First stripe on white belt

[CaliforniaKid]

I have been training BJJ for 16 months, usually 3 times per week other than when I go on a 2 week vacation (twice) and missed 2 or 3 weeks about 4 times due to injury.

Just had grading. I did not get a strip. I have no stripes.

I am 64, was 62 when started bjj. Virtually no prior martial arts experience. I have raced bicycles and run ultras for decades and am still fit and have been all my life. I still have a 6 pack and am very strong.

Truthfully picking up these moves and implementing them in a roll is very hard for me. Younger guys come in and in 3-6 months surpass me.

My question is: Is it reasonable for a guy to train for well over a year usually 3 times per week and not even get 1 strip?

2nd Q: Should a guy of my age, 64 with clearly no long term future in the sport

 

[StonedLemur]

Congratulations sir, keep rollin rollin rollin lol

 

[StonedLemur]

I have been training BJJ for 16 months, usually 3 times per week other than when I go on a 2 week vacation (twice) and missed 2 or 3 weeks about 4 times due to injury.

Just had grading. I did not get a strip. I have no stripes.

I am 64, was 62 when started bjj. Virtually no prior martial arts experience. I have raced bicycles and run ultras for decades and am still fit and have been all my life. I still have a 6 pack and am very strong.

Truthfully picking up these moves and implementing them in a roll is very hard for me. Younger guys come in and in 3-6 months surpass me.

My question is: Is it reasonable for a guy to train for well over a year usually 3 times per week and not even get 1 strip?

2nd Q: Should a guy of my age, 64 with clearly no long term future in the sport

You're doing it for you, not belts at this point sir.

 

[Elvis.]

If you enjoy it then 100% you should stick with it .

I’ve learned that sometimes you may not fully understand your professors thought process on promotion and that’s ok , trust them , they usually know what they are doing and have good reasons
Some guys you just know that they won’t be able to handle the promotion from a maturity standpoint (I’m 100% sure this doesn’t apply to you)
Sometimes you don’t give a guy any stripes and ignore him for a few gradings to see if he gets discouraged and quits , also you don’t want to give him any stripes because you really love the guy and want to shock the hell out of him with a surprise blue belt .
My Purple was total surprise and other than black that was the sweetest moment

 

[CaliforniaKid]

You're doing it for you, not belts at this point sir.

I do agree with you. Clearly being 64, expectations of a black belt and even a blue belt are not realistic. My kids train (older dad here) and dont love it and dont hate it and I feel it is important that I show that dad can do something that is really very hard. That and the physical benefits of rolling 3 days a week are immeasurable.

My question was really not directed at getting promoted. It was more the nuance. Since I have trained for 16 months regularly, everybody in the gym knows me ans I think mostly like me.

Is it reasonable that after 16 month of training and being able to roll with new blue belts without getting submitted that I would not be deserving of a strip?

It is a bit demoralizing to see a guy that trains 3 times a month and started with me...and who I can sub got a strip.

 

[StonedLemur]

I do agree with you. Clearly being 64, expectations of a black belt and even a blue belt are not realistic. My kids train (older dad here) and dont love it and dont hate it and I feel it is important that I show that dad can do something that is really very hard. That and the physical benefits of rolling 3 days a week are immeasurable.

My question was really not directed at getting promoted. It was more the nuance. Since I have trained for 16 months regularly, everybody in the gym knows me ans I think mostly like me.

Is it reasonable that after 16 month of training and being able to roll with new blue belts without getting submitted that I would not be deserving of a strip?

It is a bit demoralizing to see a guy that trains 3 times a month and started with me...and who I can sub got a strip.

They might be being cunts due to your age.
Like @Elvis said, they can be seeing how you react and or seeing if you quit.
Its the gentle art but there's still jock mentality involved in any gym/dojo etc.

I would be a little pissed off myself but that would just drive me to get submissions on everyone I could lol.

Do let yourself get down though, you never know what these cats are thinking.
Maybe you could go win a white belt tourney and prove yourself.
If nothing else it will give you the affirmation that you are worth more than they're giving you credit for sir.

