I’ve done one competition, and may do another here and there. The thing I worry about is injury, I have seen some nasty ones at competitions. People don’t seem to have the same respect for their partners as they do in your own gym.
They won't have respect and it can be dangerous. I see guys get seriously injured all the time. It's amazing what people will do to each other for a $10 medal.
57 years young, going on my sixth year, with the same dojo. Not planning on doing any competition, and trust me when I tell you,” I will not have no kind of syndrome “. Even if I never reach BB because of this, it’s okay, remember when you go to class everyone is doing the same thing, from Wh - Br, weather it be new stuff or refreshing the old. To compete or not, just enjoy JJ. OSS
Great video as usual I can only speak from experience at 58 years old, brown belt. I think everyone should compete at least once in their life. I’ve competed from white belt to brown belt and having that to look forward to has kept me in the gym, lifting weights and attending class at the school. be nervous, be scared, train hard and you will thank yourself later.
A week shy of 51. I've competed a few times and will have next competition two weeks from now. I never felt the pressure to compete but liked the idea of doing something so many are not doing. I still think it is a choice and your path may vary.
I'm good, strong and have very good technique. You couldn't force me to compete because you said so. My decision to compete is mine and mine alone. You should push all your students regardless.
Loved you compared sports with music. 22 yrs playing guitar and only 3 in BJJ. I've only performed live a handful of times, it's nice but I enjoy more jamming with my friends. Too much pressure and sometimes takes away the fun of playing. Same thing with competition, totally get it.
I agree 100% with your statements. We organize in-house competitions so you dont have to compete at a big scary venue. I invite all to compete though. Another thing I encourage people to do is train at another gym (as a visitor). Its not quite competing, but still matching your game to somebody you dont know.
Especially for us older guys, competing is great. Especially when we stay in our age bracket. Hard part now is finding matches as a masters 2/senior blue belt. Makes me wish I competed more at white. The first comp was crazy, way more anxiety than the second when I knew more or less what to expect. Cheers 🤙
Did my first competition before promotion to blue belt just to stress test myself a little. Won one, lost one. I lost because I encountered a position that I hadn't trained for. So I hold my head high. I did jiu jitsu under pressure -- mission accomplished. I may do another at some point but I'm in no hurry. I'm in my mid 40s so I'm not training for glory or recognition -- just health & fun. I also feel good knowing some of the younger guys & gals I train with do very well at local & regional competitions. I feel that I have a small part in their success, even if it's just to be their sparring partner for an easy round to work on their offense, & I am happy for them.
I agree with that. I'm a 60 year old brown belt. When I started bjj I was 51 and competed in a half a dozen tournaments in my first 2 years. However now locally it's not really possible. When I was white and blue I was either doing the open age or masters, but masters is 30+ so I'm still fighting 30 something year olds as a 50 something year old. It's hard to get a good read on your skill level against guys that are 20 years younger than you. I have been to World Masters in Las Vegas 3 times, twice as a blue and once as a brown belt. Those 5 year age brackets are much better to test your skill level. It's good to test the "Imposter Syndrome" and see if you really do match up to others in your age bracket. All of my brackets were small because there are not a lot of late 50 year olds as blues and especially browns because they would have had to start training in there late 40s which is rare. I did ok, 3rd, then 2nd and 3rd in absolute of the tournaments as blue and 2nd as brown.
As a 50 year old blue, I probably going to do my first in April. I have no intention to do it regularly. I do have a buddy that is a white and he asked me to join with him. He's in his mid 30's. Prior to now, I was worried about injury and losing overtime in my profession. That OT is gone, so I have no reason not to. We'll see how it goes. In this one, the "masters" is 30 and above. If I have a good time, I may do more than one. Who knows.
Im a family man with young kids. I’m 44. Started at 43 and close to my blue belt. Relatively fit. Not really afraid to compete. Here are the reasons I have not competed. 1) I have never really had an interest to compete. 2) don’t want to get injured and loose training time. 3) when the thought enters my mind, I feel like I’m not ready, with the thought, let me just get a little better and I’ll think more about it. 4) Related to 3, the imposter syndrome feeling is strong with me. lol. Any advice?
