Bad ass retirement

[Cash Bill 52]

Do you know of anybody who retired from being a bad ass?


I have heard of some great masters who no longer train with their stud purple or even blue belts. Their bodies just can't keep up with the speed and athleticism of the new kids on the block. It seems to happen to people in their fifties. My forties were a time of accepting all who asked to roll. I competed at plenty ibjjf tournaments. I trained with top notch mma fighters, world champion black belts, heel hook specialists, college wrestlers, and even the dreaded big white belt spaz. My body has been wrecked plenty.


The only instructional video I ever bought was Roy Harris's bjj over 40. I enjoyed it, but I didn't take Mr. Harris's advice. I learned spider guard, de la riva, rdlr, and any other new technique that made your fingers hurt and your back ache.


I am not quite ready to pass the reigns to the youngsters yet, but I can see the edge of the horizon. We have a 17 year old blue belt that weighs 240 lbs, trains 5-6 times per week, and has a killer spider guard. He's a humble little bastard as well. Always shaking my hand, being a good listener, learns quickly. He deadlifts over 400 lbs and doesn't even have his man muscles yet. It's only a matter of time before he starts smashing me.


I know this is an ego issue. I can't pressure myself to be a badass forever. A part of me just wants to get it over with already. I am a young 50. I still have some good miles left. I want to move to the next stage with some dignity and grace. When the time comes, I want to be ready to let go. I know a lot of older black belts who just disappeared. I don't think they could handle not being in the top echelon.


Maybe there will be a Jiu jitsu retirement home one day. Instead of bingo and rice pudding we'll have acai and some slow rolling. Anyway, I am putting this out there to see if anybody else or they know somebody else who is going through something similar.


Thanks

 

[RJ Green]

nobody over 50 will play newaza with me at Judo anymore

 

[Cash Bill 52]

nobody over 50 will play newaza with me at Judo anymore

Yikes! I would think newaza would be the preferred old man game.
I don't have an instructor's mystical mind control over my teammates. I have always happily been "one of the guys." I do the warm ups, train when I'm tired, and rarely take black belt privileges offered. Lately, I seem to be conscious of people I've mentored taking it easy on me. They say that they aren't. I just don't want to lose any honesty that the Mats have taught me over the years.

 

[Was at Pride GP 2000]

Old man jiu jitsu night is a must at any well established club. Once or twice a week nobody under 40 is allowed in the door. Belts don't matter age does.

 

[RJ Green]

Yikes! I would think newaza would be the preferred old man game.
I don't have an instructor's mystical mind control over my teammates. I have always happily been "one of the guys." I do the warm ups, train when I'm tired, and rarely take black belt privileges offered. Lately, I seem to be conscious of people I've mentored taking it easy on me. They say that they aren't. I just don't want to lose any honesty that the Mats have taught me over the years.

Some of 'em are game if they're injury-free. I'll offer to pull guard but even then I think they feel like I'm just taking it easy on them, which I am, but only in the sense that I'm not trying to presh them to death. I kind of approach it like how I roll with ladies - I try to stay pretty light and not just shut them down or muscle out of sub attempts. I figure it's better than nothing. It's not like every roll has to be the mundials.

You're in ridiculous shape too, especially for your age. Plus that kindergarten teacher kindness you've got means you're not trying to kill anyone. I bet you won't fade too much until you stop S&C, and even then you'll be wily enough to hang with most people.

Did you train hard for worlds?

 

[jr jr]

One of my coaches retired last year. 50+ years of grappling. He was 65. His skin was just to thin and he would bleed at the face with even the lightest gi contact. Judo and BJJ black belt. At 65 he could still wreck everyone standing.

 

[Cash Bill 52]

Some of 'em are game if they're injury-free. I'll offer to pull guard but even then I think they feel like I'm just taking it easy on them, which I am, but only in the sense that I'm not trying to presh them to death. I kind of approach it like how I roll with ladies - I try to stay pretty light and not just shut them down or muscle out of sub attempts. I figure it's better than nothing. It's not like every roll has to be the mundials.

