Are take downs worth the risk of injury?

[@Jitsover50]

If you find value in my content and want to help support the channel. Anything you buy through this link does just that! www.xmartial.com/products/jit... Use code JITSOVER50 you get 15% off! Or you can buy me a coffee www.buymeacoffee.com/aarrigo197q. I appreciate you all! Please like, share and if you haven't already subscribe.

[@KarmaFlight]

As a 56 year old purple belt, I generally start from the ground or knees. It's all a risk reward equation. I'm in this for fun so there is no need to get hurt.

[@Jitsover50]

Agreed! A fun form of self cultivation!

[@curraja14]

56 year old brown belt... same. Its just a game

[@danielsiriphongs]

My professor teased me for years about my lack of wrestling when rolling. One day, we were watching my son train wrestling and he joked that my son has more takedowns than I ever will. I laughed and said of course, being nearly 50, I’m not going to try and wrestle and shoot all the time. He thought about it for a bit, and then said, yeah, you’re right. He stopped giving me hard time after that. I train wrestling/judo in controlled games or rolls with trusted partners. But normal rolling, I’ll sit every time.

[@Jitsover50]

@@danielsiriphongs sometimes the problem with instructors is they are too young to understand fragility.

[@danielsiriphongs]

@@Jitsover50 indeed. Both of my instructors (father and son) have broken bodies from two decades of jiu jitsu, one is in his 50’s and the other in his early 30’s. They’re awesome people that trained way too hard coming up. The father is too broken to train, the son trains sporadically. They’re both trying to rehab things now. I made similar mistakes as a teenager/young adult when I started grappling. After coming back to grappling eight years ago, I don’t redline myself every session. I usually stay in the 40-60% range of intensity.

[@fredrlemos]

I always start sitting down to avoid injuries. As a 44-year-old practitioner, in 10+ years, I have never had any severe injuries, in contrast to my friends who always want to start standing up. My daily goal is to get out of the mat better than I came in, and it's working until now. Cheers from Rio de Janeiro!

[@thezendawg]

IMO I think you should still start standing to learn to pull guard

[@Jitsover50]

Not even 1 injury! That is amazing. You must have a smooth rolling style. Combined with not over training take downs. May you continue to avoid injury!

[@MarcSolomonScheimann]

I think many people learn Judo with the aim to be better at throwing someone to the ground. That’s fine, but I’d recommend for most martial artists (and especially those who practice BJJ) to do a little bit of Judo to learn how to fall safely. It’s such an important part of learning Judo, and even a few lessons give most people the foundation of falling safely. I think that, with approach of not resisting a throw - is the best way to avoid injuries in stand-up.

[@Jitsover50]

I agree falling safely is an art in itself.

[@dylan_krishna_777]

@@MarcSolomonScheimann you made a great comment there . Judo is about that , receiving the trow , trown your opponent and leave your ego at the door.

[@penicillin308]

I am getting up there in age and I prioritise Judo over BJJ and this is a great comment. Breakfalls are the single most important skill you can develop, especially as you get older. The more you train being thrown and breakfalling properly the less injuries you will take long term. BJJ typically teach break falls terribly - if at all. Learn Judo!

[@Jitsover50]

@@penicillin308 I was a skateboarder for many years so I know all about break falls. Plus they were a huge part of Kung fu. I still wouldn't advise Judo. lol. Since your partner is trying to throw you on your head and back.

[@TheDentist27]

Totally agree. I started judo this year and the ground doesn’t look so far away. Still going to avoid the stand up at Jj because it’s less controlled.

[@davidvincent3959]

I'm a 51yr old purple belt. I have wrestling and judo experience. I start from my knees/butt most of the time too. In my decades of experience, throws get people injured. I want to decrease my exposure to injuries and I think starting from the ground does just that. My two cents. I enjoy this channel as an oldie who rolls. Oss!

[@123JumpingJacks]

Same! 54 year old practitioner with plenty of mat time. I love wrestling. However, I love being able to wrestle again next week more than I love take downs.