Nailed me at the end - 57 this month - old athlete with tons of injuries - 3 stripe purple doing different arts and competing since 1987 - don’t compete now so I can stay on the mats, and I still have a rib fracture right now, had broken nose twice and other injuries in jits - plenty of competition for me against young bucks in class and open mat.
Had my first competition last weekend at white belt, was extremely nervous before my first match and during it i was extremely dehydrated. My second match I felt way more in my zone and more comfortable in the match. I can’t wait to compete more I find competing is a great way to see where you are in jiu jitsu and see where your flaws are.
I'm 55 and I been doing jujitsu for about 3 to 4 months. My instructor told me he wants to get me in competition. I'm probably going to do it in about 1 to 2 years.
I'm 52 and just got my blue belt. I competed at white 3 times. Best advice I can give you don't wait. Just go for it now. The sooner the better. I learned so much from each competition.
Great breakdown of the benefits of competing, I have and continue to compete at 52 years old, (training for pans as we speak)I have grown from the experience in ways I never thought possible, as well as my game improving exponentially with each new match, I agree with everything you had to say on the subject and I always encourage my training partners to compete at least a few times
48 (purple) now. started competing at 45 (white belt). I usually compete at 145-154 depending on the comp. Hard to get matches for my size/belt/age but I love it. I know it's not for everyone. I do it for fun and not for promotion although it makes it really easy for my professor to gauge where I am. Plus I walk away from each match with something to fix on Monday.
40 year old blue belt here.. I LOVE to compete.. I think you get better much faster after competing Since I’m older, I’m trying to get better faster and I think as competition accelerates the pace of growth. Plus my 10 year old son competes and to be able to do this together is such a blessing and bonding experience
46 when I started last year, with my 15 y/o son. We’ll be looking to compete later this year and I expect to love it. The risk/reward ratio isn’t there for me these days so no it’s not “worth it” but I’ll most likely love it anyway.
@@patriciomezcal6307yea getting a $5 dollar medal vs. potentially getting injured might not be worth it, but being able to compete with your son definitely is I watch parents push their kids all the time, yet they don’t even know what it’s like to step on the mat. For the parent, knowing how challenging it is to compete give you empathy for your children’s journey. For the kid, knowing the parents are right there with them gives them a sense of confidence that no matter what happens it will ok. Finally, I feel like for me, after a comp, regular training seems so much easier and slower. It’s the guys who never compete who go way too hard during training sessions 😂
I think of competing as a white belt however, I can’t even seem to get healthy enough just to even train consistently. They’re always an injury after another.
I put off competing until last year when I was a purple belt. I had convinced myself that it wasn’t anything to do with being scared but it definitely was! I’m glad I faced my fear but I’m not really in a hurry to do it again. It cost me a lot of money and I ended up with only one opponent in each competition, one of which was a guy I trained with! 😂
I haven't competed as I don't want to get injured. I've seen many competitions where people go "all-in" and even "cheat" to win, and the opponent is injured. For me, that's not my vibe and/or scene. I have nothing to prove.
"You win or you learn"... Maybe true, but if you win, you just landed one submission better than the dude. But you may have also gotten your guard passed a few times or failed to maintain a position. Winning doesn't mean perfection. You can always learn even if you win, yeah? Always seek and destroy your flaws, even if dominate the whole match. Oh, and I've never completed, so don't listen to me.
The question right at the end in the last 20 seconds was interesting. I gave it a few moments thought but it was an easy decision: If I was "required" to compete for a belt, I believe I would stay a white belt forever. If it were mandatory for participation, I would quit. Having started at 51 and just about to turn 54, I remain the least able in the room. I should probably wait until I submit somebody at my gym first before I think about competing.