You're in ridiculous shape too, especially for your age. Plus that kindergarten teacher kindness you've got means you're not trying to kill anyone. I bet you won't fade too much until you stop S&C, and even then you'll be wily enough to hang with most people.

Did you train hard for worlds?

Right after I committed to worlds I pulled a pec/under arm muscle. I wound up working on take down defense and rode a stationary bike for most of my camp. To be fair, most masters age guys have some form of injury going into a tournament.
I think you are right. S&c is going to ply a major role as I go forward. Thanks, bro.

 

[Cash Bill 52]

Yes, elastin; the protein that keeps your skin soft goes away. Add to it all the stitches from my hockey days and I can become a bloody mess from a good cross face.

 

[Cash Bill 52]

One of my coaches retired last year. 50+ years of grappling. He was 65. His skin was just to thin and he would bleed at the face with even the lightest gi contact. Judo and BJJ black belt. At 65 he could still wreck everyone standing.

 

[Dirty Holt]

My coworker is about 6'4'' 290 at GB (I dont train there). Got his blackbelt at age 56 and decided that was about the last day he was gonna go hard with anyone really tough. He only trains on Saturday and Sunday now and just kind of helps out a lot from what he says but the guy is an absolute bear of a man.

 

[Cash Bill 52]

My coworker is about 6'4'' 290 at GB (I dont train there). Got his blackbelt at age 56 and decided that was about the last day he was gonna go hard with anyone really tough. He only trains on Saturday and Sunday now and just kind of helps out a lot from what he says but the guy is an absolute bear of a man.

Even old bears need to pull back a little from fighting for dominance of the stream.

 

[Solidus Snake]

Old man jiu jitsu night is a must at any well established club. Once or twice a week nobody under 40 is allowed in the door. Belts don't matter age does.

Man I want that too for when I'll be 40!

Actually I'm so teared and undertrained that I'd ask for a special permission now that I'm 32

 

[Cash Bill 52]

Man I want that too for when I'll be 40!

Actually I'm so teared and undertrained that I'd ask for a special permission now that I'm 32

Cumulative damage is more of an indicator than age. You could be in your early thirties but damaged like someone twice your age. Twenty years of hockey before twenty years of Jiu jitsu has taken its toll on me. I am trying to find the right balance of hard training and recovery.
I am putting a premium on being pain free as I place an object on the top shelf, getting in and out of my car, and doing legit jumping jacks with my kindergarten students.
I wish I liked working out with weights at the gym.

 

[RJ Green]

hating the workout is part of the fun! plus it keeps you honest. i don't think there's a good substitute for weights as far as maintaining strength and staying lean. maybe sprints.

climbing gets really close, but you eventually hit the point where it's more about technique. climbing reminds me of grappling in a lot of ways: you've gotta maintain balance, you've gotta plan your moves and be smart about your oomph, and at a certain point technique becomes more important than athleticism.

paddleboarding's pretty great too, it seems innocuous enough but it's a good full-body workout. you'll stay dryer than surfing, and at least you've got something besides rivers to paddle over there.

 

[kjg1672]

Old man jiu jitsu night is a must at any well established club. Once or twice a week nobody under 40 is allowed in the door. Belts don't matter age does.

Jared Weiner of BJJ United outside of Phila. for years has offered a class for guys 40 and over only. I dropped in a few years ago when I was just a 41-year-old pup and had a great time. I'd say half the guys training in the class were over 50.

 

[Coconutwater]

Do you know of anybody who retired from being a bad ass?


I have heard of some great masters who no longer train with their stud purple or even blue belts. Their bodies just can't keep up with the speed and athleticism of the new kids on the block. It seems to happen to people in their fifties. My forties were a time of accepting all who asked to roll. I competed at plenty ibjjf tournaments. I trained with top notch mma fighters, world champion black belts, heel hook specialists, college wrestlers, and even the dreaded big white belt spaz. My body has been wrecked plenty.


The only instructional video I ever bought was Roy Harris's bjj over 40. I enjoyed it, but I didn't take Mr. Harris's advice. I learned spider guard, de la riva, rdlr, and any other new technique that made your fingers hurt and your back ache.