 

[CaliforniaKid]

If you enjoy it then 100% you should stick with it .

I’ve learned that sometimes you may not fully understand your professors thought process on promotion and that’s ok , trust them , they usually know what they are doing and have good reasons
Some guys you just know that they won’t be able to handle the promotion from a maturity standpoint (I’m 100% sure this doesn’t apply to you)
Sometimes you don’t give a guy any stripes and ignore him for a few gradings to see if he gets discouraged and quits , also you don’t want to give him any stripes because you really love the guy and want to shock the hell out of him with a surprise blue belt .
My Purple was total surprise and other than black that was the sweetest moment

But you wouldnt not give a 64 year old man a stripe to test his fortitude.

I am not good at bjj truthfully. Even tho I am very fit, I dont have the flexibility, mobility and athletisism of days gone by. I also have very hard time in a roll being able to utilize all I have been drilling in my classes 3 x per week for 16 months. My sub defense is quite good tho all things considered. Can roll with new blue belts and usually not get subbed.

I have to wonder if there is something else going on. My kids are very well behaved and respectful. Just a bit baffled...

 

[CaliforniaKid]

They might be being cunts due to your age.
Like @Elvis said, they can be seeing how you react and or seeing if you quit.
Its the gentle art but there's still jock mentality involved in any gym/dojo etc.

I would be a little pissed off myself but that would just drive me to get submissions on everyone I could lol.

Do let yourself get down though, you never know what these cats are thinking.
Maybe you could go win a white belt tourney and prove yourself.
If nothing else it will give you the affirmation that you are worth more than they're giving you credit for sir.

Alas I will not be winning any contests. I am too old to ever get very good. At 64, I am 17 years older than the next oldest guy in my gym, not to mention the multitude of injuries I have sustained over many decades of sport, which slow me down. So that is not my objective. I am training for my physical and mental health. However, I am human and experience emotions like everybody else. My kids are also dumbfounded, even tho they can beat me quite easily, they can see that I am better than some newer guys that did get a stripe.

 

[StonedLemur]

Alas I will not be winning any contests. I am too old to ever get very good. At 64, I am 17 years older than the next oldest guy in my gym, not to mention the multitude of injuries I have sustained over many decades of sport, which slow me down. So that is not my objective. I am training for my physical and mental health. However, I am human and experience emotions like everybody else. My kids are also dumbfounded, even tho they can beat me quite easily, they can see that I am better than some newer guys that did get a stripe.

Ok, so it sounds like a man to man chat with the instructor is in order sir.

 

[Elvis.]

But you wouldnt not give a 64 year old man a stripe to test his fortitude.

I am not good at bjj truthfully. Even tho I am very fit, I dont have the flexibility, mobility and athletisism of days gone by. I also have very hard time in a roll being able to utilize all I have been drilling in my classes 3 x per week for 16 months. My sub defense is quite good tho all things considered. Can roll with new blue belts and usually not get subbed.

I have to wonder if there is something else going on. My kids are very well behaved and respectful. Just a bit baffled...

I probably would , but I’m not there so it’s hard for me to judge
Guys do get obsessed with the idea of not getting tapped , I am one of those people but when I started in 1999 it was a different mentality, everyone was nuts , and there was no clock so the only way to end a roll was to tap the other guy
Nowadays people get so obsessed with the idea of not tapping that other parts of their game start to stagnate because they won’t open up a bit

 

[Smato_rules]

I train with a guy who’s 61 and a purple belt; he started when he was 55 or so. He’s hard to deal with on the mats, but he is always pissed he doesn’t pick things up as quickly as the young bloods. Another guy is 70 and a four stripe or so white belt and same thing. Just find what you pick up easily and run with it. Most stuff isn’t going to work with your age, but maybe half guard and pressure passing like folding or over under double under stuff would work. Check out Mauricio Gomes YouTube page, he has some cool older guy content and is your age and rolls daily. Have fun man it’s cool you’re doing this at your age.

 

[ChickenBrother]

I have been training BJJ for 16 months, usually 3 times per week other than when I go on a 2 week vacation (twice) and missed 2 or 3 weeks about 4 times due to injury.