[@fredrlemos]

Same here. I'm 44, brown belt, and I totally agree!

[@thereznospoon]

It’s great for self defense, just tell the bad people you don’t do takedowns. 😂

[@Jitsover50]

@@thereznospoon I'll just pepper spray and ride away at 30 mph on my electric skateboard.

[@123JumpingJacks]

@thereznospoon , I don't do this for self defense. I do it for friendships.

[@crzabjj]

50 YO Blue here. I completely agree. I drill takedowns often even do light sparring with trusted partners (meaning they give me the single and only resist) but never just open mat. I’d like to do this for at least another decade and I feel this is the best way to do that. Thanks for making the video 🤙🤙

[@Aaron-bd9sj]

I think it's good to practice wrestling with a trusted training partner, especially from a self defense pov. I have great training partners for wrestling. That said, when going live with people that aren't my trusted training partners, I ALWAYS start from my butt/knees

[@Jitsover50]

@@Aaron-bd9sj agreed. I love wrestling. Just not with an over competitive knuckle head.

[@sochin7777]

49 year old, three years nogi. We always start standing, but we generally go 50% when taking our training partners down. It is a good compromise and sets the mood for the entire roll. YMMV

[@ScaredBears]

I’ve only been training BJJ for a couple months, and I’ve already had an injury scare after a wrestling-intensive session. I’m glad you’re sharing your thoughts on de-emphasizing stand-up as we age: if longevity is the goal, we must adjust our training. I’m only 29, but I hope to be training for much longer!

[@Jitsover50]

29! A young man! lol. Old enough to become injured training take downs though! Training is the way. For life!

[@northman8854]

Appreciate the insight as someone starting BJJ at 41. Cheers from Canada!

[@Jitsover50]

I've been to Montreal. In 1998. lol. Thank you sir

[@TAMSTERMAN]

Excellent advice.wish I’d heard this a couple of months ago. Started at 52 and got my ankle tendons busted after 2 weeks. Has put me right off which is a big shame. I feel rolling with experienced guys is less dangerous than newbie’s also. Thanks for sharing

[@Jitsover50]

@@TAMSTERMAN I had my foot broken in an ankle lock because my over competitive blue belt partner ripped it.

[@Laserdoc905]

Agreed 100%, Remove the ego and weigh the risk. 56 blue belt, competed in Masters World this year, at my age basic take down or pull guard. OSS!!

[@Jitsover50]

Yes!!! How did you do at Masters?

[@Laserdoc905]

@@Jitsover50 took 2nd masters 6 feather.Such a great experience!! Thanks 🙏🙏

[@Jitsover50]

@@Laserdoc905 Wow awesome! Congratulations!

[@johndough1218]

You can be a potential opponant for me masters 7 feather.

[@briannorth3419]

90% of my training and teaching is from the ground. Most of my injuries were also from falling. Training 20 years now and most of my injuries were in the first 10 years mainly from learning and doing takedowns.

[@Jitsover50]

@@briannorth3419 wow you have been at this a long time! I almost started in 2005 with Matt Serra but I went back to my wing chun instead. I wish I would have wrestled in high school

[@AdamS679]

Excellent insights! I'm a 51 yo blue belt. I definitely want/need to learn more wrestling as I find it even more confusing than my (terrible) bjj... BUT not at the expense of increased injuries. I love what you said: we do this for self improvement and self cultivation. Awesome content as always!

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you Adam! I love wrestling but I am not going to do it live with any knucklehead. lol. Respect to yOU!

[@AdamS679]

@@Jitsover50 💯

[@hirosato1548]

I’m 38 so a bit younger but if I wrestle with smooth, controlled guys and accept takedowns when they got me, it’s not that bad. Going full tilt is what gets ya.

[@jasonrose6288]

50yo judo black belt and BJJ brown belt. I pick and choose who I start standing with. If they outweigh me by 10-15kgs or they're new, young or wild, i start by instantly pulling guard. I'm not stupid!

