frustration. Well, that an the fact that most of the students were big muscular guys and I was a slightly built guy in his mid forties at the time. If I was to start up again, I would only want to be taught by an older guy like Rickson who understands the challenges of getting older and who speaks english well. He's tempting me to try again, even though I'm now in my mid 60's. My cardio is sorta sucky, but I'm muscular for my age and in pretty good shape.
46, this was a great lesson on sustainable, jiu-jitsu mindset. Thank you
53 year-old blue belt at a South Florida Gracie-Barra school. Rickson's concepts and ideologies resonate with me. When going to class, I check my ego at the door and try to just have fun, learning what I can and help who I can. I recently tapped to an 18 year-old fellow blue-belt as he was over 50% to getting a submission which was inevitable at that point without me turning it into a deathmatch. It wasn't worth the risk of injury just to deny a tap. We reset and went again. No ego, just fun.
This is some great advice from the grandmaster himself! It is applicable to most martial arts. I am 62 years old and just started with Wing Chun Kung Fu. Same advice is applicable here. Thank you great Sir! 🙏😊
Thank you hickson I am Gracie Barra in Anchorage 3 stripes white belt 8 years wrestling experience
Great advice!
I am 52 and started at 50, and wish I heard this before sustaining multiple injuries. I was doing 6-8 classes a week prior to messing up my shoulders (yes...both), but after 2 months off I am planning on continuing, this time at a much more managable, realistic pace. Challenging, but not reckless. Thank you!
Appreciate Rickson, I hope you're writing an instructional on your Jiu Jitsu.
Great inspiration, for me learning is the purpose so winning is not that important for the moment.
Great advice.
I started bjj two years ago at 57. I am 25-35 years older than anyone in our school except our instructor, who just turned 50 and a brown belt who is 49. It is the toughest thing I have ever done but my mobility is much better, I've lost 30 lbs and I feel great. Everyone is very understanding regarding my age and capability and always give me slow rolls when I feel I need them. I would encourage any older folks to start training, just take it slow and be particular about who you roll with.
UA-cam algorithm give me more of this content
Rickson is the Greatest!
I just started BJJ at age 51, really enjoying it so far. This video is really useful, thank you.
Itcccchhh never tcho late tcho scchhtart!!!
I started with 53, I'm now 56. It's important to understand that your body is not already ready to "assume" hard scrambles, but perfectly can enjoy the roles, and to be hard to get taps. oss!!
The most important thing about doing bjj after 50 is what you do off the mat. You have to do more stuff off the mat than you do on the mat and then everything this man just said applies on the mat. Strength training... Mobility training.... rehab rest.... sleep..... diet is the most important part. Treat your time on the mat more like a cherry on top the dessert that you get for the all the work you did before.
if your body's telling you to take the day off take two days. Muscling through is a guaranteed way to shorten your life on the mat
Good luck and be very careful.
Thank u…best advice I’ve ever heard.
The wisdom of a great master. Thank you.
I was doing it about 7 years ago, i guess i was 45ish and i learned the hard way, that i had to take extra considerations - just use common sense. Warm up BEFORE you even get there (stretching i mean..more so than warm up) and just take it easy. As the great Rickson says, don't use power or speed as if you were 30! 😉
I'm over 40 and more than 25 years of full contact sports and Tough martial arts... I'm thinking about learning grappling and jiu jitsu in order to keep improving and saving my health. Being 6'4 and 215 lbs I used to mostly rely on my striking power but now I start to realize that there is a fitting method for each age.
Makes perfect sense to a 51 yr old who is planning to start bjj
I'm 58 , still train in various martial arts but I agree you have to control yourself . I warm up slow and steady especially with bag and pad work and rarely go full power . I focus more on 2 man drills , timing and positions . The hardest thing has been balance and tumbling because your inner ear changes with age . Having a job painting houses helps me though . When it comes down to it and you need your skills in real life , you're going to move fast and strong just from the adrenaline alone so don't worry about that . Yes you'll probably get injured but it won't be as bad as if you didn't train at all. Keep your strength and cardio training going and you'll be all set.
Very well stated. Sage advice.
Very wise comments! They apply to any Martial Art: Karate, Judo, Aikido, etc.. I’d love to try BJJ, but I’m 77 with very thin skin. I did roll at a JJ Dojo many years ago. We had a great time and they had me teach striking to their kids and adults. Years later when I was retiring and closing my Karate Dojo, I took all my students out to dinner. The JJ Sensei’s happened to be there and spoke to me as we left. They thanked me for dropping by their Dojo and said that they had incorporated some of my suggestions into their curriculum. They were very nice guys!