Just had grading. I did not get a strip. I have no stripes.

I am 64, was 62 when started bjj. Virtually no prior martial arts experience. I have raced bicycles and run ultras for decades and am still fit and have been all my life. I still have a 6 pack and am very strong.

Truthfully picking up these moves and implementing them in a roll is very hard for me. Younger guys come in and in 3-6 months surpass me.

My question is: Is it reasonable for a guy to train for well over a year usually 3 times per week and not even get 1 strip?

2nd Q: Should a guy of my age, 64 with clearly no long term future in the sport

Not quite your age but 50 year old fellow older guy here with about 8 years BJJ. Not that focusing on belt or comparing yourself to teammates is the right approach (it's not), but this does sound unusual. To help us better understand the situation:

-How much do you weigh?
-What is the approximate age and weight of the blue belts you're comparing yourself to, with whom you can roll without getting submitted?
-In general, do you get along with and support your teammates i.e. are you a good training partner?
-How often does your gym do promotions, and across the gym, what is the average time for each stripe and to blue belt?

 

[CaliforniaKid]

They might be being cunts due to your age.
Like @Elvis said, they can be seeing how you react and or seeing if you quit.
Its the gentle art but there's still jock mentality involved in any gym/dojo etc.

I would be a little pissed off myself but that would just drive me to get submissions on everyone I could lol.

Do let yourself get down though, you never know what these cats are thinking.
Maybe you could go win a white belt tourney and prove yourself.
If nothing else it will give you the affirmation that you are worth more than they're giving you credit for sir.

Alas I will not be winning any contests. I am too old to ever get very good. At 64, I am 17 years older than the next oldest guy in my gym, not to mention the multitude of injuries I have sustained over many decades of sports, which slow me down. So that is not my objective. I am training for my physical and mental health. However, I am human and experience emotions like everybody else. My kids are also dumbfounded, even tho they can beat me quite easily, they can see that I am better than some newer guys that did get a stripe

Not quite your age but 50 year old fellow older guy here with about 8 years BJJ. Not that focusing on belt or comparing yourself to teammates is the right approach (it's not), but this does sound unusual. To help us better understand the situation:

-How much do you weigh?
-What is the approximate age and weight of the blue belts you're comparing yourself to, with whom you can roll without getting submitted?
-In general, do you get along with and support your teammates i.e. are you a good training partner?
-How often does your gym do promotions, and across the gym, what is the average time for each stripe and to blue belt?

6'0" 175lbs. No fat. Have 6 pack.
There is only 1 blue belt that doesnt sub me. 5 ft 8 175 pounds. Another 6 ft 5 195lb bb can sub me 35% of the time. Otherwise, the other blues can easily sub me. There is a new white belt, just got 2 stripes that can sub me usually within 3 to 4 minutes. My sub defense is pretty good as Ive been training 16 months. My offence is very very weak as I cant figure out how to impliment the moves I learn in training into my rolls.

I would say I am a very good training partner. I am 100% certain all my partners would agree with that.

We do promotions twice a year. I cant really comment on time between belts or strips. Really dependant on the person.
It seems to me an older guy who is putting in the effort i.e. 3 x per week would be given some leeway. Not that stripes should be given away but a total snubs feels weird.
50 means starting at 42. Starting at 62 is very different.

 

[ChickenBrother]

6'0" 175lbs. No fat. Have 6 pack.
There is only 1 blue belt that doesnt sub me. 5 ft 8 175 pounds. Another 6 ft 5 195lb bb can sub me 35% of the time. Otherwise, the other blues can easily sub me. There is a new white belt, just got 2 stripes that can sub me usually within 3 to 4 minutes. My sub defense is pretty good as Ive been training 16 months. My offence is very very weak as I cant figure out how to impliment the moves I learn in training into my rolls.

I would say I am a very good training partner. I am 100% certain all my partners would agree with that.

We do promotions twice a year. I cant really comment on time between belts or strips. Really dependant on the person.
It seems to me an older guy who is putting in the effort i.e. 3 x per week would be given some leeway. Not that stripes should be given away but a total snubs feels weird.
50 means starting at 42. Starting at 62 is very different.