[@Jitsover50]

Hahaha. Thank you for commenting.

[@oghma_EM]

My first month training, December of last year we were doing take downs. I tore my left quad fully during one which took me out for 5 months. I’ll stick to starting on the ground.

[@Jitsover50]

Exactly! Injuries come easy as we are more delicate than we can comprehend. Especially in the early stages.

[@tededo]

We often strart from standing, OFTEN. As a former freestyle and greco, its oks with me, but BJJ students have no clue how to takedown even with decent nogi classes, so what i do is simply go for a trpod sweep from the get going, or shoot for a xguard/leg lock right away, works 95% of the time even against purple belts.

[@HangmanActual]

1:21 "I disagree with that but...there's nothing for me to criticize." Man that's a wisdom bomb right there. I had to rewind to listen to that again. A disagreement is not always a criticism. That's gonna help me in all sorts of life areas. Verbal jiujitsu hitting hard today.

[@Jitsover50]

@@HangmanActual thank you. How can I criticize a champion?! Haha

[@MJV312]

50yr old black belt. Stopped training after 23yrs of training. Just started training this year again and the only thing that brought me back was all the new no gi judo stuff that is en vogue. Start every roll from standing. So far so good.

[@Jitsover50]

@@MJV312 I wish you week sir though I think it is not a good idea

[@Redrane]

Love the different style of content, Anthony! Agree with the perspective!

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you as always brother! If you didn't agree that is cool too!

[@Kendross22]

Good stuff. I agree that for a "real world" encounter, it's better to have a mix of striking, ground and take-down DEFENSE (e.g., sprawls, clinches, etc). Sweaty bjj mats are just a recipe for disaster for knees and ankles. I do stand up work sometimes, but honestly, the upside is way too limited to do it seriously. Plus if a D1 wrestler wants to take you down, you are going anyway, so let's cut to the chase with me on bottom. ;)

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you Ken. Even if a proficient high school wrestler wanted to take us down we would be going for a ride. haha. Just box for 6 months.

[@bahtiyarmuhsin6406]

100% agreed 👍, I am new to Jiujitsu, but I am not new for sports in general, I really enjoy jiujitsu, this is very addictive, just like you said I want to learn and training as much as possible till I am old enough to can’t move anymore, so for that I need to protect my body not get unnecessary injuries that doesn’t worth it

[@Jitsover50]

@@bahtiyarmuhsin6406 exactly! Thank you for commenting!

[@ericantonissen2192]

I'm a 2 stripe white belt doing BJJ for about a year. I try to train twice a week, sometimes I get three practices in sonetimes just 1. I am a 58 yo big guy at 6'5" and about 250. I am in ok shape but could definitely use more cardio stamina. My question is that many times starting from the ground my opponents will often pop up to their feet, this is for big or small opponents. For the longest time i just stayed on the ground because i wanted to avoid any falling injuries but my ground game hasn't evolved enough to deal effectively with the standing attacks so i have begun standing as well to neutralize or at least counter the standing attack. Seems like it might be a bit foolish on my part from the message in your video. Should i just stay on the ground and just try to improve my ground defense or is there value in standing up sometimes to mimic more real world scenarios? Or should i hang it up to avoid a long term injury?

[@Jitsover50]

You should definitely develop a sweeping game so you can go from ground to top in an instant. i wouldnt bother standing up just because your partner is standing.

[@Mannertheman]

Good insights. Any advice for older and newer practitioners on how to balance enough practice to develop while keeping relative injury free? Been doing BJJ for about a year. Had the opportunity to start training more this summer and it felt great development wise. Unfortunately at the end of the summer I started to get pains in both a knee and a shoulder. I have been advised to take a break now for recovery.

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you. May I ask your age? I would recommend to train 2 times a week if you just started. After class have a protein smoothie and go right to bed. I take a 90 minute nap. Having pains is part of the process. This may sound strange but I just ignore pain. On a scale of 1 to 10 what would you say your pain level would be? Lastly who is giving you the break for recovery advice? How long of a break is being recommended?