I boxed in the USAF and we would compete within the gym and with nearby military facilities as well. I lost my first three bouts and came back to win 7 straight defeating two of those who previously won over me. I ended with 47 bouts and a winning record overall. I was usually shorter than my competition but stocky and hard to knock off my feet. I later competed in Judo and TaeKwonDo and 50 years later got into Krav Maga. Krav Maga is brutal and when we tested it was in parking lots, on sidewalks and on sand, gravel and in the woods. No cushy pads like BJJ. As far as BJJ, how many 73 year old, 175 lb white belts will show up? I think it's my injuries, back, knees and shoulder that inhibit my competition, life in general and war took its toll. In training there are some things my joints just won't permit me to do but I am hanging in there. I'm going to give myself at least a year or so before I try to compete.
I’ve gotten a few similar questions, so maybe we need to think about that. We sold out our San Diego event in April but I’ll be doing others in the future.
I’m 42. Have been doing jiujitsu since 2007. I compete regularly. My advice to young students, don’t feel pressured to compete, there’s no money in it, so only do it for personal reasons. I do it to stay sharp and calculated in high pressure situations. It’s paid off away from the mats.
I'm 42, just started a year ago but have done 7 competitions during that time at white belt. Competition really expands your perspective around relaxation and stress. Nothing off the mat in my day to day really rattles me anymore.
During my white belt journey (3,5 years) I participated in 13 tournaments, was able to win 5 of them. For me it was always about challenging myself, to resist the fear… 37 yo blue belt, roll twice a week, have family and a full time job.
At least for me, competitions are good checkpoints for progress. If I’m winning I know I’m training correctly. If I’m not then I know I need to explore adjustments. And it’s addictive.
I currently do judo (just started 2 months ago). I want to compete , but I do want to get to a level where I’m pretty decent before I compete. I may not compete until at least green or blue belt to be honest.
I am almost 42 and advanced white belt. It seems I am doing well now but I am not competing... And it slows down my progression in terms of grading... I am thinking of doing one but I am not fully motivated and it would be just to get my blue belt faster. Is it really worth it? I have lots of responsibility and enough pressure and stress at work... Just don't want to get injured either. Any thoughts or similar experiences to be shared?
I'm a 60 yr old purple belt and won't compete because I don't need a serious injury I just enjoy training with all my friends at the academy who respect my age and abilities but all respect to the guys who do compete, I think it should be a individual option.
In all things you have to behave as a business interest. Does the risk of injury and its cost outweigh the $3 medal? If you must fight then fight only to win. The prize is your life not someone putting on an event to use you like a rented mule for $3. Give me a break. At 27 years into BJJ I tire me pec, left bicep and left deltoid during a warmup round. Total bill was $47k plus change. Three months off work. To drive to work at 4:30 am with an hour commute each way.
Complete different perspective from you on internal vs external motivation. I feel that internal motivation is a better approach for guiding life, just my two cents.
Find me someone my age and weight sure. That is not going to happen. Dont really care what belt I ultimately end up at. After a lifetime of being assessed for everything under the sun I am done .
As a “younger” guy I’m not going to be competing, I don’t want another white belt trying to do that scissor takedown and destroying my knee for a $5 medal.
I went to a grappling industries comp my teammates were competing. I saw a wb Ezekiel choke a dude unconscious. Everybody in the crowd was quiet except coach of wb that one. Dude literally stood up and was clapping. I was like wow that coach a HUGE ego
I’m 54 and 91kg (203 lbs?). Is it unreasonable for me to only want to compete if I can be matched up with a similar aged and weight blue belt (as I am)?
Usually they match you up with age, weight, and skill. Sometimes tho with the smaller tournaments they might have to combine categories (like going against younger age bracket, or up one weight class). Bigger tournaments IBJJF usually have people in your age/weight/skills.
I'm 52, a 4SWB, having trained about 2-4 times per week for about 2 years, and about to get my blue belt. I don't feel like I have, or need to compete, but I think I will have wished that I had competed at white belt while I still had the chance.... so i plan on entering the competition coming up in 3 weeks or so. Wish me luck! 🤞
I've done many I think lol. I have pans coming up. I agree with alot of what you say. Compitition isn't for everyone but everyone should try atleast 1.