I am not quite ready to pass the reigns to the youngsters yet, but I can see the edge of the horizon. We have a 17 year old blue belt that weighs 240 lbs, trains 5-6 times per week, and has a killer spider guard. He's a humble little bastard as well. Always shaking my hand, being a good listener, learns quickly. He deadlifts over 400 lbs and doesn't even have his man muscles yet. It's only a matter of time before he starts smashing me.


I know this is an ego issue. I can't pressure myself to be a badass forever. A part of me just wants to get it over with already. I am a young 50. I still have some good miles left. I want to move to the next stage with some dignity and grace. When the time comes, I want to be ready to let go. I know a lot of older black belts who just disappeared. I don't think they could handle not being in the top echelon.


Maybe there will be a Jiu jitsu retirement home one day. Instead of bingo and rice pudding we'll have acai and some slow rolling. Anyway, I am putting this out there to see if anybody else or they know somebody else who is going through something similar.


Thanks

Yeah, jiu jitsu retirement home would encompass only slow rolls and how long you can stave off a young, competition blue from tapping you.

 

[Cash Bill 52]

Yeah, jiu jitsu retirement home would encompass only slow rolls and how long you can stave off a young, competition blue from tapping you.

Competitive blues will be banned. Maybe they can show up to show us the latest and greatest guard techniques.

 

[Cash Bill 52]

hating the workout is part of the fun! plus it keeps you honest. i don't think there's a good substitute for weights as far as maintaining strength and staying lean. maybe sprints.

climbing gets really close, but you eventually hit the point where it's more about technique. climbing reminds me of grappling in a lot of ways: you've gotta maintain balance, you've gotta plan your moves and be smart about your oomph, and at a certain point technique becomes more important than athleticism.

paddleboarding's pretty great too, it seems innocuous enough but it's a good full-body workout. you'll stay dryer than surfing, and at least you've got something besides rivers to paddle over there.

I actually don't mind the workouts. Parking is annoying. Waiting for the squat rack is annoying. Guys flexing in their mma t shirts are annoying.
Paddle boarding looks fun. I wouldn't mind trying that.
Also, to be clear; I'm not done yet. A couple months ago I trained with Jake shields and he was showing me the stuff he learned from Danaher and the dds team. I'm so thankful that he still destroys me like any other ordinary teammate.
I'm looking forward to seeing him use his new skill set today.

 

[anaconda]

I think for a lot of guys it can be an ego thing, but I believe most of those folks end up leaving entirely. For others I think it's more of a risk/reward determination.

I'm only 33, and a relatively new black belt, but I've been feeling the effects of years of hard training catching up. I have neck and back issues and to be perfectly honest, if the only way I can continue bjj is to continuously roll 100% with all the ultra competitive guys it's not worth it anymore. I want to be able to carry and play with my children; I'm not out to win any world titles. I want to be healthy in my 50s and 60s, not broken down and limping and struggling to get out of bed.

Due to injuries, constantly being in and out of the gym is making it even harder to be consistent, maintain strength and stability, and stay in shape. That makes it even harder to keep coming back and starting over and puts me even at more risk for injury.

Five years ago if I heard someone say that I'd say that person is just a wuss or isn't tough enough but priorities change. At this point though I'd rather quit BJJ than risk having (more) permanent injuries to deal with.

 

[Quebec Nick]

Maybe a change can be done into the sparring regiment of BJJ.

It's very useful for the young studs to spar hard everynight but pretty much all the other martial arts have other ways to teach.


Older guys and slightly injured or disabled person should be able to have fun too.

If you have a 50+ blackbelt and the only way to make good use of him is to make him spar hard with a young blue belt, there's very good talent wasted just there. In specific sparring drills the older guy will be able to teach him very valuable lessons by timing out when he makes a mistake or by showing him different strategy or decisions he could have made... If after a sparring you have a old blackbelt whose frustrated and aching while you have young bluebelt who just learned how to wreck an old guy... what's the point.

I do kickboxing too and I can achieve a lot of progress with drills, specific sparring (defense, footwork, combos) without going hard everynight. Sometimes we divide the class in two for the younger hotblooded studs to spar against each other while the others are still doing very constructive stuff.