Perfeito mestre. Muito obrigado
Yes, it takes time to recover. Get a good physical therapist and stretch before and AFTER training. Recovery takes longer. Y’all got this!
Thank you for sharing Mestre. I’m 50 and about 1 year into jiu jitsu. I have many young guys, mostly new to my gym, who always want to roll with me. They’re always rolling like they have something to prove. I had one guy who was twice my size and 1/2 my age who keeps wanting to roll with me. Per my coach, I’ve learned to roll only with people I know. When I turn down rolling with the younger & more aggressive guys, they start talking sh!# and start saying stuff to other students. Not sure why I’m being singled out…
Sabedoria! Muito obrigado pelos conselhos mestre Rickson! Oss!
This was very helpful, sir. Thank you 💎
I respect this man with all of my heart. Eclipsed by the kabuki behind Tyson. Rick son is a true Aztec warrior who was always prepare to die. I started my own Gracie barra academy at 34, by 50, my body was broken, but now I roll to be untameable, I love you Rickson, I too endured a pain similar to yours with Rockson. You tried to fix Jiu jitsu in America but Americans turn everything into a hamburger. Forget about the glory they seek as opposed to the inner journey . I’m very sorry about the Parkinson’s, but it’s the warriors end, since the Viking’s you cant swing an axe on a battle field without paying a price. You are the king of the Matt, your humility, honour, breath work,even your crazy uncles diet was decades ahead of its time. I wish you would have united 1 Gracie clan in the states, you would be a listed Fortune 500 company by now with 5000
Academy’s taking jiu jitsu back from the no gi point hunters to a formidable ground based attack
The anaconda doesn’t need the back fangs of the Californian Diamomd back rattlesnake
I’m glad to see Da bronx using your techniques to close the distance to get to the rear naked joke . Always your father said, a man can still fight with a broken arm... so put him to sleep
Much respect from South Africa. Your student for everJames Loudoun McCallum
Remember . You will always be the bad ass
Love & light champion
I started at 64, 9 months ago, and I will be 65 in a week. I have multiple severe injuries to my spine , shoulders, and hips but most of the people I roll with understand I have injuries and work with me. Most don't know just how bad they are because I keep showing up even though I am limping and usually can only make 2 classes aweek. I train about 20 minutes away across the Stae line in another town so they don't see that I have to walk most places even at home with a cane while I am waiting to have a hip replacement. My Doctors also want to fuse at least 5 vetebrae in my lower back plus a reverse shoulder replacement, I already have 3 veterae in my neck fused from years ago. I have a few more injuries but the point is not to whine but let people know when you are injured so they limit how hard they roll with you. I don't want pity I am competitive by nature. I can;t hip escape or bump. jump around like most but I do what I can and what I can't I try to figure out or get my instructor to work with me to find another way. Obviously it's usually easy for someone to pass mt guard so I work on survival and frustrating my partner waiting for them to make a mistake . I of course don't know enough yet to set them up but I do see oportunities to try to do certain techniques I can attempt. My goal is to survive and be able to get to my vehicle alone after class above everything else, next is to try to learn not to put myself in a bad position, next is if I see a way to attempt a submission then I will . No, it's not easy but life is not easy so I do what I can when I can then rest and recuperate then go again. Hopefully after my hip replacement and recovery I will be able to at least use my hips a little more, that should make a huge difference alone, the rest of the surgeries I am holding off on until there is no way I can even function without them. It is what it is , me against myself. Noone else's goal but my own. Keep going as long as you can and never give up but work smarter not harder.
Thanks for sharing this and good luck on your surgery and recovery.
I'm 51 and really want to start but am so worried about getting injured. This is really inspiring guys thank you.
I'm 53, love BJJ, wish I had started sooner. The injury potential at our age is very much a factor, not going to lie. Especially rib injuries. Even if you take it easy and find a gentle rolling/drilling partner, it's still possible to get hurt. If you can get past that curve in the beginning (you'll be in pain constantly as your older body continues to adapt and absorb the 'trauma' of rolling), they say it gets better. Haven't reached that point yet 😅
I’m 55. Purple belt. Started at 49. My only regret is not starting sooner.
I’m 64 with replaced knee and ankle I’ve learn the phrase tap often lol but I love it 😅
Great advice. Always tap, and always protect yourself. Talk to your training partners and just verbal tap or say “stop” if needed. Ask people to slow down, then ask them again. If they don’t respect that, let them know in a constructive way and move on. Be a good partner and let weaker people / women work their game. Be humble.