As @StonedLemur suggested, best thing would be to have a private talk with your instructor and find out what's going on - only he knows the real story. And clearly this is leaving a bad taste in your mouth, which is understandable and which should be of concern to your instructor.

Respect for starting BJJ at 62 and I get the "setting the example for your kids" angle. My kids are 6 and 8 and they're one of the reasons I started training again. I also started training wrestling and Judo again last year, which I did in high school and college but have not trained regularly for many years.

But if I may, from the tone of your posts, it sounds like you're using your age and stiffness, old injuries, etc. as excuses for lower standards and being "too old to ever get very good," which is a self-defeating attitude and never a good look. Being older means your absolute ceiling is lower but as long as you're trying your best and being a good training partner, it shouldn't define your entire training experience.

I'm almost always the oldest guy in my class and when I'm not, I'm often the smallest at 170 lbs. The oldest guy at our gym is 57 but he's a 260 lbs sasquatch with retard strength. He started training around the same time I did and he and I are both purple belts and hang with guys 10 and 20 years younger. Last month we had a 59 year old 4 stripe blue belt over from our affiliate gym who is my size and he was very spry, passed my guard and was giving me all I could handle.

Regular stretching outside of class WILL improve your flexibility and will make you more fluid in rolling and more resistant to injury, both of which are very important for older athletes. But stop comparing yourself to others and just focus on applying yourself and enjoying the training and that promotion will come.

 

[StonedLemur]

As @StonedLemur suggested, best thing would be to have a private talk with your instructor and find out what's going on - only he knows the real story. And clearly this is leaving a bad taste in your mouth, which is understandable and which should be of concern to your instructor - his job is to provide appropriate instruction and feedback to enable you to get better.

Respect for starting BJJ at 62 and I get the "setting the example for your kids" angle. My kids are 6 and 8 and they're one of the reasons I started training again. I also started training wrestling and Judo again last year, which I did in high school and college but have not trained regularly for many years.

But if I may, from the tone of your posts, it sounds like you're using your age and stiffness, old injuries, etc. as excuses for lower standards and being "too old to ever get very good," which is a self-defeating attitude and never a good look. Being older means your absolute ceiling is lower but as long as you're trying your best and being a good training partner, it shouldn't define your entire training experience.

I'm almost always the oldest guy in my class and when I'm not, I'm often the smallest at 170 lbs. The oldest guy at our gym is 57 but he's a 260 lbs sasquatch with retard strength. He started training around the same time I did and he and I are both purple belts and still hang with guys 10 and 20 years younger than us. Last month we had a 59 year old 4 stripe blue belt over from our affiliate gym who is my size and he was very spry and passed my guard and was giving me all I could handle.

Regular stretching outside of class WILL improve your flexibility and that will make you more fluid in rolling and more resistant to injury, both of which are very important for older athletes. But stop comparing yourself to others and just focus on applying yourself and enjoying the training and that promotion will come.

Thanks sir.

 

[Söze Aldo]

Incredible and great inspiration. Here I thought I was behind the curve starting BJJ in my 30s.

 

[TheMaster]

I have been training BJJ for 16 months, usually 3 times per week other than when I go on a 2 week vacation (twice) and missed 2 or 3 weeks about 4 times due to injury.

Just had grading. I did not get a strip. I have no stripes.

I am 64, was 62 when started bjj. Virtually no prior martial arts experience. I have raced bicycles and run ultras for decades and am still fit and have been all my life. I still have a 6 pack and am very strong.

Truthfully picking up these moves and implementing them in a roll is very hard for me. Younger guys come in and in 3-6 months surpass me.

My question is: Is it reasonable for a guy to train for well over a year usually 3 times per week and not even get 1 strip?