I’m a 48yo newbie (5 sessions so far). I will never compete, i’ll be the never ending hobbyist LOL. No i’m not scared. I just dont have the competetive drive anymore. I have no problem being submittted in chokes or locks, no anxiety at all for that. If i started bjj 30yrs ago, i would most certan compete. I had alot of a competetive mind when i was younger, but as a soon to be 50yo, it went away. And i’m all fine with that.
Ha ha. Don’t be so sure. When I started to, I had no issues with being sub’ed, but as time went on I did. Not cause of ego, but cause I wanted to see that I was leaning, growing and making progress.
While I do see the potential benefits of competing, as a 50 something white belt 1yr in i am looking to minimize opportunities for injury and looking to stay healthy and enjoy the bjj journey.
I’ve done one competition, and may do another here and there. The thing I worry about is injury, I have seen some nasty ones at competitions. People don’t seem to have the same respect for their partners as they do in your own gym.
They won't have respect and it can be dangerous. I see guys get seriously injured all the time. It's amazing what people will do to each other for a $10 medal.
At 51 I hear you.
I need my body for work, if I'm injured, I'm screwed.
In saying that, I am curious to do a competition because it scares me😅
57 years young, going on my sixth year, with the same dojo. Not planning on doing any competition, and trust me when I tell you,” I will not have no kind of syndrome “.
Even if I never reach BB because of this, it’s okay, remember when you go to class everyone is doing the same thing, from Wh - Br, weather it be new stuff or refreshing the old.
To compete or not, just enjoy JJ.
OSS
its a game... play it how ever you want to
90yo whitebelt here, competed last week. We were wheel burrowed on to the mat and then we rolled on the floor
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Keep going 🔥🔥🔥🤙🏾 oss
Great video as usual I can only speak from experience at 58 years old, brown belt. I think everyone should compete at least once in their life. I’ve competed from white belt to brown belt and having that to look forward to has kept me in the gym, lifting weights and attending class at the school. be nervous, be scared, train hard and you will thank yourself later.
A week shy of 51. I've competed a few times and will have next competition two weeks from now. I never felt the pressure to compete but liked the idea of doing something so many are not doing. I still think it is a choice and your path may vary.
I'm good, strong and have very good technique. You couldn't force me to compete because you said so. My decision to compete is mine and mine alone. You should push all your students regardless.
Loved you compared sports with music. 22 yrs playing guitar and only 3 in BJJ. I've only performed live a handful of times, it's nice but I enjoy more jamming with my friends. Too much pressure and sometimes takes away the fun of playing. Same thing with competition, totally get it.
I agree 100% with your statements. We organize in-house competitions so you dont have to compete at a big scary venue. I invite all to compete though. Another thing I encourage people to do is train at another gym (as a visitor). Its not quite competing, but still matching your game to somebody you dont know.
Especially for us older guys, competing is great. Especially when we stay in our age bracket. Hard part now is finding matches as a masters 2/senior blue belt. Makes me wish I competed more at white. The first comp was crazy, way more anxiety than the second when I knew more or less what to expect. Cheers 🤙
Did my first competition before promotion to blue belt just to stress test myself a little. Won one, lost one. I lost because I encountered a position that I hadn't trained for. So I hold my head high. I did jiu jitsu under pressure -- mission accomplished. I may do another at some point but I'm in no hurry. I'm in my mid 40s so I'm not training for glory or recognition -- just health & fun. I also feel good knowing some of the younger guys & gals I train with do very well at local & regional competitions. I feel that I have a small part in their success, even if it's just to be their sparring partner for an easy round to work on their offense, & I am happy for them.
