Journal

Scrambling is great BJJ when you’re young. When you’re 57, it can become a terrible strategy. I’m not saying older grapplers shouldn’t scramble, because I still do, but somewhere around 50 I realised I had to stop making chaos the foundation of my game. These days, if...

For years, we’ve been told the same story on the mats: "Technique conquers all." We love the idea that a perfectly timed sweep or a micro-adjustment can negate a 20kg weight advantage or a 20-year age gap. But if you’re a grappler over 40, you’ve likely felt the...

Why Techniques Alone Won’t Improve Your BJJ When I started Jiu Jitsu, I did what most people do. I focused on techniques instead of focussing on BJJ principles. I’d learn something in class, try to remember it, maybe hit it once or twice in sparring, and then move on...

Old Man Strength Isn’t a Myth I’ve been told more times than I can remember that I’ve got “old man strength.” It’s usually during or after a round with someone in their twenties. They look slightly confused. They can’t quite work out why they felt pinned or stalled...

Coming Back to Jiu Jitsu in my Forties I didn’t start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at twenty. I first stepped onto the mat at around thirty. I trained for a while, then life took over. Work, responsibility, other priorities. I stepped away. I came back around ten years later....

The 60% Rule: Why Training Smarter Beats Training Harder After 40 Most of us pick up an idea early in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training, especially in BJJ over 40, without ever really stopping to question it. The idea is that improvement comes primarily from training...

The Longevity Protocol: How to Train BJJ for Decades Without Breaking Down Most people don’t stop training because they lose interest, they stop because their body gives up before their spirit does. Over the years I’ve seen it happen a number of times. Guys who love...