It's 3:44 a.m., and I'm already up and excited because Episode 3 of BJJ for Old Men is now available! Yesterday afternoon, I came home from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after a couple of great rounds, still wearing my gi, feeling grateful, and excited to record this week's podcast. At 65 years old, with two hip replacements, every opportunity I have to get on those mats, learn something, and enjoy training with good people is something I genuinely appreciate. And speaking of good people, this week's episode features a conversation with my good friend Armand, a brown belt at McHugh BJJ. One of the things I've come to appreciate after 56 years in martial arts is that some of our greatest lessons come from the people we meet along the way. Different ages, different belts, different experiences, but a shared love for learning and growing. In this episode, I also share a few updates about my own training, my continued journey in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, and the excitement surrounding our new Living Strong Family Martial Arts program here in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. But more than anything, this podcast is about us. Those of us who are 40, 50, 60, and beyond, who still love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and want to find ways to keep training safely and enjoying the journey. 🎙️ And here's my invitation to you! If you're 40 or older and training BJJ, I'd love to hear your story and perhaps have you join me for a future conversation. And if you're a younger instructor who teaches older practitioners, I'd love to learn what you're doing to help them stay safe and continue progressing. We all have something to contribute, and we all have something to learn. A special thank you to Armand for sharing his time and friendship, and to everyone who's been supporting this little community we're building together. Grab your morning coffee, enjoy the conversation, and let me know what you think. I'd especially love to hear how your own training has changed as you've gotten older.

I happened to come across a post where someone asked that very question. They weren't criticizing BJJ. They were genuinely curious why earning a black belt often takes 9 or 10 years, sometimes longer, compared to other martial arts. I wanted to leave a comment, but before I could respond, the post disappeared from my feed! 😂 So I thought I'd share my answer here. I'm 65 years old. I've been training in martial arts for 56 years and teaching full-time for almost 30 years. I'm a 6th-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, and I've been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2010. And here's something interesting. I've been a purple belt in BJJ for nine years! This is what I know. I spent years as a professional dancer, and when it came to traditional stand-up martial arts, I was physically gifted. Movement came naturally to me. I could execute techniques beautifully, demonstrate forms, and present movement at a very high level. But did that necessarily mean I could apply everything effectively against a resisting opponent? Did it mean I fully understood every concept and principle behind those movements? Not necessarily. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been a different experience. In BJJ, there's really nowhere to hide. You can't hide behind how beautifully you execute a technique, how much you know intellectually, how athletic you look, or how impressive your movements appear. Eventually, you have to make it work against another human being who is actively trying to stop you. And let me tell you, that's HARD! So much of our training involves live resistance. You're constantly testing your understanding of timing, leverage, positioning, pressure, balance, and control. You might understand a technique intellectually. You might demonstrate it beautifully with a cooperative partner. But can you execute it against someone who knows what you're attempting and is doing everything they can to prevent it? That's an entirely different level of understanding. And in my experience, that's one of the reasons earning a black belt in BJJ takes so long.

Happy BJJ for Old Men Wednesday, everyone! This morning, I finished producing our second episode of the BJJ for Old Men podcast, and I'm excited to share it with you! Yesterday was a great day on the mats for me. I trained two classes, no-gi followed by gi, got in some challenging rounds of randori, and afterward had the opportunity to sit down for a little chat with my training partner and friend, Tom. Now, here's what makes this conversation special. Tom recently returned from a jiu-jitsu tournament in Nashville with TWO gold medals! 🥇🥇 We talked about his experience competing, what motivates him to continue challenging himself, and some of the things he does to stay healthy and safe while training as he gets older. At 65 years old, with two hip replacements, these conversations mean a great deal to me. I'm constantly learning from the people I share the mats with, regardless of their rank, age, or experience. And that's really what BJJ for Old Men is about. Sharing our experiences, learning from one another, respecting our bodies, and finding ways to continue enjoying this wonderful art for as long as we can. Some of us compete. Some of us don't. We each have our own reasons for stepping onto the mats, and every one of those journeys has value. ☕ Grab yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy this week's conversation with Tom. I've shared the YouTube video right below. I'd love to hear from you, too. What keeps you motivated to continue training as you get older? And what have you learned about taking care of yourself along the way? Remember, gentlemen, the goal is to enjoy the journey and keep coming back to the mats. Keep training. Keep learning. Keep living strong! 💜🥋