I agree with that. I'm a 60 year old brown belt. When I started bjj I was 51 and competed in a half a dozen tournaments in my first 2 years. However now locally it's not really possible. When I was white and blue I was either doing the open age or masters, but masters is 30+ so I'm still fighting 30 something year olds as a 50 something year old. It's hard to get a good read on your skill level against guys that are 20 years younger than you. I have been to World Masters in Las Vegas 3 times, twice as a blue and once as a brown belt. Those 5 year age brackets are much better to test your skill level. It's good to test the "Imposter Syndrome" and see if you really do match up to others in your age bracket. All of my brackets were small because there are not a lot of late 50 year olds as blues and especially browns because they would have had to start training in there late 40s which is rare. I did ok, 3rd, then 2nd and 3rd in absolute of the tournaments as blue and 2nd as brown.
At 56, I am not willing to take the chance.
This is freaking awesome!
That's inspirational bro, 43 yr old blue belt...keep getting after it!
As a 50 year old blue, I probably going to do my first in April. I have no intention to do it regularly. I do have a buddy that is a white and he asked me to join with him. He's in his mid 30's. Prior to now, I was worried about injury and losing overtime in my profession. That OT is gone, so I have no reason not to. We'll see how it goes. In this one, the "masters" is 30 and above. If I have a good time, I may do more than one. Who knows.
Inspiring stuff right here.
Im a family man with young kids. I’m 44. Started at 43 and close to my blue belt. Relatively fit.
Not really afraid to compete. Here are the reasons I have not competed.
1) I have never really had an interest to compete.
2) don’t want to get injured and loose training time.
3) when the thought enters my mind, I feel like I’m not ready, with the thought, let me just get a little better and I’ll think more about it.
4) Related to 3, the imposter syndrome feeling is strong with me. lol.
Any advice?
Nailed me at the end - 57 this month - old athlete with tons of injuries - 3 stripe purple doing different arts and competing since 1987 - don’t compete now so I can stay on the mats, and I still have a rib fracture right now, had broken nose twice and other injuries in jits - plenty of competition for me against young bucks in class and open mat.
Had my first competition last weekend at white belt, was extremely nervous before my first match and during it i was extremely dehydrated. My second match I felt way more in my zone and more comfortable in the match. I can’t wait to compete more I find competing is a great way to see where you are in jiu jitsu and see where your flaws are.
I’m going to the PANs! 😂
Competing tomorrow, this couldn't have come out at a better time 😎 I'll update tomorrow.
Good luck man
🥇🔥💪 let's fucking go 😂
Took gold 😏
@@thomsutherland73🤼🥇🔥💪
I'm 55 and I been doing jujitsu for about 3 to 4 months. My instructor told me he wants to get me in competition. I'm probably going to do it in about 1 to 2 years.
I'm 52 and just got my blue belt. I competed at white 3 times. Best advice I can give you don't wait. Just go for it now. The sooner the better. I learned so much from each competition.
Great breakdown of the benefits of competing, I have and continue to compete at 52 years old, (training for pans as we speak)I have grown from the experience in ways I never thought possible, as well as my game improving exponentially with each new match, I agree with everything you had to say on the subject and I always encourage my training partners to compete at least a few times
48 (purple) now. started competing at 45 (white belt). I usually compete at 145-154 depending on the comp. Hard to get matches for my size/belt/age but I love it. I know it's not for everyone. I do it for fun and not for promotion although it makes it really easy for my professor to gauge where I am. Plus I walk away from each match with something to fix on Monday.
40 year old blue belt here.. I LOVE to compete.. I think you get better much faster after competing
Since I’m older, I’m trying to get better faster and I think as competition accelerates the pace of growth.
Plus my 10 year old son competes and to be able to do this together is such a blessing and bonding experience
46 when I started last year, with my 15 y/o son. We’ll be looking to compete later this year and I expect to love it. The risk/reward ratio isn’t there for me these days so no it’s not “worth it” but I’ll most likely love it anyway.
@@patriciomezcal6307yea getting a $5 dollar medal vs. potentially getting injured might not be worth it, but being able to compete with your son definitely is
I watch parents push their kids all the time, yet they don’t even know what it’s like to step on the mat.
For the parent, knowing how challenging it is to compete give you empathy for your children’s journey.
