Masters Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Competition

Do you know anything about Jiu Jitsu competition? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t, but I can almost guarantee you that you know very little about Masters level competition.

When I was in my competitive 20s, there was no Jiu Jitsu to compete in here, so I was in Taekwondo and then latterly, MMA. When you walked into an event then, there were lots of mean mugging looking blokes walking around, looking as tough as they could, psyching people out, strutting. No chat. All business.

Yesterday at the UK Masters I ran over to my opponents (late) and apologised. One of them said “Bloody hell I’m fighting Bas Rutten” (my doppelganger), and I made reference to the fact that we’re all bald. Then we fought and chatted a bit more after.

It’s not that you don’t want to win, it’s just that at 40+, if you’re not secure enough in yourself and your abilities to relieve yourself of all of the posturing and smile before your match, well, when will you be?

So going to a Masters event is a very different experience.

Now does that mean you’re happy when you lose? No, of course not. You can take it very seriously, and you can make sure that you perform at your very best. This is a very personal journey after all.

But all the crap? The mugging? The online stuff? Leave it to the young lads. Enjoy yourself.

Well done to Brian Tavey, UK Masters Champion in his very first event at the age of 52.

Very cool.

See you on the mat,

Barry