For Jiu-Jitsu practitioners over 40
who sometimes say, “It’s just for fun.”
You still enjoy training.
But maybe… you still want to grow.
I started jiu-jitsu at forty-three.
Recently, I went back to the place in Japan where it all began.
Running through those quiet streets, I found myself thinking about the mat —
and the version of me it reflects.
When I was a white belt, I cared too much about winning.
Later, I learned how to pretend.
Pretend to understand.
Pretend to be calm.
Sometimes even pretend I didn’t care.
Saying “it’s just fun” isn’t wrong.
For many people, that’s exactly what it is.
But for me, there were moments
when that sentence helped me avoid something —
my own limits.
This video isn’t about technique.
It’s about humility.
About continuing to train after 40,
even when you see things about yourself you don’t like.
If you only train twice a week,
those two days matter.
Not to prove something.
But to understand yourself a little more clearly.
—
If you’ve been following this Over 40 Jiu-Jitsu journey,
you know this isn’t the first time I’ve had to face my ego on the mat.
You might also resonate with:
The Reality of Starting Jiu-Jitsu Too Late
https://youtu.be/trCMBEnImw4
The Struggles of a 40-Year-Old White Belt in Jiu-Jitsu
https://youtu.be/3OmViYebrp0
What Happened When I Tried ADCC at 50
https://youtu.be/wpGoEFes5Wo
—
For me, what I saw today was ‘Patience’.
I got pinned for 5 minutes straight,
but I didn’t give up.
What did you see on the mat today?
One word is enough.
If you’re walking this path too,
continuing, even when it feels uncomfortable,
you’re always welcome here.
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Oss.