For the kid, knowing the parents are right there with them gives them a sense of confidence that no matter what happens it will ok.
Finally, I feel like for me, after a comp, regular training seems so much easier and slower. It’s the guys who never compete who go way too hard during training sessions 😂
I feel it’s more scared that someone will tear your joints without a second thought, like that Pat Shahgoli kid does a lot.
I think of competing as a white belt however, I can’t even seem to get healthy enough just to even train consistently. They’re always an injury after another.
This is how I feel at the moment. Still trying to get to the point of constantly rolling and still feeling okay.
I put off competing until last year when I was a purple belt. I had convinced myself that it wasn’t anything to do with being scared but it definitely was! I’m glad I faced my fear but I’m not really in a hurry to do it again. It cost me a lot of money and I ended up with only one opponent in each competition, one of which was a guy I trained with! 😂
I compete at 35 with full time job and 3 kids. I wouldn’t say I compete regularly but few times a year for sure
Hey, will we get AOS rashguards at some point?
I haven't competed as I don't want to get injured. I've seen many competitions where people go "all-in" and even "cheat" to win, and the opponent is injured. For me, that's not my vibe and/or scene. I have nothing to prove.
I'm doing it more for self defense more than anything.
"You win or you learn"... Maybe true, but if you win, you just landed one submission better than the dude. But you may have also gotten your guard passed a few times or failed to maintain a position. Winning doesn't mean perfection. You can always learn even if you win, yeah? Always seek and destroy your flaws, even if dominate the whole match.
Oh, and I've never completed, so don't listen to me.
The question right at the end in the last 20 seconds was interesting. I gave it a few moments thought but it was an easy decision:
If I was "required" to compete for a belt, I believe I would stay a white belt forever. If it were mandatory for participation, I would quit.
Having started at 51 and just about to turn 54, I remain the least able in the room. I should probably wait until I submit somebody at my gym first before I think about competing.
Imposter syndrome, every one of my promotions, I thought that I had to prove I deserved this, and made me work harder.
This is me. Testing for blue soon and torn on if I deserve to be testing
I boxed in the USAF and we would compete within the gym and with nearby military facilities as well. I lost my first three bouts and came back to win 7 straight defeating two of those who previously won over me. I ended with 47 bouts and a winning record overall. I was usually shorter than my competition but stocky and hard to knock off my feet. I later competed in Judo and TaeKwonDo and 50 years later got into Krav Maga. Krav Maga is brutal and when we tested it was in parking lots, on sidewalks and on sand, gravel and in the woods. No cushy pads like BJJ. As far as BJJ, how many 73 year old, 175 lb white belts will show up? I think it's my injuries, back, knees and shoulder that inhibit my competition, life in general and war took its toll. In training there are some things my joints just won't permit me to do but I am hanging in there. I'm going to give myself at least a year or so before I try to compete.
If you are driven to improve then competition is the way to go, but if you are happy to chill then… who gives a crap
43, blue belt, one comp,loved it. Planning to do 2 comps a day to help me progress into my game 🎮
thanks, you for quoting the bible. it's good to hear it.
I going to do an in house tournament . It's going to be my first competition. I never compete as a white belt 🙈🤼 let's see how it goes
when there will be a over 35 old grappler summit
I’ve gotten a few similar questions, so maybe we need to think about that. We sold out our San Diego event in April but I’ll be doing others in the future.
I can't say or am scared to say fearing oppression
I’m 42. Have been doing jiujitsu since 2007. I compete regularly. My advice to young students, don’t feel pressured to compete, there’s no money in it, so only do it for personal reasons. I do it to stay sharp and calculated in high pressure situations. It’s paid off away from the mats.
Respect. Im 42 and I just started 3 weeks ago.
I'm 42, just started a year ago but have done 7 competitions during that time at white belt. Competition really expands your perspective around relaxation and stress. Nothing off the mat in my day to day really rattles me anymore.
