Ask a black belt: How to get back to jiujitsu after a long break

I interviewed two black belts after class at El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu yesterday. Their response was so meaningful I have to share immediately.

The question was simple. What’s the best way for a blue belt in their 30s and 40s, who has taken a few years off, to get back on the mat?

First I asked Sean Gonsolin, black belt and bjj practitioner for 10 years:

  1. Identify the reason you stopped.
  2. What’s your primary motivation for coming back?
  3. Once you know the above two, what’s the routine / training schedule you’re going to stick to.
  4. Remember that jiujitsu isn’t a quick race, it’s a marathon. So, make sure your mindset is both short term and long term.

Next I asked Jerel Tengan, bjj black belt and practitioner of over 20 years:

  1. Find a good school your comfortable with. The main thing is to be comfortable with the atmosphere, and find a school that fits your personality.
  2. Take it slow in the beginning. Be ready to tap early and remember you can’t control your partners pace but you can control your pace.

Both of their responses are really helpful advice for someone with jiujitsu experience but has been away for so long that they feel hesitant to get back in. Really it doesn’t matter what age or belt you are. The advice from Jerel and Sean are universal. Thanks for sharing your advice guys!

2 thoughts on “Ask a black belt: How to get back to jiujitsu after a long break

  1. I am in the same boat–blue belt in my 30s who came back after taking a few years off to finish grad school.

    (TBH, I’d rather have those years of rolling back and a purple, brown or black belt instead of another degree. Live and learn.)

    I’ve been back on the mat regularly for a little under a year. It’s gone well. I’m a lot more focused, mature, and serious than I was when I trained in the past, and it’s allowed me to stay consistent and get in the best weight and shape of my life.

    The advice above is a good compass and basically reflects the mindset I adopted to return to training.

    1. Eliot Kelly says:

      That’s awesome! Thanks for the feedback and keep up the training!

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