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.

Instead of letting your opponent establish a dominant guard you should either establish your passing position or create movement and then pass guard retention movements. From https://www.grapplearts.com/oldpass

Here are the techniques, strategies and drilling methods that’ll keep your guard passing safe and effective into your 40’s and 50’s. From https://www.grapplearts.com/oldpass by Stephan Kesting and Rob Biernacki.

Also available in app format for your iPhone and/or Android device in the FREE Grapplearts BJJ Master App. More info about that here: https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp

Good luck with your training!
Stephan Kesting

Extremely flexible grapplers can make your life hell from the bottom – here’s how to smash their legs and pass their guards! From https://www.grapplearts.com/oldpass
00:00 Flexible Guard Players
00:19 The Stack Pass
04:20 Leg Drag Pass

Tripod guard passing was inspired by Demian Maia passeing guard in MMA. It’s a highly efficient and stable guard pass suitable for older grapplers in both gi and no gi. https://www.grapplearts.com/oldguard for more info about how to dominate and smash younger grapplers on the mat without throwing your back out, losing your breath, or tearing a hamstring.

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

Guard passing advice for older grapplers in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
More at https://www.grapplearts.com/pressure