During my white belt journey (3,5 years) I participated in 13 tournaments, was able to win 5 of them. For me it was always about challenging myself, to resist the fear… 37 yo blue belt, roll twice a week, have family and a full time job.
At least for me, competitions are good checkpoints for progress. If I’m winning I know I’m training correctly. If I’m not then I know I need to explore adjustments. And it’s addictive.
I currently do judo (just started 2 months ago). I want to compete , but I do want to get to a level where I’m pretty decent before I compete. I may not compete until at least green or blue belt to be honest.
I am almost 42 and advanced white belt. It seems I am doing well now but I am not competing... And it slows down my progression in terms of grading... I am thinking of doing one but I am not fully motivated and it would be just to get my blue belt faster. Is it really worth it? I have lots of responsibility and enough pressure and stress at work... Just don't want to get injured either. Any thoughts or similar experiences to be shared?
I'm a 60 yr old purple belt and won't compete because I don't need a serious injury I just enjoy training with all my friends at the academy who respect my age and abilities but all respect to the guys who do compete, I think it should be a individual option.
I hope the old man course is something you will continue. Next year hopefully I can attend one of your courses.
In all things you have to behave as a business interest. Does the risk of injury and its cost outweigh the $3 medal? If you must fight then fight only to win. The prize is your life not someone putting on an event to use you like a rented mule for $3. Give me a break.
At 27 years into BJJ I tire me pec, left bicep and left deltoid during a warmup round. Total bill was $47k plus change. Three months off work. To drive to work at 4:30 am with an hour commute each way.
Complete different perspective from you on internal vs external motivation.
I feel that internal motivation is a better approach for guiding life, just my two cents.
Find me someone my age and weight sure. That is not going to happen. Dont really care what belt I ultimately end up at. After a lifetime of being assessed for everything under the sun I am done .
As a “younger” guy I’m not going to be competing, I don’t want another white belt trying to do that scissor takedown and destroying my knee for a $5 medal.
I went to a grappling industries comp my teammates were competing. I saw a wb Ezekiel choke a dude unconscious. Everybody in the crowd was quiet except coach of wb that one. Dude literally stood up and was clapping. I was like wow that coach a HUGE ego
I’m 54 and 91kg (203 lbs?). Is it unreasonable for me to only want to compete if I can be matched up with a similar aged and weight blue belt (as I am)?
Perfectly reasonable. World Masters in Vegas.
Usually they match you up with age, weight, and skill.
Sometimes tho with the smaller tournaments they might have to combine categories (like going against younger age bracket, or up one weight class).
Bigger tournaments IBJJF usually have people in your age/weight/skills.
I'm 52, a 4SWB, having trained about 2-4 times per week for about 2 years, and about to get my blue belt. I don't feel like I have, or need to compete, but I think I will have wished that I had competed at white belt while I still had the chance.... so i plan on entering the competition coming up in 3 weeks or so. Wish me luck! 🤞
I've done many I think lol. I have pans coming up. I agree with alot of what you say. Compitition isn't for everyone but everyone should try atleast 1.
Should Jiujitsu not just have a grading system the same as Judo? Don't compete and win...no grade
I’m 55, and I’m not seeing a lot of people my age at tournaments. If I wanna roll, I will probably have to go to another division.
I’m a 48yo newbie (5 sessions so far). I will never compete, i’ll be the never ending hobbyist LOL.
No i’m not scared. I just dont have the competetive drive anymore. I have no problem being submittted in chokes or locks, no anxiety at all for that.
If i started bjj 30yrs ago, i would most certan compete. I had alot of a competetive mind when i was younger, but as a soon to be 50yo, it went away. And i’m all fine with that.
Ha ha. Don’t be so sure. When I started to, I had no issues with being sub’ed, but as time went on I did. Not cause of ego, but cause I wanted to see that I was leaning, growing and making progress.
While I do see the potential benefits of competing, as a 50 something white belt 1yr in i am looking to minimize opportunities for injury and looking to stay healthy and enjoy the bjj journey.
One of my reasons for not competing too
The price of some competitions is ridiculous