2nd Q: Should a guy of my age, 64 with clearly no long term future in the sport

Unless you have absolutely zero coordination then training for almost a year and half, 3x a week and not to even award you a single stripe is ridiculous, I dont care what martial art you are doing.
You should've been given at least one stripe after a year just for showing commitment, turning up and training that often, especially at that age. Grades are frequently bs anyway, and often more about motivation and encouragement. Sounds like the instructor doesnt want you there for whatever reason, maybe they want to attract the younger crowd and maybe some young women and you don't fit the mold.

My advise would be to find another gym, give them a trial for a month without saying too much about your prior training and say you want them to assess your grade and see what they say. If they also say "sorry bud, you're a no stripe white" then thats fair but if they say, "you are about 3 stripe" then you know more clearly it is bs where you are now.

 

[TheMaster]

I also started training wrestling and Judo again last year, which I did in high school and college but have not trained regularly for many years.

What was it like getting back into the Judo after so many years? Its something I've been considering for a while, but I dont know about all those throws and the intensity of Judo being so much agreeable now like it was when I was younger. I really can see how a lot of older Judokas switch to the more sedate and relaxed pace of BJJ and the newaza focus as they get a bit older.

 

[maximus__]

But you wouldnt not give a 64 year old man a stripe to test his fortitude.

I am not good at bjj truthfully. Even tho I am very fit, I dont have the flexibility, mobility and athletisism of days gone by. I also have very hard time in a roll being able to utilize all I have been drilling in my classes 3 x per week for 16 months. My sub defense is quite good tho all things considered. Can roll with new blue belts and usually not get subbed.

I have to wonder if there is something else going on. My kids are very well behaved and respectful. Just a bit baffled...

Whilst I still think you should have received some sort of stripe or two already from what you are saying, it sounds like you might be too defensive. You said yourself you can defend well, but don;t really get your own techniques going. A good coach would have told you this already, but you need to open up and go for techniques to progress.

I am a pretty defensive JJ player, but my defence comes from escaping submissions and pins to go into attacking. A lot of older guys fall into the trap of an almost shut down type of JJ.
Sure they don't get subbed, but nothing really happens during the roll because they just go full defensive. I don't know enough about how you do JJ and I am just speculating because I had this conversation with someone today, but start going for techniques even if you lose. Eventually you will start catching things and those stripes/belts will come (coach depending).

 

[ChickenBrother]

What was it like getting back into the Judo after so many years? Its something I've been considering for a while, but I dont know about all those throws and the intensity of Judo being so much agreeable now like it was when I was younger. I really can see how a lot of older Judokas switch to the more sedate and relaxed pace of BJJ and the newaza focus as they get a bit older.

Honestly getting back into Judo at 50 has been great and I wish I could have done it earlier. The only reason I didn't is because there are no Judo gyms near us and the one we go to (which is great) is an hour and a half away during the week but 45 minutes away on Saturday mornings. So my son does the Saturday kids class and I do the adult class right afterwards. I also try to do 1 day/week of adult wrestling class at my son's wrestling gym which is pretty hardcore, on top of 2-3 days/week of BJJ.

I understand everyone is different but I firmly believe the "I'm too old for this shit" mantra is more excuse making than actual limitation. Of course a 50 year old isn't going to be competitive at the Olympics, but you have to be seriously broken to be physically unable to train Judo as a hobbyist. I did randori today and threw and was thrown by guys 20 years younger and no issues. As long as you're not doing stupid shit like no selling a throw to the point of torqueing your leg backwards or posting on your head, you're generally going to be OK. If other guy catches you clean, just go with it and let him throw you onto your back on a nice soft mat. And you just got thrown by a younger guy who is a lower belt than you - I'm OK with that. Just get up, congratulate him on a nice throw and keep going. And if you're me, you ask him after randori how he set up that throw, so you can pay that MFer back next class lol.

There are guys my age and older in the class and some of them choose not to do live randori and that's OK too. But the gym has a few coral belts pushing 80 and even they do newaza and occasionally throw and get thrown to demonstrate moves.

To be clear, there is no fucking way I'd survive the college Judo practices I did 30 years ago now, getting bounced off the ceiling by national level guys. But randori with dedicated hobbyists (especially if you've done Judo before) is IMO no more injury prone than BJJ, as long as you have good training partners and are willing to check your ego.