In episode 396 of The Strenuous Life Podcast I talk BJJ longevity, weight training, practicing at home, and optimal training methods with BJJ old-timer Mike Mahaffey. I think there are a TON of valuable takehome lessons here for anyone who trains jiu-jitsu, and ESPECIALLY the over-40 crowd! 

Look for The Strenuous Life Podcast anywhere you get your podcasts from.

Also check out BJJ Foundations, the brand new Grapplearts instructional that gives you the best jiu-jitsu technique and training method curriculum I’ve ever seen at https://www.grapplearts.com/foundations

Cheers,
Stephan Kesting

It’s important to have a healthy mindset in your training as you get older. Set realistic goals for yourself and achieve them to keep yourself safe and motivated.

The shoulder clamp and the reverse armbar are fantastic attacks that you can use to submit a younger, faster, more athletic opponent from the closed guard. First the shoulder clamp grip stops him from moving around and standing up to break your guard. And then the reverse armbar is the first submission in a highly efficient attack series that you can use from the shoulder clamp.

This is from the brand new instructional BJJ for Old F***ks featuring Rob Biernacki and Stephan Kesting. It is available in online streaming, physical DVD, and/or app formats right now at https://www.grapplearts.com/oldguard

Check it out and let me know what you think!
Stephan Kesting

If you’re playing half guard and your opponent gets chest to chest on you, especially if he also gets a crossface and an underhook, then you’re in a LOT of trouble. He’s going to put a TON of pressure on you and make your life absolutely miserable. In this section from the BJJ for Old F***s instructional (https://www.grapplearts.com/oldguard) Rob Biernacki shows you exactly how you can use a series of upper body frames including your hands, your elbows, your wrists, and even your torso itself to keep his weight off of you.

Framing like this gives you the space you need to move into an underhook and work towards his back, or bring your legs back into play to achieve a knee shield guard or some variation of an open guard.

If you found this useful then here are a couple more videos on Youtube that might be of some use as well…

BJJ for Old F***s , How to Keep Training Safely and Effectively After Age 40

Key Tips for Older Grapplers to Stay Effective in BJJ

Why Older Grapplers Should Play Seated Guard.

Good luck with your training!

Stephan Kesting
Grapplearts.com

When you’re doing BJJ over 40 and want to stay competitive on the mats (or at least not get injured) it’s time to start doing things differently… Check out https://www.grapplearts.com/oldguard for more information about BJJ for Old F***s which is now available in online streaming and physical DVD format.

BJJ for Old F***s is your guide to surviving and thriving in BJJ after age 40.

This instructional focuses on the guard position. It includes the concepts, techniques, combinations, strategies and drills you need as an older grappler to hold your own against and even dominate younger, more athletic opponents.

Every technique BJJ for Old F***s is chosen to work to be as low risk and high reward as possible because we know that if you’re injured you can’t train.

This instructional gives you the very best shortcuts gleaned from 55 years of jiu-jitsu training (and 70 years of martial arts training) by the two authors combined.

I think grapplers age 40 and above will get TREMENDOUS value from the this instructional.

WHO ARE ROB BIERNACKI AND STEPHAN KESTING?

Your guides in the BJJ for Old F***s instructional are, Rob Biernacki (46) and Stephan Kesting (52), both of whom are very experienced BJJ black belts

Rob Biernacki is a BJJ black belt, and head instructor of Island Top Team. He’s among the forefront of the new wave of BJJ instructors, using sports science, biomechanics, kinesiology and a conceptual approach to the martial arts.

Rob has traveled to train with Marcelo Garcia, Caio Terra, Eddie Cummings, Paul Schreiner, and Henry Akins, Ryan Hall, Dean Lister, Jake McKenzie, Ricardo Liborio, and Charles McCarthy from ATT from whom he received his black belt.

He frequently teaches seminars at academies throughout North America and is sought after for private instruction by other BJJ instructors seeking cutting edge information.

He has also coached high level competitors like BJJ legend Yuri Simoes, Bill Cooper, Kyle Boehm and others to victory in high level competition.

Stephan Kesting is a BJJ black belt who has trained for over 40 years in the martial arts, including many grappling arts like BJJ, sambo, judo, submission wrestling and shoot wrestling.

His Youtube BJJ videos have over 64 million views. He’s produced 36 BJJ instructionals, and has published 3 books on the topic.

Stephan has worked with Rob Biernacki on a number of very successful instructionals including The BJJ Formula, The Modern Leglock Formula, The No Gi de la Riva Formula and The Submission Formula.

The underlying theme of their previous work is scientific and biomechanically-based approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These instructionals have been described by many as the best, most useful instructionals they had ever seen.

The BJJ for Old F***s instructional will definitely improve your skills, reduce your injuries, and improve your longevity on the mat. And help you tap out lots of young punks. What’s better than that?

https://www.grapplearts.com/oldguard

Thanks so much
Stephan Kesting

The BJJ for Old F***s instructional with Rob Biernacki and Stephan Kesting is available at https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-for-old-fs/. This 7.5 hour instructional available in DVD, online streaming, and app formats and has has 6 main sections, including
1, BJJ Concepts for Older Grapplers
2, How to Use the Seated Guard Against Standing Opponents
3, How to Use the Seated Guard Against Kneeling Opponents
4, How to Use the Recumbent Guard Against Kneeling Opponents
5, How to Use the Recumbent Guard Against Standing Opponents (If You Really Have To), and
6, How to Use the Closed Guard Against Younger, More Athletic Opponents

I think grapplers age 40 and above will get TREMENDOUS value from the this instructional. Take me up on my unconditional 365 day guarantee if you get it and don’t agree!

Stephan Kesting