[@slowdown3415]

51 blue here like to stand up as much as I can ,trying to learn takedowns safely . Start from positions on the ground regularly too so I can accelerate learning from those guards etc . Each to their own I say

[@Jitsover50]

@@slowdown3415 are you saying there isn’t an inherent risk with stand up? Yes to each their own 100%.

[@pauldorman1355]

If my guard was as half as good as yours sir I would start from the ground aswell awesome content great information as always keep it coming all the way from the UK 🇬🇧

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you Paul! A large number of my viewers are in UK! Respect!

[@tededo]

QUESTION: I began taking morning classes. 52, 6.0, 180 grizzled grappler but hobbyist. 99% of morning classes the instructor demands 100% all out balls to the wall effort. It's demanding. Demanding cause we're often only 3 at most 4 students. The instructor told me I'm doing a good job far. But you know, I'm 52. I might dial down my visit to this kind of class. But how do brown belt like you would deal with those 100% effort morning classes, and do you do well in these ?

[@Jitsover50]

@@tededo I only train morning classes. That type of morning class and instructor I would probably avoid though.

[@LightWays]

Yeah brother, I learned this the hard way. I fell in love w/ jits August of '23. In July this year, I got taken down and my quadricep tendon snapped off of my patella. I had knee surgery 2 months ago. I can return to jits early next year, but no more take downs for me. My concern is if someone tries to take me down in the streets. So, I'll train take down defense, but I think I'm done shooting take downs. I'm doing it for self-defense and not for competition. Keep putting out great content for us older jits players. Oss!🤙🤙

[@Jitsover50]

Jeez I'm sorry to hear that! As for "the streets". Just train kickboxing. I'd rather be a good kickboxer, that is also good off my back, if need be.

[@LightWays]

@@Jitsover50 Absolutely, I've been training muay thai and traditional boxing for the past 10 years. But I picked up jits last year just in case someone bum rushes me in the streets and I end up on the ground. I can't wait for this knee to heal so that I can get back to training. Thanks for the vids, brother💪

[@Jitsover50]

@@LightWays I still shadow box from time to time. You just inspired me to put up a shadow boxing video!

[@LightWays]

@@Jitsover50 Absolutely, brother💪 Shadow boxing is not utilized enough or giving the spotlight it deserves. Shadow boxing is highly effective at programming muscle memory and polishing up conditioning.💪

[@michaelrowsey768]

60yo purple belt. Love stand up but I'm getting more & more selective about who I do it with. My ukemi is decent but even a moderate injury could take me off the mats for good.

[@EOW-nv1nc]

In my 30s and 40s , my go to was the double leg and drop seo nagi. In my late 40s to 50s, I went away from that to the uchi mata and leg sweep. At 60 now I tend to “shadow wrestle “ takedowns as opposed to sparring with a 30 year old.😂

[@Jitsover50]

@@EOW-nv1nc shadow wrestling is great. lol. We do very light resistance wrestling as our warm ups.

[@lordsneed9418]

real fighting is a young man's game. what are we doing this for? because it's fun? sure. Because of our health and fitness? probably not because of injury risk and there's plenty of better things we could do. Because we want to be capable of beating people up unarmed? well we're probably never going to be able to do that against someone in their prime who has even a moderate amount of skill. Because we want to be capable of beating up other people our age? kind of a weird, artificially limited goal. if we were rational we probably would have learned to fight as kids and retired at 30 then just passed on our knowledge to our own kids.

[@Jitsover50]

It is something I will do until I physically can't anymore. I do it to make myself a better human being through discipline and problem solving under pressure.

[@Monna7777777]

as a 25 year old i feel like this is very good advice, i started training bjj when i was 18 (on and off not hardcore training bjj for 7 years) before that i have tried boxing, karate, muay thai and mma, but bjj has stuck with me. i know some standup but it´s not very good and it dosen´t interest me so much, i much rather just pull guard if i have to stand up, i have no interest in risking dumbass injuries competing or in training by standing.

[@Jitsover50]

I used to be in love with striking. There was a time where I thought that was all I needed. Yet over the years I got bored with it and intrigued with Jiu-jitsu. There just seems to be endless learning. Such an incredible art. Yep guard puller here. lol

[@tombeithemist5255]

@@Jitsover50 Great video with valuable insight. I'm 64 with 30+ years in Kyokushin Karate and thought it was all I needed. Also was getting pretty bored with it. Started BJJ almost 2 years ago and just love it! So much to learn, so little time 😂My main aim is to continue to progress and not get a serious injury. I try to avoid the tough guy egotists who want to "win" at all costs and don't understand you can learn and develop practicing techniques in a restrained manner.

[@ernestocazares4065]

Have you done an episode on recovery? I do a 5am class a couple times a week and feel wrecked. Obviously the lack of sleep contributes to that.

[@Jitsover50]

@@ernestocazares4065 I haven’t yet but I will as it is super important. I don’t know how you do a 5 am class. Wow. lol. I prefer morning but not that early.

[@Melsedey855]

I am 38 and I've been training grappling/jujitsu for almost a decade now and all i can say is definitely play it safe on the take downs because there are so many variables that go into it concerning your own and your partners safety that it must be practiced in a well controlled manner! Yes takedowns are necessary to practice but it's not worth the risks spamming takedowns and takedown attempts every free roll! It is very risky! Takedowns are a young mans game but even at a young age takedowns have a high percentage of injuries! The best thing to do is drill the most common, the most safe and the most effective takedowns for your body type and only use them in live rolling when there's a clear opening, when the situation presents itself and only with an experienced partner who knows how to fall with the takedowns! I myself have avoided many injuries by not going gung ho on takedowns but on the rare occasion i went for risky takedowns i did get injured, thankfully not so seriously but that was enough for me to learn the lesson!

[@Jitsover50]

Exactly! You summed it up perfectly. Drill the most common take downs. If you have a decent single leg it is pretty much all you need.

[@johnthompson5335]

It certainly costs less time and money to recover from being insulted as a guard puller than it does to recover from a torn ligament. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, as mine are very similar.

[@Jitsover50]

Yes! Plus time away from training. You are welcome and thank you for commenting.

[@johnthompson5335]

@@Jitsover50 Yes. Time away from training and possibly the job that you have to do to feed yourself and your family.

[@Jitsover50]

@@johnthompson5335 Which I totally can't afford!

[@Silentwatcher23]

Blue belt here 42 years old.ive been in a street fight and i use double leg.i never trained this move properly.my rival was in a good stand position so he push me down when i do the double leg and he was ready to kill me i was in front of himwith hes weapon loaded..many risk with takedowns especially if you kot expert 😢

[@Jitsover50]

I'm glad you are okay! Thank you for commenting and watching!

[@guttertierbot]

I started Jiu Jitsu in a school that also like to teach Judo throws and takedowns every class. Within two months a kid threw me wrong and tore my MCL. I train boxing now.

[@Jitsover50]

@@guttertierbot I’m very sorry to hear that. Many times our instructors are young and can’t comprehend how frail our bones and ligaments can be. It’s funny to think that boxing is actually safer.

[@Lampsha]

Im 34. Im comfortable plopping down and trying to guard and sweep/pass.

[@RicoMnc]

If it is my choice for an open roll I usually start seated. There are times when we learn and drill take-downs and defenses, and I have visited a few Judo classes where obviously starting standing is required, but I am selective about who I train with and how. The main reason I don't like starting stand up is all the energy expended just to get to the ground, especially if relatively equally matched. I've drilled 3 minute take down drills where after 3 rounds there were maybe two good take downs between the two of us. We were both pretty worn out by that time. (FWIW I'm 63 and 130lbs, can easily get thrown around and worn out doing this, heh) If we're instructed to start standing up and go for takedown, but it is otherwise an "open" roll, I try to make an honest effort at take downs, but will try to quickly engage in a connected guard pull if I think we're just spinning our wheels. I won't fight the other guys takedown very hard, I find if I'm somewhat loose and mobile I can usually guide myself to the mat safely and then just grapple from there. My primary focus for BJJ is as a fun, interesting way to get a good workout. I'm not trying to become an MMA or "street fighter".

[@jamesw2003]

i am 49 year old brown belt. i love takedowns. i refuse to pull guard.

[@Jitsover50]

@@jamesw2003 that’s great but it doesn’t address any of my points. Thanks for watching and commenting though.

[@michaelswann9849]

37 year old comp blue belt here. Play the game you want to play. We had a navy seal come in and was mad i wanted to start in guard. I started standing with him and quickly humbled him as he had only trained 6 months and was super spazzy. Training standing up doesn't make you any manlier than a guard player. I will start in guard with a spazzy newcomer so I don't get hurt, but will gladly oblige to start standing if they insist.

[@Jitsover50]

Even though my stand up wrestling isn't high level. I still have good take down defense. I will oblige upon insistence as well.

[@CancelIFR]

I started at 40 and my first two comps, I was matched against 25 year olds. I tried to wrestle, got gassed, injured and subbed. I just pull guard now. 😂

[@Jitsover50]

@@CancelIFR I started at 36. Got triangled and choked 100 times. Tore my shoulder to pieces. Lol

[@MattBreaux-q3p]

Takedowns can be very controlled if you are good at them especially Grecko Roman upper body style takedowns. You are much more likely to get hurt going for a double leg then you are getting a body lock and tripping the person. It's much more about the style of your standing game, if you can play a very defensive style with head ties and arm drags you will be much safer than an active shooting style. You'll never have good self-defense or a complete game if you have no standup game, if you're okay with that that's fine also, but just understand you're not practicing the art in its whole form which is also fine unless you have to defend yourself against an attacker. Real Jujitsu is a self-defense martial art and real fights start on the feet not on your bum. It's very valuable knowing how to throw an attacker or pick them up and suplex them into the ground which would eliminate a threat instantly.

[@dylan_krishna_777]

What is your opinion about Judo? Tomorrow i start judo officially as a 30+ adult. Im also abit scared about what could happen. The school i'm going is recreation and has a family feeling to it . The reason i want to learn judo is : trows, standup grip fighting and break-falls . Most BJJ schools dont offer what i want and have more a sport approach to it. I still like BJJ alot but i want to try out judo for i can close that chapter.

[@Jitsover50]

Go for it. If the throws are done in a controlled manner on to extra thick mats. Just be careful about the strain on your shoulders. They injure easy. Let me know how the Judo training goes!

[@dylan_krishna_777]

@@Jitsover50 the main partner i train with dint go very hard on my but after the quarterly period is over i will transit to BJJ . Because judo can destroy your body on the long term.

[@Jitsover50]

@@dylan_krishna_777 💯%

[@SteveOthewindowcleaner]

funny topic, popped my knee just last week. Having to take 1-2 weeks off :(

[@Jitsover50]

I'm sorry to hear. Do you know the extent of the injury? Yes take off at least that long! I wish you a speedy recovery!

[@SteveOthewindowcleaner]

@@Jitsover50 Not a full tear, but inside of the knee bruised a day after. Thank you!

[@Jitsover50]

@@SteveOthewindowcleaner Yep I've been there.

[@visionpiping1048]

I like this format. I also don’t want to get hurt from standing. Do a video from the merry go round. Is it still there?

[@Malt454]

Surprise, most of this stuff is a young man's game; one day, even the best practitioners will be too old to do it full-out. There's an inherent risk in all of it because most people aren't experts and aren't practicing with experts, so ego and adrenaline are usually dangerous factors.

[@DanT288]

Thanks for this mate. Makes allot of sence at 40

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you Dan.

[@DanT288]

​@Jitsover50 I forgot to ask do you do any other fitness training or conditioning besides Jiu-jitsu ?

[@Jitsover50]

@@DanT288 I ride an electric skateboarding and go hiking. I recently stated lifting light weights daily.

[@DanT288]

Thanks for the reply, mate. I'm a 40 year old purple belt, and I mainly do callisthenics to supplement my training as I can only train twice a week. One Gi and one No Gi

[@Jitsover50]

@@DanT288 that’s really all you need. You have to be healthy for training but not a CrossFit athlete.

[@clutchmadness]

I just turned 33 and started jiu-jitsu. I love it, but my shoulders aren't doing too great. I've already had to take an 8 week break for my first moderate to major rotator cuff strain/tear injury. I've always had a bit of nagging shoulder pain and discomfort because I played a lot of racquet sports in my youth and young adulthood. Do you have any "shoulder advice" to help get back and stay on the mats for many years to come?

[@Jitsover50]

@@clutchmadness I had two major shoulder injuries when I first started at 36 years old. They came from trying to tough out locked in chokes. They also came from using way too much muscle due to lack of technique. My main advice is tap early and use less muscle.

[@clutchmadness]

@@Jitsover50 Thank you. I also want to say that I love your content. I'm learning a lot of different things and it honestly feels a bit like having a jiu-jitsu mentor sometimes. I can't wait to see more videos!!

[@Jitsover50]

@@clutchmadness Being able to help mentor others is what life is all about. My father taught me that through his actions. He always helped out those in need. Thank you for your comments. My dad is dying right now and this brightened my day. Be well

[@wm6549]

Love this format. What area of Brooklyn did you grow up in?

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you! I grew up in Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Gravesend and Bay ridge areas.

[@littledemonboy1]

I appreciate your thoughts. However, I am a 51 year old who still holds onto the vain hope of victory at Masters Worlds so I must continue from the feet for now.

[@Jitsover50]

Are take downs required to win in your opinion?

[@littledemonboy1]

@@Jitsover50 Take downs are necessary for me to have a shot at winning. My guard is as porous as my wife’s colander. Also with 5 minute rounds digging myself off the bottom and then scoring enough against good guys to win is as unlikely as subbing them.

[@Jitsover50]

@@littledemonboy1 haha. Understood

[@kungfumartialarts]

Great points. Cheers, brother.

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you Kung fu. Have you trained Kung fu? If so what style?

[@kungfumartialarts]

@@Jitsover50 This is Chuck. Cheers. I am a big follower of your program. Great job.

[@Jitsover50]

@@kungfumartialarts Chuck! I am coming to Japan again this year. Maybe longer term!

[@kungfumartialarts]

@@Jitsover50 Great. Please keep me posted.

[@BB-qf1ns]

I do the same and also to avoid injury. Plus I like playing guard.

[@Jitsover50]

I like guard too. Simply because my legs are much stronger than my arms. lol

[@OdinsForgeEnt]

"That guy from Australia" = Levi Jones Leary!

[@Jitsover50]

@@OdinsForgeEnt I couldn’t think of his name! Lol

[@blankbandits]

I really think that guard-players are going to experience just as much injury as those who are more stand-up-oriented. It's just that those injuries are going to take time in the form of spinal compression and degeneration. Carrying all of that weight of another human being is not good for your back or your bones. I see someone like Levi who inverts and contorts, and I think it's going to end very badly. We all do our best to continue to roll for as long as we can and as pain- and injury-free as possible, so whatever works for ya.

[@Jitsover50]

@@blankbandits with the proper frames it’s easy to carry weight. I haven’t had a major injury in 6 years.

[@arlesblueman1161]

Inversion is not a necessary part of playing guard

[@carreromartialarts]

The more technical your standup is the less injury..

[@Jitsover50]

This is true! But during many classes I get paired with a goon. haha.

[@carreromartialarts]

@@Jitsover50 to me it’s like the ground game . There are goons that can hurt you on the ground but if you develop a self defense style game then whether you are standing or on the ground you can be safe. I’ve had multiple injuries and surgeries throughout the years. Body awareness and safety is number one for me

[@jiujitsuinsurance]

most injury claims we see come form the standup positions

[@Jitsover50]

Thank you!

[@bryanjohnson8162]

Just turned 40 a week ago and now I sit to my butt 90% of the time😂😂

[@Jitsover50]

Butt scooter! lol. Good. stay safe. They still have to pass your guard.

[@Dynamic6000]

Maybe a hot take but practicing the art where it’s strong is what it’s about. You look at Judo for example who has proficiency in their standing grappling, and takedowns, but at best the level of a BJJ blue belt on the ground. They are good at what they do because of where they put their focus. Pure BJJ guys who don’t have judo or wrestling backgrounds but wanting to train standing outside the basics are often putting their energy in the wrong place. Standing grappling is extremely nuanced and most of the time BJJ’s version of Judo throws or even wrestling are simplified and not the best technique. This may be less obvious if a person never did actual wrestling or Judo outside of bjj. However it’s like watching a judo guy come in and do a submission but it could have been much better, cleaner etc. If people want to train standing they should be going to a Judo or wrestling gym plain and simple. If you want to get good on the ground you train BJJ. With all that being said I think your approach is very smart, and completely respect it.

[@Jitsover50]

Wow I really enjoyed your summary and agree whole heartedly. Sorry for the delayed response. Respect and thank you for your well thought out comment!

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

48 year old 4 stripe brown here. Lets compare injuries! lol

[@Jitsover50]

haha. Broken foot. Broken wrist. Numerous broken ribs. Partially torn acl, lcl, mcl. There are more I just need to think about it. lol

[@Jitsover50]

Almost forgot. Severe injuries to both shoulders of course.

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

@@Jitsover50 Torn ACL, meniscus, patella tendon, rotator cuff, broken foot, broken ribs, concussions, hernia and most recently two herniated disks in my neck C6 and C7 that I'm waiting surgery on.

[@Jitsover50]

@@dragonballjiujitsu Oh I have a hernia too! Almost forgot. haha

[@donaldstewart8494]

learn the arm drag /throw bye/ high single and train it hard! sounds like a lot of excuses…. .

[@Jitsover50]

Okay. :). Thank you for watching!

[@michaelfarar4232]

Getting punched and getting dropped and your head hitting the concrete is the same.

[@Jitsover50]

Noted! Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@umoplata]

All the talk about street fighting is so funny. Nobody's fighting in the street first and foremost, and if you are, it's probably against an untrained opponent and the truth is with them. You don't have to worry about takedowns. It's about rerolls. If you close a distance on someone that doesn't train, I can't tell you why they do this. But I will tell you 100%. I've seen it too many times to count you clench up with them. They pull you down on top of them and try to re-roll you. It makes no sense it pull you into the mount or some type of headlock. If you're trying to stay on top. It's a done deal. You're on their back and it's game over

[@Jitsover50]

@@umoplata I never fight in the street. I come from a good family. Live in a nice neighborhood. lol. Agreed on all counts

[@umoplata]

@@Jitsover50 100% all that street fighting talk is goofy and the weirdest part is most people involved in the art are fairly laid back gainfully employed family people or Tech workers that are not fighting anybody 😄 and then on the other side of the coin you do have the train athlete fighters who again aren't fighting anyone so I don't get the obsession with the street fighting thing. Anybody who's been in the street fight knows is the last place you want to be doesn't glamorize it is never trying to go back

[@Jitsover50]

@@umoplata Exactly. Tech nerds fighting in the break room. haha

[@Kuroyamitv]

No!

[@JEFFMAN90]

if you are doing a ground grappling art and don't know how to do takedowns or don't want to learn takedowns then you're wasting your time

[@Jitsover50]

It seems you didn’t actually listen to the video. I only say that since you didn’t address any of my points. I have take downs. I train them and I recommend training them.

[@BlackStalyon]

4 weeks? More like 4 months hahaha

[@Jitsover50]

@@BlackStalyon oh lord really George?! You really milked it. Haha